NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - It was a game of close calls, but the American International College football team ultimately ended on the wrong side of a 10-3 score at Southern Connecticut State University in Northeast 10 Conference play on Saturday, September 20.

AIC is now 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the NE10.

The Owls had the first big drive of the game on their first possession, starting on their own 17 and pushing deep into AIC territory thanks in part to a 15-yard John Amaning rush on 4th-and-3 at the AIC 38 to keep their offense on the field. They were able to get into the red zone, but AIC's defense locked in there. The Yellow Jackets forced another fourth down and the Owls, perhaps emboldened by their prior success, went for it from the two-yard line. This time, though, Mikai Gamble and Malachi Salazar met Amaning at the line of scrimmage, stuffing the run play and taking away the ball on downs.

Heading into the second quarter, the Owls took the ball back at midfield, but AIC's defense again came up. Southern Connecticut once again turned it over on downs, hindered by three penalties including a pair of delay of game calls. 

AIC's first scoring chance came in the late stages of the quarter; the Yellow Jackets started a drive in Owls territory, and a late-hit penalty tacked on 15 yards to the nine that Cephas Williams rushed for on the first play, pushing AIC near to the red zone. However, the drive stalled, and ended empty after a missed field goal.

The Yellow Jackets had one final drive in the half, and Connor Dietz found Guensley Louis and Fatir Bell for a pair of 19-yard first down passes. With time running out, Dietz hit Louis with a pass, but he was tackled just shy of the goal line as time expired, leaving the game scoreless at the break.

The Owls finally broke through early in the third. Starting deep in AIC territory after an interception, the hosts only needed to traverse 35 yards to break the shutout, with Kieran Falzon crossing on the ground for the final four yards. 

AIC looked to counter, and was able to drive into Owls territory, but once again were stopped short of the goal line. With plenty of time still left in the fourth, Santana Fonseca booted a field goal through to cut the gap to 7-3.

Unfortunately, that ended up being AIC's only score of the game; the Owls tacked on a field goal on their next drive, and then stopped AIC from there for the 10-3 final.

Jakkai Stith had an outstanding defensive effort with 14 tackles, including eight solos. He had two behind the line, including a sack.

AIC returns home for Homecoming 2025 to face Bentley University at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 27.