American International College

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College football team filled its Halloween basket with treats in the form of touchdowns, tricking Northeast 10 Conference foe Saint Anselm College 31-13 on Saturday, October 31.

AIC is now 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the NE10.

AIC needed just four plays from scrimmage for its first touchdown, a deep ball from Daron Bryden to Adrian Antoine for a 31-yard score. Two plays earlier in the drive, Bryden tossed for another big gain, hitting Jovanny Brown for 26. AIC led 7-0 just 2:03 into the game.

The Yellow Jackets forced a three-and-out on the first Hawks drive, and earned great field position thanks to a kick catch interference call on the ensuing punt, starting in Saint Anselm territory. Bryden earned the drive's lone first down on an 11-yard run up the middle on third-and-4, and three plays later hit Christopher Washington open over the middle at the 15; the wideout did the rest, cutting right and getting over the line at 7:25 to help AIC toward a 14-0 lead.

The Hawks were able to get on the board in the second quarter, completing a long drive that included converting a fourth and long, but failed in their PAT try, keeping AIC ahead by eight.

Shortly after, AIC was able to get the ball deep in Hawks territory, with Davante Goodine-Rodriguez forcing a fumble on the Hawks 10 that Mikai Gamble recovered. Luke Sheets connected for a 31-yard field goal as a result after an AIC touchdown was nullified by a penalty. 

On the next drive, AIC struck again, and this time it counted, with Bryden again finding Antoine open in space for a 29-yard score, allowing AIC to go into halftime ahead 24-6.

The Hawks attempted to climb back into the game in the third, scoring a touchdown midway through on a trick play with wide receiver Kyle Verriest finding tight end Ben Tilton for a 20-yard touchdown pass. 

AIC answered right back, however, and it was Con Patrick with the big play, breaking out a 54-yard touchdown run to give AIC a 31-13 lead just 1:36 later, which ultimately proved to be the final score.

Bryden had 11 completions for 163 yards and three scores, while Patrick's 54-yard run was the biggest of the day for AIC. Antoine and Washington each had three catches total, for 65 and 45 yards, respectively.

On defense, Gamble led AIC with 10 tackles, including 2.5 for losses; AIC's defense took the ball carrier down behind the line 10 times, with Goodine-Rodriguez accounting for three of those, Shamar Pink for two, and Jakkai Stith 1.5. Connor Dietz and Brandon Adorno each also had an interception in the game.

AIC will look to run its winning streak to three games in its road finale on Saturday, November 7 at noon at Bentley University.