WALTHAM, Mass. American International College junior quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) rushed for four touchdowns and threw for another as the Yellow Jackets beat Bentley in a Northeast-10 contest on the road 42-14 Saturday afternoon.
With the win AIC improves to 5-2 overall and 5-1 in the NE-10, while with the loss the Falcons fall to 4-3 and 3-3 in conference play.
AIC jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Sophomore running back Hunter Beckmann (Schrewsbury, Mass.) capped a seven-play, 41 yard drive with a nine yard run. Junior place kicker Jared Hulsey's (Springfield, Mass.) kick was good.
With 2:03 remaining in the first, Arduino capped a 90 yard drive with a one yard scamper into the end zone, the Hulsey kick was good to put AIC up 14-0.
Bentley would hold the Yellow jackets scoreless in the second and get on the board with under a minute remaining to cut the deficit in half before the break. Dan Guadagnoli () rushed a yard for the score, the Michael Baron kick was good.
Arduino made quick work of his first drive of the second, rushing for 30 of the 67 yards needed for his second rushing TD of the day. The Hulsey kick would put AIC back up 14, 21-7 with 11:53 remaining in te third.
The Falcons would once again come within a possession of the Jackets with a Jeff Hill 21 yard pass from Guadagnoli and Baron kick, but that would as close as it would come.
On the ensuing drive, Arduino got free again and scampered for a seven yard score. The next drive, a two-play 51 yard drive, Arduino found freshman wide receiver Evan Graham (Springfield, Mass.) for a 48 yard TD strike, giving AIC the comfortable 35-14 lead.
Just to be safe, Arduino punched it in for his fourth rushing score of the day at the 9:57 mark in the fourth.
He finished with 222 yards passing, 12-for-21 and no picks, while rushing for 129 yards off 13 attempts, his most polished performance of the season.
Beckmann rushed 72 yards off 17 carries and the touchdown, while Graham led the wide outs with 108 yards receiving off just three receptions, one being the 48 yard TD.
Junior linebacker Jaquawne Simpkins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) led the team with seven tackles and assisted a sack. Sophomore Andrew Justice (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and freshman Jerrod Shelby (Hillside, N.Y.) each tallied six tackles apiece as the Yellow Jacket defense swarmed another opponent.
After allowing 124 points in the first four games AIC has allowed just 24 in the last three, smothering Northeast-10 offenses. AIC gained 483 yards of total offense, holding Bentley to 383.
Guadagnoli threw for 279 yards, but was unable to match AIC's attack (261 net yards rushing).
AIC returns to action for the homecoming game next Saturday, October 26 when they host Saint Anselm at Abdow Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
