Bentley edges past football

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College football team hosted Bentley University for its 2021 home opener on Saturday, September 25. The last two undefeated Northeast-10 Conference teams standings kicked off knowing one team had to leave with a loss. Despite a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets fell 35-27 in an exciting NE10 matchup.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: Bentley 35, AIC 27
Records: AIC moves to 3-1 (1-1 NE10), while Bentley improves to 4-0 (2-0 NE10)
Location: Ronald J. Abdow Field Springfield, Massachusetts

KEY STATS:
AIC:
Jayson Demild: 17-of-25 passing, 275 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, two interceptions, 11 rushes, 33 rushing yards
Samad Davila: 13 rushes, 65 yards rushing, one rushing touchdown
Jackson Ramsay: six receptions, 92 receiving yards, one touchdown
Jaheim McGuire: three catches, 66 receiving yards, one touchdown
Tommy Smith: one reception, 14 receiving yards, one touchdown
Jaysen Thompson: 10 tackles, one for a loss
Isiah Tolbert: eight tackles
Terrell Wallace: five tackles, one interception

Bentley:
Stephen Sturm: 9-for-20 passing, 100 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, one interception, 104 rushing yards
Nathaniel Larkins: 24 rushing yards, 131 rushing yards, two touchdowns
Andrew Brazicki: one reception, 24 reception yards, one touchdown
Chris Varone: one reception, five reception yards, one touchdown
Cole McCubrey: eight tackles, one 45-yard pick-six, one forced fumble
Salvatore Lupoli Jr.: seven tackles, one interception

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• On the opening drive of the game, Bentley quarterback Stephen Strum was picked off by junior linebacker Terrell Wallace at the AIC 28 and returned it for nine yards. The Yellow Jackets tried to convert on the turnover but a pass on fourth and three at the Bentley four-yard line.
• After forcing a three and out, the Yellow Jackets started their drive in Bentley territory. Redshirt junior quarterback Jayson Demild found senior wide receiver Tommy Smith for a 14-yard touchdown reception to give AIC the 7-0 lead.
• The Yellow Jacket defense forced another three and out to take control of the ball with 1:22 left in the first. On the fifth play of the drive, Demild found freshman wideout Jaxson Ramsay for a 28-yard touchdown to extend the AIC lead early in the second quarter.
• Bentley scored on its next drive, marching 75 yards on 11 plays to make it a one-possession game.
• After a Yellow Jacket punt, the Falcons found the endzone on 13 plays going 89 yards to knot the game at 14 right before the break.
• The Falcons kept their momentum rolling through halftime. They forced the Yellow Jackets to punt on their first possession, then took the 21-14 lead on a five-yard touchdown rush by Nathaniel Larkins. Bentley added seven to the board on a five-yard touchdown to Chris Varone from Sturm to take the 28-14 lead right before the end of the third quarter.
• The Yellow Jackets started a drive with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game. With the ball on their own 42, Demild found freshman Jaheim McGuire for a 54-yard completion down to the four-yard line. On the very next play, the two once again made the connection for a touchdown.
• With seven and a half minutes on the clock, the Yellow Jackets took possession on the AIC 20 after the Falcons missed a 35-yard field goal. It was 3^rd-and-12 at the AIC 34 when Cole McCubrey picked off Demild at the AIC 45 and returned it for a pick-six to make it a 35-21 game.
• On 1^st-and-10 from the Bentley 42, Demild found senior receiver Kobe Miranda for a 41-yard play to put the Yellow Jackets a yard away from the endzone. Senior running back Samad Davila scampered to the left side and found the endzone to make it 35-27.
• AIC took control of the ball with a minute and a half left in the game. The Falcons intercepted a pass with 36 seconds left to seal their victory.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets hit the road for the fourth time this season when they head to Southern Connecticut State University on Friday, October 1 at 7 p.m.