SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - #Markell Rice# intercepted a Bentley University pass with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter to seal a 27-23 victory for the American International College football team Saturday afternoon in front of 2,178 fans at Ronald J. Abdow Field.

The Yellow Jackets improved to 6-1 overall and 6-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference with the win. The Falcons dropped to 5-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play with the loss.

Trailing by nine with 12:19 left in the third quarter, the Yellow Jackets scored 13 unanswered points to regain the lead and stay undefeated in the NE-10.

Bentley was first on the scoreboard after taking its second drive 61 yards on nine plays. A four-yard touchdown run after extra point gave the Falcons an early 7-0 lead. Rice then took the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for an AIC touchdown to even the score at 7-7.

The Falcons mounted one more scoring drive in the first quarter. Another nine play 66-yard drive was capped by a 30-yard field goal by Bentley's Will Lockwood. The Yellow Jackets were then forced to punt and Bentley took over at its own 18 yard line. On its first play of the series, Rice continued his impressive play by intercepting a Dan Guadagnoli pass and returning it 27 yards to the Falcons one-yard line. Two plays later #Terrell Williams# crossed the endzone and put the Yellow Jackets ahead 14-10 with 13:50 left in the second quarter.

Bentley answered with a pair of field goals before halftime to take a 16-14 lead at the break.

In the third quarter, the Falcons scored first to improve their lead to 23-14 with 12:25 on the clock. The Yellow Jackets cut the lead back to three points with just 23 seconds left in the third quarter. Running back #Bryant Fitzgerald# capped a five play, 50 yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run. A missed extra point brought the score to 23-20.

The AIC defense stepped up and forced the Falcons into a punting with 13:43 left in the fourth quarter. The Yellow Jackets then mounted what proved to be the winning drive of the game. AIC marched 64 yards on nine plays, including a 24-yard pass and catch from #Kevin Arduino# to #Gary Farley# on the opening play of the drive. The Yellow Jackets converted a pair of third down plays and took the lead off a 10-yard touchdown catch by #Maurice Easterling# with 9:55 left in the game. The extra point by #Daniel Backx# was good and AIC took a four-point lead.

Bentley's kickoff return was fumbled and recovered by AIC, but four plays later a field goal attempt sailed wide left and the Falcons regained possession at their own 20-yard line. Bentley then marched 62 yards to AIC's 19-yard line before fumbling the ball away for the second-straight series. The Falcons held strong on defense and forced a three-and-out by the Yellow Jackets with 47 seconds left in the fourth.

Bentley's first pass attempt was then picked off by Rice to seal the four-point victory for the Yellow Jackets.

Rice led the Yellow Jackets with two interceptions and an 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Offensively, Williams added 97 rushing yards, while Arduino chipped in with 52 rushing a 111 passing off 9-of-15 passing. Defensively, linebacker #Jaquawne Simpkins# led the team with 11 total tackles.

The Yellow Jackets, who earned a spot in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship game with the win, return to action on Friday, October 26 at Saint Anselm College. Game time in Manchester, N.H. is set for 7 p.m. under the lights.