NEW HAVEN, Connecticut - The American International College football team scored on a pair of big passing plays, but ultimately fell 35-21 to Southern Connecticut State University. 

AIC falls to 1-1 on the season.

The Owls scored on their first drive of the game, pushing downfield to the tune of 79 yards in eight plays, the last being a 15-yard touchdown run by E'lijah Gray. 

The hosts led at the quarter break, but not after the next pair of plays; on the first snap of the second quarter, Cephas Williams found Brian Lafrance for a 54-yard touchdown strike, and the subsequent PAT by Santana Fonseca tied the game.

Southern Connecticut bounced back and began pulling away with two touchdowns in the second; Luke Gadson caught an eight-yard pass to close a 12-play, 70-yard drive, and then a 23-yard Mike Strachan catch with 1:55 to go helped put the Owls ahead 21-7, the score at halftime.

The third was not much better for AIC's defense, as Will Diamantis scored on a 48-yard touchdown pass just over five minutes in, and Mike Strachan capped a short drive with another touchdown less than five mintues later.

AIC did counter late in the third, with all 33 yards of a drive coming on a touchdown catch for Fatir Bell after a short punt by the Owls was returned to their 33 by Amiyn Hanks. Anthony Posey also scored a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth to finish a 15-play, 73-yard drive, but it was not enough as the Owls held on for the 35-21 victory.

Williams threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns on 16 completions; Lukas Kasko tossed six completed passes for a total of 63 yards. Lafrance racked up a team-best 143 of those receiving yards. On the defensive side, Michael Grant and JJ Gonzalez each made eight tackles, while Nevin Earl recorded a sack.

AIC next faces Saint Anselm College for Homecoming on Saturday, September 21 at 12:00 p.m.