American International College

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College football team fell 37-14 to Northeast 10 Conference rival Assumption University on Saturday, September 26.

AIC is now 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the NE10.

Treyvion Gilbert returned the opening kickoff 70 yards, giving the Greyhounds great field position, and two plays later it was 6-0 after Dom Santiago hit Will McNamara with a pass in the end zone. Sean McGee gave AIC some life, however, blocking the extra point attempt.

AIC's drive pushed quickly into Assumption territory thanks to long catches by Christopher Washington and Eric Neal Jr., but ultimately came up empty on a turnover on downs. Assumption turned that stop into points, marching downfield and booting a 33-yard field goal for a 9-0 lead.

The Yellow Jackets again drove into Assumption territory, and another long Washington catch was key as AIC pushed to the 21 yard line. However, an interception by Damion Sparrow near the goal line ended AIC's possession. 

Assumption began to work its way forward, but AIC's defense shut down the drive quickly, and forced the Greyhounds to punt. The special teams play was a disaster for the visitors; the snap went well over Peter Burns' head and into the end zone, and the punter had to kick the ball out of the end zone and take a safety to prevent an AIC touchdown. 

Once again, AIC worked its way downfield, with big plays including a 19-yard third down carry by Bo Catherwood and a 14-yard Washington catch. However, again AIC stalled in the end, turning it over on downs as the Assumption 11. The Greyhounds likewise marched up field but came up empty as Santiago was picked off by Tyrone Smith.

After AIC was forced to punt, the Greyhounds quickly worked down the field to score, as Zylas Abney caught a deep ball over the middle for a 25-yard touchdown. Two plays from scrimmage later, Marquis Atkins intercepted an AIC pass and rumbled 20 yards back for a defensive touchdown, expanding Assumption's lead to 23-2 in a span of 34 seconds of game time.

Assumption's onslaught continued into the second half with a 69-yard touchdown drive that ended with a Widley Jean-Francois touchdown rush from the six, and on the following possession McNamara hauled in a breakaway pass of 56 yards for another score, putting AIC behind 37-2.

AIC opened the fourth with its first touchdown of the day, as Bryden found Hardley Gilmore with a pass that the junior wideout dove to catch in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown. Two drives later, AIC started at the Assumption 46 and took advantage; Lukas Kasko hit Gilmore in the right corner of the end zone, with the wideout leaping over a defender to one-hand the touchdown catch.

That was it for the scoring, however, as Assumption held AIC off from there for the 37-14 win.

Despite the score, AIC outgained Assumption 362 to 290 in total yards of offense, and the Yellow Jackets held the Greyhounds to just 2-of-8 on third and fourth down conversions. 

Deandre Rutherford impressed with six carries for 37 yards, while Gilmore and Washington each made eight catches, for 105 and 89 yards respectively. 

Smith led AIC with six tackles on top of his interception.

AIC next plays its Homecoming Game against Franklin Pierce University on Saturday, October 3 at noon.