MANCHESTER, N.H. American International senior quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) threw for four touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets defeated Saint Anselm in a Northeast-10 battle of the unbeatens Saturday afternoon at Grappone Stadium, 48-26.
With the win AIC improves to 5-1 overall and 5-0 in conference play, while with the loss the Hawks fall to 5-1 and 4-1 in NE-10 play.
Unlike last week's sloppy, rain soaked first half, both teams got off to fast starts this Saturday.
The Hawks marched their high flying, no-huddle offense down the field for a touchdown on the contest's first possession. St. A's sophomore quarterback Yianni Gavalas (Manhasset, N.Y.) completed all five of his pass attempts on the drive, going 55 yards in 10 plays and in 3:15.
The Yellow Jackets fired right back on the ensuing possession. Senior quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) hit wide receiver classmate Stephan Davis (Selden, N.Y.) in stride for a 46 yard TD catch, using just three plays and 1:22 of clock. Senior place kicker Jared Hulsey's (Springfield, Mass.) point after attempt made it 7-7 after two drives.
St. A's proceeded to march back down the field, something they have gotten used to this season, but junior safety Daquan Holmes (Troy, N.Y.) made his seventh interception on the AIC 16 yard line. The pick secured his lead in the NE-10 and nabs him sole place of second in all of Division II.
American International tacked on its second TD of the quarter with a 1:08 remaining. Arduino connected with senior wide out Evan Graham (Springfield, Mass.) on a 54 yard scoring toss, ending another quick four play drive, time of possession 45 seconds. Hulsey again was good and AIC led 14-7 after one.
The Yellow Jackets added two more in the second frame. Senior running back Terrell Williams (Hempstead, N.Y.) punched one in from a yard out to give AIC a 14 point lead. After a Hawk touchdown on the next drive, Arduino found tight end Gary Farley (Blue Point, N.Y.) who shook a few tackles down the near sideline and finished off the run in the end zone to put the Jackets back up by two scores.
Arduino tallied his fourth passing touchdown at the 3:58 mark of the first half, a 36 yard throw to Graham, taking the air out of the faithful at Grappone Stadium. Arduino finished the first half 14-of-18 for 246 yards and four scores.
Up 35-16 at the break after a Shane Grayson (Ormond Beach, Fla.) 41-yard kick to end the half, AIC was to receive the ball out of the half, having deferred the initial coin toss.
Looking to add to his healthy lead, Arduino made one of his few mistakes of the day, throwing a pick to Saint A's on the opening drive. The Hawks capitalized with a Gavalas 11 yard scoring scamper to make it 35-32, but that would be as close they got.
The teams traded field goals in the third from there, Hulsey hitting a 39 yard attempt that hit off the front of the goal post and climbed over. Everything was going AIC's way in the battle of the unbeatens.
Williams found the end zone for the second time to start the fourth and Hulsey sailed a 35 yard field goal try through the uprights and the Yellow Jacket defense held tight for the win.
Arduino ended the day completing 21-of-32 for 346 yards and four touchdowns. Williams led the ground game, netting 73 yards and two scores, while Graham registered 125 receiving yards and two TD catches. Davis finished with 98 yards receiving. Hulsey notched a perfect day, hitting all six point after attempts and both field goal tries.
Sophomore linebacker Jerrod Shelby (Brockton, Mass.) troubled the Hawks all day, recording 14 tackles, eight solo, six of them assisted. Demetrius Steed (Boston, Mass.) and senior linebacker Jaquawne Simpkins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) notched 10 and nine tackles apiece. Cornerback Darion Chappel (New York, N.Y.) brought down 11 Hawks.
AIC returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 18 for the homecoming game when the Yellow Jackets take on rival New Haven in another Northeast-10 showdown. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. from Ronald J. Abdow Field.
