Demild throws four touchdowns as football moves to 3-0 with win over Franklin Pierce

RINDGE, New Hampshire– After opening the regular season undefeated, the American International College football team opened Northeast-10 Conference play at Franklin Pierce University under the lights on Saturday, September 18. The winning streak continued as redshirt junior quarterback Jayson Demild threw for four touchdowns, including two over 45-yards to lift the Yellow Jackets to a 38-19 win. This marks the first time since 2009 that the Yellow Jackets have opened the season 3-0.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: AIC 38, Franklin Pierce 19
Records: AIC rises to 3-0, while Franklin Pierce drops to 0-3
Location: Sodexo Field Rindge, New Hampshire

KEY STATS:
AIC:
Jayson Demild: 15-of-24 passing, 300 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, 57 rushing yards
Chase Speller: 63 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown
Jaheim McGuire: three catches, two touchdowns, 80 receiving yards
Jahvon Adams: one catch, 55 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown
Jaysen Thompsen: 17 tackles, eight solos, 3.5 tackles for a loss
Antwan Golson: 12 tackles, seven solos, one tackle for a loss
Fabian Thames: eight tackles, five solos, 1.5 tackles for a loss
Rady Rojas-Portilla: six tackles, one punt for 44 yards

Franklin Pierce:
Drew Campanale: 20-for-24, 160 passing yards, one passing touchdown, three sacks taken
EJ Burgess: 66 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 16 attempts
Tyvairus Daniels: seven receptions, 55 receiving yards
Conner Baldasaro: four receptions, 32 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown
Trey Sejour: nine tackles, five solo
Luke Winslow: five tackles

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After winning the coin flip and deferring, the Yellow Jackets kicked off to start the game. The Ravens took advantage of having the ball first as they ran 16 plays and marched 75-yards to take an early 7-0 lead.
• The Yellow Jackets started their first drive of the game with the ball on their 31-yard line. Redshirt senior running back Samad Davila got things going with a 13-yard rush before Demild scampered for three. After a five-yard Davila rush, Demild tossed the ball for the first time and found freshman receiver Jaheim McGuire for a 48-yard touchdown over the top of two defenders down the left side to tie the game.
• AIC's defense was fired up as they forced a fumble on the next Ravens drive and took possession at the AIC 24. The Yellow Jackets marched down the field and had a 2^nd-and-8 at the Ravens 23 when Demild found McGuire again over the top of a pair of defenders to take the 14-7 lead.
• Franklin Pierce drove down the field on its next possession and rushed the ball in for a one-yard touchdown. The point after was no good as it hit the left upright and bounced back towards the field of play.
• The Yellow Jackets answered on six plays when redshirt junior Chase Speller took a handoff and darted for the left pylon and converted the five-yard touchdown.
• The AIC defense forced a crucial three-and-out which allowed the Yellow Jackets to gain possession with 3:40 remaining in the first half while knowing they would receive to open the final half. The Yellow Jackets tried to score but did not extend their lead as they headed into halftime.
• With a 1^st-and-10 at the FPU 16, Demild dropped back to pass and was able to escape a sack. After breaking free, he led Speller to the right corner of the endzone, who caught the ball with no defenders close to extend the Yellow Jacket lead to 25-13.
• After another great defensive drive by the Yellow Jackets and forcing a punt, the Yellow Jackets offensive players started their drive at their own 31. Facing a 3^rd-and-10, Demild found freshman Jaxson Ramsey for a 14-yard gain. On the very next play, Demild outdid his 48-yard touchdown with a 55-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Jahvon Adams, whose closest defender was 10 yards behind him. That touchdown gave AIC the 35-13 lead with 5:30 remaining in the third frame.
• AIC added three-points in the final frame as rookie kicker Thomas Caracciolo nailed a 25-yard field goal attempt to make it 38-13.
• Franklin Pierce added a touchdown with two minutes remaining, but it was not enough as the Yellow Jackets took the game 38-19.

ANOTHER BIG NIGHT FOR THE OFFENSE:

• AIC had not broken the 40-point barrier in six years until last week; the last time the Yellow Jackets did so was on October 3, 2015, in a 44-17 win over LIU Post.
• AIC hit 44 twice that season, winning on September 12, 2015, by a 44-13 count over the Owls.
• With the Yellow Jackets' 38 points tonight, it is the first time the team has scored 35 or more points in back-to-back games since the 2013 season. During that season, the Yellow Jackets did that feat three times as the team went 9-3 and won the NE10.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets open their home season on Saturday, September 25 when they host Bentley University for a noon kickoff.