BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Junior defensive back Markell Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown on the first possession in overtime to give the American International College football team a 13-7 win at C.W. Post Saturday in the season-opener for both teams.

Points were at a premium in this one as both defenses yielded just seven points in regulation and forced three turnovers each.

One of AIC's turnover turned into points for the Pioneers in the second quarter. Redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) was intercepted by senior linebacker Billy O'Connor (Sayville, N.Y.) at the AIC 30-yard line and the return setup C.W. Post just four yards from the goal. Senior tight end R.J. Kuhn (Sayville, N.Y.) then caught a three-yard scoring pass from redshirt freshman Steven Laurino (Boise, Idaho) to give the Pioneers a 7-0 lead midway through the period.

The score remained that way until Arduino engineered a nine-play, 80 yard scoring drive that he capped off with a 26-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Andre Samuels (Linden, N.J.) 55 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Both teams had the opportunity to take the lead after that, but freshman Marc Montana (East Amherst, N.Y.) missed a 37-yard field goal attempt wide left for C.W. Post with 3:33 left in the fourth and freshman Daniel Backx's (Evesham, England) 44-yard field goal attempt for AIC fell short with just four seconds left in regulation.

The Yellow Jackets won the toss in overtime and elected to start on defense, a move that paid off as Laurino was picked off by Rice at the AIC five-yard line on fourth-and-14 in the only possession of OT. Rice was off the races after that and took it to the house to give the Yellow Jackets the come-from-behind victory.

Both teams appeared the win the game in overtime prior to that, but a penalty brought back both scores.

Junior defensive back Dewayne Lowe (Teaneck, N.J.) blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt on fourth down and redshirt freshman defensive back Carron McCluney (hillside, N.J.) picked the ball up and ran it back 75 yards for a score that was called back after AIC was flagged for being offside. J. Mack then appeared to give the Pioneers the win on the next play, but his 19-yard scoring run was wiped out by a holding penalty.

Arduino was 12-of-27 passing for 151 yards and was picked off twice. He was also the game's leading rusher, carrying the ball 15 times for 115 yards. Samuels caught six passes for a game-high 82 yards.

S. Laurino was 12-for-21 passing for 107 yards and was intercepted three times. He also had 23 carries for 82 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Jaquawne Simpkins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) had a game-high 14 tackles, seven solo, for AIC. Rice and sophomore defensive lineman Justin Tervo (Millbury, Mass.) added seven tackles each.

O'Connor led C.W. Post's defensive effort with a team-best 13 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, and an interception. Senior linebacker Ronnie Modik (Levittown, N.Y.) had 12 tackles, while sophomore linebacker Tommy Williams (Westbury, N.Y.) had 11 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss.

The Yellow Jackets will next travel to NCAA Division I FCS Bryant University September 10 for a 1 p.m. contest.