SHEPERDSTOWN, W.Va. – The American International College football team surrendered 34 unanswered points as it dropped a 34-7 non-conference contest at Shepherd University Saturday. The Rams improved to 1-1 for the season, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 0-1.

AIC scored on its first drive of the game to take an early 7-0 lead. The 11-play, 73-yard drive was capped off hen sophomore quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) hit sophomore wide receiver Maurice Easterling (Yonkers, N.Y.) on a 52-yard scoring play that gave the Yellow Jackets their only lead of the game.

Shepherd tied the game when junior running back Kenny Williams (Elgin, Ill.) found the end zone on a one-yard run following an AIC fumble on a punt return that gave the Rams possession on the AIC eight-yard line.

AIC looked poised to regain the lead at the start of the second quarter following Arduino's carry that put the Yellow Jackets on the Shepherd six-yard line. A lightening delay followed and after play resumed the Rams blocked a 24-yard field goal attempt by sophomore kicker Daniel Backx (Evesham, England).

After trading possessions the Rams took the lead for good on Williams 12-yard score with 5:13 left in the first half. Shepherd then scored two more times to take a 28-7 lead at the half and never looked back on its way to earning the win.

Williams carried the ball 20 times for 52 yards and two touchdowns for the Rams, while junior running back Mike Hayes (Midlothian, Va.) had nine carries for 18 yards and two TDs. Senior quarterback Bobby Cooper (Davidson, Md.) completed 15-of-26 passes for 159 yard and one touchdown, while freshman wide receiver Billy Brown (Gaithersburg, Md.) caught two passes for 26 yards and a score..

Arduino finished the game 14-of-27 passing for 211 yards and one score and had nine carries for an additional 23 yards for the Yellow Jackets. Easterling pulled in four receptions for 89 yards and one TD.

Senior linebacker A.J. Parrish (Madison Heights, Va.) and junior linebacker Dominigue Dixon (Westover, W.Va.) each had seven tackles (five solo) with a sack and a forced fumble on the defensive end for the Rams. Sophomore linebacker De'Ontre Johnson (Upper Marlboro, Md.) added six tackles.

Sophomore linebacker Jaquawne Simpkins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) had a game-high 11 tackles to lead AIC, while senior safety Markell Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) had 10 tackles with one sack. Shaquille Leggett () recorded eight tackles and had two pass breakups.

The Yellow Jackets will next open the Northeast-10 portion of their schedule when they travel to Merrimack for a 1 p.m. Northeast-10 contest September 15.