EASTON, Mass. American International College senior running back Maurice Easterling (Yonkers, N.Y.) rushed for two huge touchdowns, while junior safety Daquan Holmes (Troy, N.Y.) tied the program record with 14 career interceptions in football's critical Northeast-10 road win at Stonehill Saturday afternoon, 14-6.
With the win AIC evens out at 3-3 overall and moves to 3-2 in NE-10 games, while with the loss Stonehill falls to 4-2 and 3-2 in conference play.
For the second straight week, Easterling ran through the opposing defense, chalking up 181 yards on the ground with two monster scoring scampers of 70 and 57 yards in the third quarter. Easterling is averaging 180.7 yards over the last three games with four touchdowns.
Holmes recorded his fourth interception of the season and 14th of his career, tying Bob Parker's program record. The third year defensive back is five picks away from breaking the NE-10 record.
Although AIC did not score in the opening quarter, the Yellow Jacket defense kept the Skyhawks off the scoreboard, too. American International has yet to allow a first quarter point this season.
The Jackets won the toss and deferred and Stonehill proceeded to march down the field. The Skyhawks used 6:42 of clock on the opening drive that resulted in a 25-yard field goal attempt. With an easy shot to take a quick lead, AIC defensive end Andrew Justice (Brooklyn, N.Y.) got a hand on the kick for the block.
AIC punted on its first possession, but Skyhawk Donovan Phanor muffed the catch at the 40-yard line and recovered by Jacket sophomore Lorenzo Melchiorre (East Stroudsburg, Pa.).
With another shot, AIC could not move the ball on a tough Stonehill defense and was forced to punt for the second straight possession.
The two traded punts in the second frame minus two turnovers, one on each side.
AIC sophomore quarterback Kwame Jarvis (Schenectady, N.Y.) fumbled on his first possession of the second, while later in the half AIC senior linebacker Tyrone Mans (Newark, N.J.) picked off Skyhawk Matt Foltz deep in Yellow Jacket territory.
Out of the halftime break with no score, it took Easterling two rushes to find the end zone. After a five-yard opening run, he broke free for the first of his two touchdown runs, his second 70-plus yard scoring scamper in as many games.
Near the end of the third, senior corner back Mike Ford (Sammamish, Wash.) picked off a Foltz pass to set up Easterling's second scoring carry of the day. Easterling is averaging over 65 yards on his four touchdown runs in the last two weeks.
In the fourth, Stonehill capitalized on good field possession with a six-yard Foltz touchdown completion to Gordon McLeod to put Stonehill on the board, down 14-6 with 3:37 remaining in regulation.
The Yellow Jackets used 3:36 of that clock, but gave the Skyhawks one more chance. With a second left, Foltz completed a pass to McLeod who lateralled it to Kaleb Lutton, but Lutton lost the handle and Melchiorre came away with the ball to seal the Yellow Jacket victory.
Easterling finished with 181 yards, an average of 8.6 yards-per-carry. Jarvis completed 10-15 passes, but was sacked four times.
Mans led the defense with eight tackles, while Omari Manhertz (Bronx, N.Y.) and Anthony Appleton (Brooklyn, N.Y.) registered two sacks apiece. Justice and Danny Omoregie (Lynn, Mass.) made 1.5 sacks.
AIC returns to action Saturday, Oct. 17 at Bentley for a 1 p.m. kickoff with the Falcons.
