SPRINGFIELD, Mass. The American International College football team concluded their season during Northest-10 Championship Weekend action this afternoon with a 17-7 setback to Southern Connecticut State University from Ronald J. Abdow Field.
Both squads finish the year with identical 4-7 records.
During a very windy day in Springfield neither team could generate much offense in the first-half only combining for 10 first downs and 150 yards of total offense.
The second half started with a fury of strong defense as both teams forced turnovers on the oppositions opening possessions before Owl freshman Ahmed Hourani (Fairfield, Conn.) forced a fumble with a sack and Southern Connecticut used seven plays to go 30 yards for the 7-0 lead with 9:14 to play in the third.
Senior tailback Robert Thomas (Brooklyn, N.Y.) capped the drive with a two-yard plunge for the opening score of the game.
The Jackets then took advantage of their best field position of the day starting at the SCSU 37 yard-line and only needed four plays as freshman Willie Brown (Mt. Dora, Fla.) scampered 15 yards into the land of six to tie the contest at 7-7 with just over one minute remaining in the third period.
Southern Connecticut came right back a few possessions later with a deep strike as freshman quarterback Rob Nittolo (Hillsborough, N.J.) went deep down the sideline for junior Devante Jenkins (Carson, Calif.) for a 69-yard pass play and a 14-7 advantage with 11:41 to play in the final quarter.
The Owls then used 5:19 of the clock midway through the fourth quarter to go 66 yards in nine plays and settled for a 21-yard field goal by freshman Evan Nelson (Madison, Conn.) for the 17-7 edge with just 2:23 to play.
Strong defense forced a four-and-out for AIC and after a couple of kneel downs the Owls secured the victory.
The Owls led the offensive yardage battle 287-143 and controlled possession 33:40-26:20.
Nittolo finished the day just 5-for-22 for 89 yards, but Thomas went off on the ground carrying the ball 31 times for 161 yards and one score.
Brown racked up 89 yards on 14 touches for AIC to lead the way. Senior Tyrone Mans (Newark, N.J.) led all defenders with 11 tackles (six solo) while Jerrod Shelby (Brockton, Mass.) added nine tackles for AIC. Senior Andrew Justice (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and freshman Joseph Baccas (Hillburn, N.Y.) each recorded sacks for the hosts.
Both defenses forced a pair of turnovers, but SCSU had six sacks led by Jarred Moorer with a pair of his own.
