SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Two Yellow Jackets notched two touchdowns as the American International College football team dropped longtime rival Southern Connecticut Saturday in the home opener at Abdow Field, 44-13.
With the win AIC improves to 1-1 and 1-0 in Northeast-10 play, while with the loss SCSU opens the season 0-2 and 0-1 in the NE-10.
After a season opening game without a touchdown, it took just one drive against the Owls to get back on track.
AIC threw a heavy dose of Willie Brown IV (Mt. Dora, Fla.) in the opening drive, going to him on the first four carries of the game. Brown gave the Jackets a first down on his fourth carry to extend the drive, a one yard rush to the AIC 46-yard line.
Sophomore quarterback Kwame Jarvis (Schenectady, N.Y.) then tossed a 41-yard ball to freshman wide receiver Ju'an Williams (Springfield, Mass.) to the SCSU 13-yard line. Sophomore running back Marcel DePina (New Bedford, Mass.) took the next two carries to pay dirt and gave American International their first TD of the season.
The two went scoreless the rest of the first quarter before AIC capped an 11 play, 61 yard drive with a 30-yard Williams TD reception.
The Yellow Jackets defense forced a third three-and-out to start the game and exploded on the ensuing drive. Brown rushed for a yards loss, but on the next play, junior wideout Evan Graham (Springfield, Mass.) broke free from the secondary and hauled in a 63-yard touchdown, Jarvis' first collegiate TD pass.
On the next play from scrimmage, senior corner back Mike Ford (Sammamish, Wash.) picked off robert Nittolo's pass on the SCSU 40-yard line, but the Owls responded with a three-and-out and no harm done.
The Yellow Jackets went into the intermission blanking the Owls, 27-0.
AIC started the second half with yet another three-and-out and on the first play from scrimmage of the half, Jarvis connected with Graham again, this time a 75-yard TD scoring strike.
The Owls took over again and moved the chains with a Yellow Jacket pass interference call, but senior defensive back Daquan Holmes (Troy, N.Y.) was at it again, picking off Nittolo and with a few good blocks, cruised to the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown return and give AIC a 41-0 lead.
After a solid day fielding kicks, freshman Kyle Boyer-Tucker (Edison, N.J.) muffed a punt that dribbled to the SCSU one-yard line where the Owls recovered. So. Connecticut tailback Robert Thomas broke the plain to give the Owls their first score of the day. After the missed point after attempt, AIC led 41-6 with just under six minutes to go in the third.
Jarvis opened the fourth with his only blemish of the day, an interception by Darren Jackson in his own end zone, forcing a touchback.
Midway through the final frame, SCSU recorded their best drive of the day, capping a 14 play, 53 yard drive with a Vochan Fowler six-yard scoring scamper.
Sophomore quarterback Shawn Brathwaite (Yonkers, N.Y.) came in to get some snaps at quarterback and the Yellow Jackets leaned on freshman Troy Morrow (Springfield, Mass.) to run out the clock.
The AIC offense rattled off 380 total yards, while the defense roughed up the Owls and only allowed 137 yards. Rob Hansen (Roosevelt, N.Y.) led the team with eight tackles, seven solo, and registered a sack.
Sophomore Danny Omoregie (Lynn, Mass.) and junior Andrew Justice (Brooklyn, N.Y.) also combined for a sack that forced Nittolo back six yards. American International is allowing just 216.0 yards through the first two games.
Jarvis finished 10-17 for 259 yards and three touchdowns. Graham caught three passes for 150 yards and two scores, while Williams made four receptions for 87 yards and a score.
AIC returns to action Saturday, Sep. 19 at New Haven. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. from West Haven, Conn.
