BROOKVILLE, N.Y. The American International football team punched one in the end zone with 32 seconds remaining and LIU Post's last second field goal chance missed as the Yellow Jackets rebounded with a 27-24 Northeast-10 victory Saturday at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Field.
With the win AIC improves to 6-2 overall and 6-1 in NE-10 play, while with the loss LIU Post falls to 503 and 5-2 in conference play.
Down 24-20 with just 3:41 to play AIC took advantage of a kick-off out-of-bounds to start at the 35-yard line.
After a first-down sack Arduino completed six straight passes to march the Jackets down inside the red-zone including three to senior Gary Farley (Blue Point, N.Y.)) for 23 yards. After back-to-back incompletions AIC converted a crucial third and ten from the LIU Post 19 as Arduino connected with senior Maurice Easterling (Yonkers, N.Y.) for 15 yards to the Pioneer 4 yard-line with 57 seconds to play.
From there Arduino took over and plowed behind his offensive line three straight runs culminating in a 1-yard plunge for the go ahead score and after the successful point after attempt American International led 27-24 with just 29 ticks remaining.
LIU Post took over at their own 35 after a 31-yard return by freshman Kyle Ward (Elizabeth, N.J.). Senior signal-caller Steven Laurino (Boise, Idaho) then completed passes of 11, 15 and 15 yards to get the ball into AIC territory at the 24-yard line. After Laurino spiked the ball to stop the clock the Pioneers sent out senior place-kicker Karsten Viste (Randaberg, Norway), however, his 41-yard attempt sailed wide left and the Yellow Jackets escaped with a 27-24 victory.?
The win gives the Yellow Jackets back sole possession of the Northeast-10 lead.
AIC got on the board first, late in the opening quarter. After a senior place kicker Jared Hulsey (Springfield, Mass.) 23-yard field goal attempt was blocked and recovered by LIU Post, the Pioneers coughed it up on the next play. Omari Manhertz (Bronx, N.Y.) recovered the ball at the Pioneer 22-yard line, setting up great field position for the AIC offense.
Arduino gained five yards on two carries before hitting senior receiver Stephan Davis (Selden, N.Y.) for a 17-yard scoring catch on third down. The Hulsey point after made it 7-0 with 2:40 remaining in the first.
The AIC defense made it difficult for the Pioneers in the red zone, forcing three field goal attempts in the first half. LIU went one-for-three, missing the first attempt a 42-yard try wide right on the opening drive. Viste hit a 39 yarder to make it 7-3 and was blocked on a 32-yard try by Andrew Justice (Brooklyn, N.Y.).
AIC made it a two score game late in the half. Arduino hit three different receivers on a three-play, 77-yard drive, ending with a 69-yard touchdown reception by Easterling.
The Jackets took a 14-3 advantage into the half. Arduino completed 9-of-14 passes for 172 yards and no interceptions. Easterling led the way receiving with three catches for 119 yards and the long TD catch.
Out of the break, Post capitalized on a poor AIC punt, starting a drive deep in Yellow Jacket territory at the 34-yard line. The Pioneers went eight plays in 2:33. Quarterback Steve Laurino ran it in the final five yards to bring it back within one possession, 14-10 with just over 4:00 left in the third.
The two teams traded touchdowns to start the fourth. AIC gave themselves a much needed buffer when sophomore tailback Marcel DePina (New Bedford, Mas.) broke away for a 35-yard scoring scamper to put the Jackets back up, 20-10.
On the ensuing Pioneer possession, Laurino connected with Hubbard for a 23-yard touchdown reception, bringing it back within a field goal.
The Jacket offense got the ball back with 5:30 and a three-point lead. Arduino hit Davis for a 34-yard reception into LIU territory, but the next pass on 2nd-and-6 was picked off by top Pioneer linebacker Anthony Brunetti at the Post 32-yard line with 4:02 left to play and the offense scored on the next play, taking the lead, but not before AIC rallied.
Arduino finished 24-of-41 for 350 yards and two touchdowns. Easterling caught six balls for 149 yards including the long, 69-yard TD catch.
Yellow Jacket senior Joel Bowen (Brooklyn, N.Y.) made a team-high 10 tackles. Defensive lineman Patrick Hunter (New Haven, Conn.) sacked Laurino twice for nine yards loss. The AIC defense sacked the Post QB four times.
AIC returns to action next Saturday, Nov. 1 at Merrimack. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
