SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College football team won 21-9 over Pace University in its home and Northeast 10 Conference finale, sending its 19-member senior class off in style.

AIC is now 2-7 overall and 2-5 in the NE10.

The Yellow Jackets struck first late in the first quarter with an 11-play, 62-yard touchdown drive. Amir Smith broke off the first big play with a 13-yard first down rush, and three plays later, Cephas Williams hit Fatir Bell in stride for a 23-yard gain. Ultimately it was Connor Dietz scoring, as the sophomore scampered around the right end for the score, and Santana Fonseca's PAT put AIC ahead 7-0 with 4:15 left in the frame.

Early in the second, the Setters had a drive end abruptly. On the team's first play after a put return, William Wilson blew past the line and strip sacked Ethan Coady. Eric Jennings pounced on the ball and AIC recovered at the 27. The very next play, Williams threw a dart to Kevin Pinhiero in the end zone for a score. Fonseca tacked on the extra point to give AIC a 14-0 lead just 1:21 into the second.

Pace answered back with a field goal, and neither team was able to sscore again before halftime, as AIC took a 14-3 lead into the locker room.

In the third, Pace began with possession and took advantage, driving down the field on 10 plays, opening with Anthony Robinson breaking off 24 and 16 yard runs to give the Setters life. Ultimately, it was Ethan Lopez punching it in from two yards out. The subsequent attempt at two failed, however, leaving AIC leading 14-9.

Neither team was able to get much going for the remainder of the third; AIC had a long drive stall and end on downs, and heading into the fourth, AIC still led by five. Wilson intercepted a pass near midfield for his second takeaway of the game, but the Setters intercepted the next pass in turn to regain the ball. They drove into AIC territory, but the defense held, and Jaree Jones broke up a fourth-and-five pass to generate another takeaway.

This time, AIC handled the ball well. Williams found Jensen Martinez-Pizzaro open and in stride at midfield, and the senior flew down to the Pace nine-yard line before being tripped up. Williams and Martinez-Pizzaro finished the job three plays later as the quarterback zipped a pass to the left for the touchdown with just 5:44 to play.

That was the last of the scoring as the Yellow Jackets held the Setters off to put away the win.

Smith was AIC's leading rusher with 63 yards on the ground. Williams threw for 238 yards on 16-of-28 with two touchdowns. Pinhiero led the team with 88 receiving yards, and Brian LaFrance was next with 71, while Bell had 51. Tra'Vion Singleton led AIC with 10 tackes, while Wilson had five including two behind the line and three hurries. 

AIC has one more game, a nonconference tilt at Bentley University on November 15.