North Andover, Massachusetts- The American International football team hit the road for the first time this season. Despite scoring the first 13 points and holding Merrimack scoreless in the first half, the Yellow Jackets dropped the game 16-13.
On Merrimack's second possession of the game,
Daquan Holmes picked off the Warriors' quarterback and gave the Yellow Jackets the ball just 46 yards from the end zone. Five plays later,
Evan Graham made a spectacular one handed catch in the back of the end zone to give the Yellow Jackets the 7-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets intercepted another Warrior pass, this time it was
Jacquese Johnson on the receiving end. The Yellow Jackets moved the ball down to the Warriors 14 yard line and settled for three points.
Jerrod Shelby recorded the third interception of the first half, which he returned for 17 yards down to the Yellow Jackets 46 yard line.
At the 11:07 mark the Yellow Jackets added three more points on a
Christopher Boteler 26 yard field goal to give the Yellow Jackets the 13-0 lead. On the next Warriors possession, they drove 93 yards on 12 plays in five minutes to put their first points up on the board.
The Warriors' special teams made a momentum changing play in the third quarter. When the Yellow Jackets were set to punt on their own 16, a Warrior player got his hand on the ball that bounced out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Following the safety, the Yellow Jacket punt went out of bounds at the 35 yard line and the penalty gave the Warriors the ball on the 50 yard line. They capitalized on the field position as they took the 16-13 lead on an eight yard pass.
Joseph Czelusniak led the way under center with 178 passing yards on 10-32 passing with one touchdown.
Ju'an Williams had six receptions for 119 yards, including a completion of 42 yards.
Azeem Cooper and
Cyriacus Ibezim notched 11 tackles a piece for the Yellow Jackets. While
Jerrod Shelby and
Danny Omoregie chipped in with nine tackles each.
The Warriors win snaps the Yellow Jackets five game winning streak at Merrimack. The Yellow Jackets return to action next week at home against Pace University. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, September 17 at noon.
