MANCHESTER, New Hampshire - The American International College football team lost 27-14 to Saint Anselm College in Northeast 10 Conference play on Saturday, October 18.

AIC is now 0-6 with an 0-4 NE10 record.

The Hawks struck first with a pair of big plays, gaining 17 and 43 yards to move into the red zone before Ronan Noke rushed in from two yards out less than eight minutes in. They were then able to score from a short distance, as the defense was able to block a punt and recover at AIC's 13. Jake Croce caught a touchdown pass with 1:20 to go to put the home team ahead, and after the extra point, Saint Anselm was ahead 14-0.

AIC's next drive took the game into the second quarter and the Hawks red zone, but their drive came up empty as a field goal attempt was blocked. 

The next time AIC had the ball, however, the Yellow Jackets finally broke through. Keyed by Cephas Williams hitting Brian Lafrance for 16 yards and Connor Dietz for 24 yards, AIC pushed into the Hawks end of the field, and Bo Catherwood rushed across the line for the final five yards for an AIC touchdown. At the half, the score remained 14-7.

Both teams came up empty in their first drives of the third quarter, but the Hawks expanded the lead with a 10-play, 66 yard drive to score a touchdown. Their following drive was also a success, carrying into the fourth quarter, where Drew Forkner punched it in for the final yard of a 6-play, 48-yard scoring drive.

The Yellow Jackets did score once in the fourth, driving eight plays for 79 yards, capped off when Lukas Kasko hit rookie Andres Perez for a 29-yard touchdown, leaving the 27-14 final.

Williams went 25-of-40 for 191 yards, while Kasko was 5-of-5 for 71 yards. Dietz was the leading rusher with 36 yards as well as the top receiver with six catches for 63 yards. Jaree jones topped the defense with eight tackles, including a sack, and Jakkai Stith had seven tackles and a sack.

AIC returns to action Saturday, October 25 at noon at Assumption University.