SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College football team put together a strong defensive showing to sink Post University 19-10 in Northeast 10 Conference play on Saturday, November 1.

AIC is now 1-7 with a 1-5 NE10 record.

The Yellow Jackets forced a three-and-out on Post's first drive of the game, and then drove the field following the punt from the Eagles. Cephas Williams hit Fatir Bell for a 16-yard pass on AIC's first play from scrimmage, followed by a 12-yard run by Amir Smith, a 14-yard catch from Connor Dietz, and a nine-yard rush by Smith that also featured an extra five-yard facemasking penalty. Dietz then dashed the final six yards to the end zone, with a five-yard and one-yard run, and Santana Fonseca kicked the extra point to put AIC up 7-0 4:05 into the game.

The defense came up clutch again on the next Post drive. The Eagles worked into AIC territory on a 31-yard catch to the Yellow Jackets 22, but Mikai Gamble and Darrell Owens stuffed the next run in the backfield, and two plays later William Wilson sacked the quarterback. The Eagles went for it on 4th-and-12, only to be denied the line to gain with a Malachi Salazar tackle four yards shy.

The Yellow Jackets once again drove the field late in the first, working down into the red zone, but a fumble near the goal line meant the drive came up empty. Both teams went three-and-out, and Matthew Slojkowski booted a perfect punt that the Yellow Jackets downed on the one. Shamar Pink did the rest, stuffing the Eagles running back in the end zone for a safety; it was the first safety for the AIC defense since September 30, 2017, when Cyriacus Ibezim tackled a Saint Anselm College back in the end zone in another situation where AIC had downed a punt on the opposing team's one-yard line.

The Eagles had their best chance to score later in the quarter on a blocked punt that went out of bounds at AIC's nine-yard line. However, once again the defense came up clutch. After Pink and Derik Lopez stopped the first rush at the line of scrimmage, a holding call pushed the Eagles back. Ahsin Jacobs then made a brilliant defensive play at the one, knocking a pass away at the last possible moment. The following play, Gamble strip-sacked Malakai Taylor, and Darrell Owens fell on the ball, giving the Yellow Jackets possession at their own 33.

The team took full advantage of the shocking shift in momentum. Williams found Bell open at the 50 on a 3rd-and-11 pass for 18 yards, and though the Eagles pushed AIC back to the 30 thanks to a sack and a holding penalty, a late hit on Dietz gave AIC a new set of downs. Williams then found Andres Perez with a 19-yard pass, followed by hitting Gunesley Louis over the middle for another 18. The last play was another target to Perez, as Williams threaded the ball through to the rookie wideout for the touchdown with 1:21 to play. Fonseca's kick gave AIC a 16-0 lead.

The Eagles did score to break the shutout before halftime, quickly driving in close enough to hit a 29-yard field goal as time expired. 

Early in the third, the Eagles pulled the game to within six points thanks to a strong drive down field. The key plays included passes of 23 and 18 yards before Tyler Phommachanh hit Israel Hiraldo with a 19-yard touchdown throw, and the PAT made the score 16-10. 

The next Post possession saw the Eagles find their way into AIC territory, but the defense locked in. Jacobs busted up another deep pass and Shamar Pink forced a bad throw on third down. The Eagles went for it, but this time Hiraldo could not haul the deep ball in, giving the Yellow Jackets possession again on downs.

Neither team did much with their next drives, but AIC was able to tack on critical points in the middle of the fourth. Starting from near midfield, Williams found Perez again on a swing route that saw the rookie cross into Post territory, and another unsportsmanlike conduct call on the Eagles moved AIC deeper. Amir Smith later broke off six-yard and 11-yard rushes to put AIC in the red zone. The Eagles kept AIC out of the end zone, but Santana Fonseca was able to put home a 23-yard field goal for a 19-10 lead.

That proved decisive; AIC forced a three-and-out on the subsequent drive, and the final Post possession ended with Phommachanh's deep ball being picked off by Tyrone Smith. One rush and two kneel-downs later, the Yellow Jackets were victorious. 

Williams was 17-of-23 for 187 yards and the one touchdown, while Amir Smith led the rushing attach with 57 yards on 20 carries. Perez hauled in seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive side, Gamble had an incredible day; in addition to the forced fumble, he led AIC with 11 tackles, three of which were for losses including 2.5 sacks.

AIC plays its home finale on Saturday, November 8 against Post University at 1:00 p.m. It will be Senior Day.