SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - A big second quarter was the difference as Assumption University defeated the American International College football team 39-21 in a nonconference game between Northeast 10 Conference programs on Saturday, September 13.

AIC is now 0-2 on the season.

Both teams went three-and-out on their first drives, and after AIC did again on its second chance, the Greyhounds struck first. Keith Mancini made the first big play, an 18-yard catch on third-and-14, and followed that with a 15-yard catch to move the Greyhounds to the AIC 19. Jay Kastantin then found Connor Smith in the end zone for the score at 8:18. The point after missed, however, with Massimo Sgambati bouncing the ball off the right upright.

The Yellow Jackets put on a good drive in response, rushing and throwing for first downs, and entered Greyhounds territory for the first time before a fumble abruptly ended the push at the Assumption 27. The visitors then flipped the field with a 31-yard catch on the penultimate play of the opening quarter. The break proved fruitful for AIC's defense, as William Wilson sacked Kastantin on the first play of the stanza, ultimately leading to a Greyhounds punt.

Assumption's next drives proved much more successful. AJ Robinson dashed off a 15-yard touchdown run at the 6:09 mark, and after Sgambati hit the PAT, he made up for his earlier miss. The kicker squibbed the ball forward and fell on it at the 46-yard line. AIC challenged the call that the ball had gone 10 yards before being touched - the first challenge in program history - but review confirmed the play was legal.

The Greyhounds' next play was another bomb, 46 yards in the air to Mancini to get inside the AIC 10. Four plays later, Dom Santiago pushed through a two-yard carry for six, on a drive lasting just 2:02. Sgambati tacked on another point. AIC's following drive lasted just three plays before a fumble deep in Yellow Jackets territory set up another Greyhounds score; the defense only conceded six yards, but Sgambati connected for a field goal.

AIC's final drive of the half started badly; a too-many men penalty pushed the team back to its own 20. However, Connor Dietz dashed off an eight-yard run, and then Ronjai Francis made his grand entrance. He bused off back-to-back carries of 26 and 18 yards, moving AIC deep into Assumption territory. Dietz took it from there, scampering 28 yards and blowing past defenders for a touchdown with 2:12 left in the half. Santana Fonseca put up the bonus point successfully.

Assumption seemingly put the dagger in in response. Kastantin found Smith over the middle at the Assumption 46 and the reciever did the rest, flying all the way to the end zone. Sgambatti's kick made the score 30-7, which held at halftime. The Greyhounds then added another to start the second half, driving length of the field and finishing with a Zylas Abney catch just 4:07 in to extend its lead to 29.

Rather than fold, AIC found another gear. Andres Perez busted a 46-yard kickoff return to just shy of midfield, and Dietz led a scoring drive that featured three different receivers making catches and both the quarterback and Francis make key runs for first downs. On fourth and goal, Dietz dialed up the magic again, finding Guensley Louis open for the touchdown.

AIC's defense then did its part; Nevin Earl sacked Kastantin on the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, and Ahsin Jacobs picked off the pass on the following play to give AIC the ball in enemy territory. The drive took into the fourth quarter, but only by one play: Francis cutting left and going six yards for his first collegiate touchdown. Fonseca hit his third PAT of the day and AIC suddenly was within 15.

Unfortunately, that was as close as the team would get; the Greyhounds scored the only remaining points of the game on a field goal on the following drive for the 39-21 final.

Francis rushed for 70 yards on nine carries and added 28 on four catches, while Dietz dashed for 161 yards, the second-most in a game in the NE10 since the start of 2024, trailing only the 168 that Sidiki Kone '25 had for AIC against Post last November. He also threw for an additional 111 yards, spreading the catches across eight receivers.

AIC will open NE10 play on Saturday, September 20 at Southern Connecticut State University. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.