SPRINGFIELD, Mass. The American International College football team blanked LIU Post in a Northeast-10 clash Saturday afternoon at Abdow Field.
With the win AIC improves to 5-2 and 4-1 in the NE-10, while with the loss the Pioneers fall to 2-4 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
AIC put up a single touchdown in each of the three first quarters.
In the first quarter, junior running back Maurice Easterling (Yonkers, N.Y.) capitalized off linebacker Joel Bowen's (Brooklyn, N.Y.) interception with a 24 yard TD scamper on the ensuing , with the junior placekicker Jared Hulsey (Springfield, Mass.) point after attempt good, AIC led 7-0. Bowen picked off Pioneer junior quarterback Steven Laurino (Boise, Idaho) on the LIU 44 yard line and ran it back 15 yards, giving the offense great field position.
AIC lost a great opportunity early in the second. Junior quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) hit junior wide receiver Stephan Davis (Selden, N.Y.) for a 44 yard reception to the Post seven yard line, but on the following play LIU punched the ball from Easterling and recovered it, keeping it close.
The Yellow Jackets would not waste their next possession, as Arduino capped off a 10 play, 42 yard drive with a four yard rushing touchdown to give his team a 14-0 lead after the Hulsey PAT.
On the ensuing kickoff, last week's Northeast-10 co-special team's player of the week, junior Lenroy Neysmith (Meriden, Conn.) recovered a botched LIU reception on the visitor's 13, but LIU's sophomore linebacker Juilan Santiago (Selden, N.Y.) intercepted Arduino two plays later deep in their territory, but preventing AIC from an easy scoring opportunity.
With a two touchdown advantage at the half, AIC and LIU traded the first two possessions of the second half, both drives ending in punts. On the third drive, AIC defensive end Andrew Justice (Brooklyn, N.Y.) picked off Laurino at the Pioneer 25 and ran it back 12 yards, setting up the AIC offense at the 13 yard line.
Arduino would rush for four yards and on the following play pick up the remaining nine yards for his second rushing TD of the day.
AIC's defense would keep LIU out of the endzone in the fourth and hold on for the shutout.
Arduino finished 9-of-21 for 163 yards and one interception, while also rushing 16 times for 52 yards and the two scores. Sophomore running back Hunter Beckmann (Schrewsbury, Mass.) had 12 carries for 48 yards.
Davis led the wideouts with 44 yards on one reception.
Junior lienbacker Jaquawne Simpkins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) led the stingy Yellow Jacket defense with 10 tackles and eight yards loss. Bowen, junior corner Darion Chappel(New York, N.Y.) and Justice all picked off Laurino to put the offense back on the field and LIU off the board.
The Yellow Jackets return to action next Saturday, October 19 when they travel to Waltham, Mass. to take on Bentley in a Northeast-10 showdown. Kickoff set for 2 p.m.
