SPRINGFIELD, Mass.-In the Northeast-10 opener for both teams, the American International football team (1-1, 1-0 NE-10) struck first, last, and most, topping their rivals, the Merrimack Warriors (0-2, 0-1 NE-10) by a final count of 62-50 at Ronald J. Abdow Field.

Junior quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) opened the scoring in a big way for the Jackets, following up a rush for a first down with a 51-yard touchdown dash less than six minutes into play. However, Merrimack responded immediately, putting together a great drive led by senior quarterback Joe Clancy (Newburyport, Mass.) connecting for seven of nine passes before senior running back Quinn McDonough (Medford, Mass.) punched it over the line for the final yard with 2:26 to go in the opening frame; the PAT that followed tied the score.

The Warriors then took the lead; they drove the field after an interception and Clancy hit McDonough over the middle for a six-yard score just 25 seconds into the second frame, and threatened for more after another interception, but the defense for AIC forced a three-and-out, and the Jackets took advantage of two penalties by the Warriors to set up a 45-yard touchdown pass by Arduino to senior wide receiver Cal Brownridge (Newark, N.J.).

AIC pinned Merrimack deep in their own territory late in the half, as Arduino expertly drilled a punt that was downed on the four yard line, but with two minutes to go, the Warriors displayed their offensive acumen, driving the length of the field and finishing with Clancy hitting sophomore wide receiver Jere Brown (Freeport, N.Y.) to put Merrimack up 20-14 at halftime.

The offenses hiccupped in the third quarter, with a fumble by AIC matched with a three-and-out for Merrimack, but then exploded, with senior running back Terrell Williams (Hempstead, N.Y.) breaking off a 42-yard dash for a score to give AIC a 21-20 lead; the first play of Merrimack's next possession also resulted in an AIC touchdown when sophomore cornerback Mike Ford (Sammamish, Wash.) intercepted a Clancy pass and took it 15 yards for a touchdown.

However, there would be no more interceptions, as Merrimack regained the lead with a touchdown pass for 29 yards to freshman wide receiver Justin Mount (Westford, Mass.) followed by a pass for 56 yards to Brown to give Merrimack a 34-27 lead.

AIC got it right back, as after a solid kick return gave them good field position, Williams was able to break off a long run, darting 32 yards for his second touchdown of the game to knot it at 34-34.

The Warriors got the ball back and started driving, looking like they were going to put home a touchdown that would give them the lead again, but Ford drilled Brown and popped the ball loose and AIC recovered in their own territory, and after three long passes by Arduino, he was able to hand the ball off to junior wide receiver Maurice Easterling (Yonkers, N.Y.) for a ten-yard touchdown run to put AIC up 41-34.

Merrimack had another drive stall short in the AIC red zone, though they were able to get a field goal out of junior kicker Nick Zwaan (Longmeadow, Mass.) to pull within four, but Arduino responded with an 85-yard strike for a score to Brownridge that gave the Jackets a 48-37 lead.

Merrimack came right back to score again, capping a drive with a 27-yard pass from Clancy to Mount to make it 48-43, but Clancy was sacked on the two-point conversion attempt.

AIC had a drive go nowhere, but followed up by forcing a three-and-out from Merrimack; on the punt, junior defensive back Lenroy Smith (Meriden, Conn.) broke through the line and deflected the ball backwards, and sophomore safety Darion Chappel (New York, N.Y.) fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

Merrimack refused to go quietly, as Clancy struck for another touchdown, hitting Brown again with a 56-yard pass to bring the Warriors to just a 55-50 deficit, but AIC would seal the deal when Williams scored his third touchdown of the game, breaking out for 34 yards to give the Jackets the 62-50 edge with 3:21 left in regulation.

The Jackets next take on the Pace Setters in Pleasantville, N.Y. for a 1 p.m. NE-10 contest on Saturday, September 21 before returning home to take on the Assumption Greyhounds on Friday, September 27 at 7 p.m. in another NE-10 matchup.