SPRINGFIELD, Mass. The American International football team fell in the Northeast-10 Championship game to LIU Post Saturday afternoon at Abdow Field, 58-25.
With the loss the Yellow Jackets finish the season 8-3 overall.
The Pioneers broke onto the scoreboard first early in the second quarter, after a scoreless first frame, with a 20-yard touchdown pass from senior Steve Laurino (Boise, Idaho) to sophomore running back David White (Bronx, N.Y.).
The Yellow Jackets punted the ball back to LIU on the ensuing possession, but senior punter Daniel Backx (Evesham, England) pinned the Pioneers deep in their own territory. AIC linebacker Omari Manhertz (Bronx, N.Y.) got Mike Williams (Westbury, N.Y.) in the end zone for the safety.
AIC got the ball back in good field position after the Pioneers sent the kickoff out-of-bounds, starting the drive on the 50-yard line. Jacket wide receiver Maurice Easterling (Yonkers, N.Y.) capped the five play drive with a five-yard scoring scamper and the Jared Hulsey (Springfield, Mass.) kick made it 9-7 AIC.
On the Yellow Jackets next possession, senior quarterback Kevin Arduino (Cornwall, N.Y.) hit wide receiver classmate Stephan Davis (Selden, N.Y.) on a 28-yard reception to give the Jackets a 16-7 lead.
The Pioneers sent a 22-yard field goal attempt through the uprights as time expired in the half to bring it within six at the break.
AIC received the ball first in the third and were forced a three-and-out by the Post defense. The Pioneers in turn marched 64-yards in 15 plays, ending with a Laurino two-yard scoring scamper to give his Pioneers a one point advantage.
The teams traded punts before Arduino orchestrated a three-play, 52-yard scoring drive, ending with an Easterling 17-yard touchdown reception to put the Jackets back up, 23-17.
From there, Laurino led three straight scoring drives in the third, all passes. The lone bright spot in the second half for AIC was a blocked point after attempt by Joel Bowen (Brooklyn, N.Y.), returned the distance by Malik Copper (Bloomfield, N.J.) for a two-point defensive score.
LIU added three more touchdowns in the fourth, one off a fumble and another on a huge 72-yard reception.
Arduino finished 22-of-39 for 298 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked once. As a team AIC churned up 163 rush yards off six different ball handlers. Evan Graham (Springfield, Mass.) led the wide-outs with 100 yards off five catches,
Bowen had a career day with 17 tackles, 11 of them solo efforts and the blocked kick. Senior linebacker Jaquawne Simpkins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) notched 10 tackles, seven solo, while Danny Omoregie (Lynn, Mass.) made seven.
It was a hard fought season for AIC, making it back to the Northeast-10 title game for the third straight year in only its third year of existence.
