PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y.-The American International football team (2-1, 2-0 NE-10) jumped out to a 27-0 first half lead and then held on for a 48-27 victory against the Pace Setters (0-3, 0-2 NE-10).

Junior quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) was impressive, going 13 of 20 for 344 yards and four touchdowns, but it was his running ability that led off the scoring, as he scampered for a three yard tally to cap a five play, 58 yard drive with 5:25 left in the first frame.

Then, with just :33 left in the quarter, Arduino hit senior wide receiver Matt Brown (North Kingstown, R.I.) for a 25 yard score to put AIC up 13-0, on another long five-play drive.

The next turn with the ball only took two plays, as Arduino teamed up with classmate Stephan Davis (Selden, N.Y.) for a 65 yard touchdown strike with 12:34 left in the half; AIC would add another touchdown just two plays later, as freshman defensive back Daquan Holmes (Troy, N.Y.) picked up a 35 yard pick six with 11:44 left in the quarter to give AIC a 27-0 advantage.

However, Pace began to play better after that; taking advantage of a pair of penalties by the AIC defense, they drove the field, breaking the shutout when freshman running back Delaney Wallace (Moorestown, N.J.) broke off a 27 yard scoring run to make it 27-7; Pace then made it 27-13 when freshman quarterback Antwan Washington (Belle Glade, Fla.) finished a drive with a one-yard run with 2:20 left in the half; the drive started on the AIC 7 after a fumble.

However, the Jackets executed a quick strike, as Arduino hit senior running back Terrell Williams (Hempstead, N.Y.) for a 72 yard score on the first play of the ensuing drive.

The Setters took advantage of another fumble deep in AIC territory before the half ended, starting at the AIC nine and finishing when Washington hit junior running back Blair Wynn (Englewood, N.J.) for a six yard score to make it 34-20 just before the end of the half.

Pace had two more chances early in the second half, recovering another fumble inside the AIC 20 and then blocking a punt in the red zone, but this time the defense held the Setters off, permanently swinging the pendulum of momentum in AIC's favor. The Jackets scored the first touchdown of the half in the final frame, as Arduino hit Davis again, this time for a 27 yard score with 12:57 left.

The Setters did quickly respond, with Washington throwing to junior wide receiver Cameron Davis (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) for a 35 yard score with 10:52 left, but sophomore running back Shervon Barthelmy (Coram, N.Y.) ended any hope of a comeback with a 16 yard touchdown run with 6:52 left to give AIC the 48-27 final score.

The Yellow Jackets next take on the Assumption Greyhounds under the lights at 7 p.m. at Ronald J. Abdow Field on Friday, September 27, for a critical Northeast-10 contest.