SPRINGFIELD, Mass.-The American International College football team was upset by the Assumption Greyhounds, 26-23 on Friday night at Abdow Field.

With the loss AIC falls to 2-2 and 2-1 in the Northeast-10, while with the win the Greyhounds improve to 2-2 and sit at 2-1 in conference play.

AIC's missed opportunities, two blocked field goals and four fumbles, were in large part the reason for the Yellow Jackets demise.

With 3:15 left in regulation and two timeouts, AIC junior quarterback Kevin Arduino (cornwall, N.Y.) sliced up the Assumption defense on the first three plays, all passes to senior wide receiver Matt Brown (North Kingston, R.I.) and added another catch by Joel Brown and then a 12-yard run as well to put AIC at the Assumption 18.

The Greyhounds pulled out all the stops they needed from there, forcing AIC to settle for a field goal attempt; however, Hulsey's kick was tipped and fell short, leaving AIC on the short end of the 26-23 final.

It did not start all that well for the Yellow Jackets either as Assumption scored on the opening drive of the game, going 63 yards on nine plays, capped by a one-yard rush by senior quarterback Bobby Jordan (Cromwell, Conn.) to give the Greyhounds an early 7-0 lead.

From there, a defensive struggle ensued, with both teams failing to score on their subsequent possessions, but AIC seemed to catch a break when senior running back Matt Pedone (Holden, Mass.) muffed a punt and the Jackets recovered at the Assumption 33. However, they could not drive far, and a field goal attempt by junior kicker Jared Hulsey (Springfield, Mass.) was blocked.

The Yellow Jackets finally got the offense going on the last drive of the half, taking advantage of an interception at midfield by senior defensive lineman Jordan Thompson (Syracuse, N.Y.) and scoring on a five-yard pass from junior quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) to senior wide receiver Cal Brownridge (Newark, N.J.) with just over 11 seconds left in the quarter.

AIC started with possession in the second half and took advantage, driving 73 yards in just seven plays and capping off with a score on a 17-yard touchdown run from junior wide receiver Maurice Easterling (Yonkers, N.Y.).

Assumption responded, driving 71 yards on nine plays and tallying when Jordan struck senior tight end Scott Simonson (Red Bank, N.J.) for a 12-yard touchdown pass, one of Simonson's team-high four catches on the day, but could not tie the game due to senior kicker Tad Beuchert (Danvers, Mass.) driving the point-after kick off of the left upright.

The Yellow Jackets, bolstered by the missed kick, took to the air on the first play of the drive, as Arduino threw a bullet to junior wide receiver Stephan Davis (Selden, N.Y.) for 49 yards; Arduino and Easterling would rush the rest of the way to the end zone, with Easterling punching it in from 10 yards out to give AIC a 21-13 lead with 4:52 left in the third quarter.

Assumption drove seventy yards on seven plays on the next possession, but stalled at the AIC ten-yard line thanks to some stout defense; Beuchert connected on a 28-yard field goal to bring the score to 21-16.

The Greyhounds attempted an onside kick, but it travelled out of bounds at the 50, and AIC attempted to take advantage by throwing to the end zone; the pass was intercepted by sophomore cornerback Kevon Lumsden (Englewood, N.J.), but a personal foul penalty by senior outside linebacker Mike Bates (Holden, Mass.) in the end zone resulted in a safety.

AIC took the ball off the kick and drove all the way to the Assumption one yard line but could not punch it in on third down. They elected to go for it on fourth down, but a botched pitch by freshman quarterback Jessel Jones (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led to a fumble and a recovery by Assumption, swinging the pendulum of momentum in their favor.

They scored quickly, driving 66 yards in nine plays in just 2:41, capping the drive with a ten-yard touchdown run by junior running back Matt Heriveaux (Everett, Mass.).

AIC was pinned deep on the ensuing kickoff, and the situation went from bad to worse when Easterling fumbled on his own five yard line, but the AIC defense made a brilliant goal-line stand and Assumption turned the ball over on downs. The offense could not match, going three-and-out and forcing a punt.

Bobby Jordan completed only one pass on the drive, but it was a critical one, as he connected with junior wide receiver Eddy Frazier (Worcester, Mass.) for 23 yards, putting the Greyhounds in range for a go-ahead field goal, which Beuchert drilled down the middle from 44 yards.

Arduino ended the day 19-of-33 for 198 yards and one touchdown, with 88 rushing yards as well; Easterling had the best day for the AIC offense, making four catches for 13 yards and rushing 17 times for 117 yards with two touchdowns, as he took over the position this week in place of injured senior running back Terrell Williams (Hempstead, N.Y.).

The Yellow Jackets return to action on Saturday, October 5 at 1 p.m. in South Easton, Mass., when they take on the Stonehill Skyhawks in another Northeast-10 matchup.