SPRINGFIELD, Mass.- The American International football team outlasted Bentley University in a rain soaked Northeast-10 contest Saturday afternoon at Abdow Field, 19-16.
With the win AIC improves to 4-1 overall and 4-0 in NE-10 play, while with the loss Bentley drops to 1-4 and 0-4 in conference action.
On a crucial third and short run for the Yellow Jackets in Falcon territory, senior quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) pushed for the chains and gained a much needed yard, but when the chain gang took the field for measurement he came up inches short.
Bentley took over on downs with 2:28 remaining in the game and trailed just 19-16. The Falcons proceeded to march down the field with graduate quarterback Dan Guadagnoli (Framingham, Mass.) completing 4-of-5 passes and down to the AIC 10 yard line.
With the clock ticking under a minute to go and Bentley first and goal to go, Guadagnoli threw for the end zone, but Yellow Jacket safety Daquan Holmes (Troy, N.Y.) met the pass at the pylon and got his toes down for his sixth interception of the season, preserving the AIC win late.
Arduino kneeled it twice after a Bentley timeout and the Yellow Jackets left the field victorious and unbeaten in conference play so far this season.
Mother nature did not cooperate early as AIC punted three times in the first half. The only offense came on a 24 yard, Jared Hulsey (Springfield, Mass.) field goal, erasing an early safety.
The Yellow punted away their first possession of the second half, but Guadagnoli gave it right back, picked off by Darion Chappel (New York, N.Y.) at the AIC 44 yard line.
Facing another third and long, Arduino hit senior wide receiver Stephan Davis (Selden, N.Y.) on a 59 yard scoring toss and the Hulsey point after put AIC up, 10-2.
On the ensuing possession, the Falcons gained a few big chunks and added 15 yards on a personal foul penalty against AIC, taking it down to the Yellow Jacket 10. Guadagnoli missed a few targets and were forced to try a 27 yard field goal, but Raymond Durrett (Hillside, N.Y.) got up for the block, recovered by American International's Demetrius Steed (Boston, Mass.), AIC ball on its own 38 yard line.
The Yellow Jackets capitalized, taking it down to the goal line on rushes from Arduino, before he finally broke the plane on his third try, putting AIC up, 16-2.
Bentley found the end zone with seconds remaining in the third and snapped an AIC defensive streak of 10 quarters without allowing an offensive touchdown.
On the next drive, Arduino hit receivers Evan Graham (Springfield, Mass.) and Maurice Easterling (Yonker's, N.Y.) and rushed for a few himself, setting up Hulsey for a 32 yard field goal try, which he sent sailing through the uprights, his second of the day and gave his team a two score lead.
Each team started to get used to the dampness, highlighted by a fifth straight drive that ended on the scoreboard.
Guadagnoli found senior wideout Jeff Hill (Mansfield, Mass.) in the back of the end zone to bring the Falcons within three, 19-16.
The next possession Arduino rushed valiantly, but could not cross the plain and the Bentley drive ended in the arm of Holmes.
Despite the slow start and plethora of dropped passes in the early stages of the game, Arduino finished 12-of-22 for 180 yards and one score. Arduino led the team on the ground, as well, racking up 123 net yards. Senior tailback Terrell Williams (Hempstead, N.Y.) registered 52 yards rushing.
Adding to his pick, Holmes notched a seven tackles, five of them solo. Steed also wrapped up seven Falcons, tallying six solo tackles.
AIC gave up two touchdowns in the second half, but still own the league's best points-allowed-average with 15.20.
The Yellow Jackets return to action next Saturday, Oct. 11 at fellow NE-10 unbeaten Saint Anselm. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
