SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – Down to their last play and down to moments left in the game, the American International College football team came through, with rookie quarterback Connor Dietz firing a 31-yard strike into the hands of wide receiver Fatir Bell deep in the end zone to give the Yellow Jackets a 27-24 Northeast-10 Conference win on Friday, November 1.

AIC is now 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the NE10.

Pinned deep in their own territory with just over five minutes to play, the Yellow Jackets needed 90 yards to score a touchdown. AIC did have all three timeouts, but the clock dwindled quickly as the team's first six plays were rushes before Dietz hit Amiyn Hanks for a 12-yard gain on second-and-11. Two plays later, AIC crossed into Assumption territory with a 21-yard pass to the left side for Bell.

A short catch by Menyelek Ward put AIC on the 31, but the next two passes fell to the ground. AIC was down to its last play, needing at least six yards to keep the drive alive.

Instead of taking the safe route, interim head coach Dan Chipka dialed up a gutsy call, sending his wideouts deep. Dietz was able to elude the Greyhound rush and fire a dart to Bell, who leapt above the defender in front of him and hauled in the ball for a touchdown, giving AIC a three-point edge with 15 seconds left in regulation. 

Assumption gained a small glimmer of hope by blocking AIC's point after try, but the Yellow Jackets defense snuffed that out, with Nevin Earl sacking the quarterback and Tyson Thornton batting down the last desperation heave to end the game in the home squad's favor.

The Greyhounds struck first in the game as Massimo Sgambati booted a 37-yard field goal; the drive stalled just inside the red zone with a combo sack by Chris Chasia and Shawn Belle on first down and a key breakup by David Jaylin Eppinger two plays later.

AIC responded. Starting from the 37 thanks to a long return by Dahvey Hicks, the Yellow Jackets charged down the field, with big runs by Dietz, Hicks, and Judah Varfley. Dietz punched the ball in over the line, and then AIC ran a trick play that worked for a two-point conversion as Bell caught Dietz's pass.

The Yellow Jackets then forced the Greyhounds to punt at midfield on the next possession, garnering the stop with a third-down breakup by Marquis Lundy. Unfortunately, the first play for the AIC offense went the other way, as Tyler Royall scored a 47-yard pick-six on a pass that missed the mark.

Two drives later, the Greyhounds scored again, moving the ball down the field effectively, with Kameron Robbins breaking around the right end for the final yard on fourth-and-goal from the one.

The Greyhounds nearly added more points late, but a drive stalled at the AIC 21, and Sgambati's field goal attempt was stuffed at the line of scrimmage by Earl with two seconds remaining in the half. That block kept AIC within nine, as the Yellow Jackets trailed 17-8 at the break. 

Out of the stoppage, Kone dashed off a few runs, and then back-to-back chunk catches moved the Yellow Jackets into Greyhounds territory. Kone took it from there, spinning through would-be tacklers and breaking off a 38-yard run to the end zone. AIC's two-point attempt was denied this time, leaving the Yellow Jackets down three.

The Hounds responded with a great kick return to start in AIC territory, and seemed all but sure to score, driving down to the AIC nine-yard line. However, a huge sack by Belle pushed the visitors back to the 20 and forced them to settle for a field goal attempt. The kick turned out to be an even bigger disaster; Eppinger jumped in front of it and blocked it, scooped the ball, and ran nearly 50 yards down the right sideline before cutting back to the left and into the end zone. After Santana Fonseca knocked the extra point home, AIC held a 21-17 lead.

Once again, Assumption pushed into AIC territory, and once again the defense bent but did not break. On AIC's 29 with a fourth-and-two, Jay Kastantin was hauled down by Edward Craig Jr. shy of the line to gain, turning the ball over. 

Assumption finally came through again on its next possession, driving 65 yards and finishing with back-to-back 10-yard passes to Quinn Sieger at the start of the fourth quarter, the latter for a touchdown that, coupled with Sgambati's point after, gave the Greyhounds a 24-21 edge.

Kone led AIC with 103 rushing yards on 18 carries. Chasia racked up 15 tackles, a game high, and was a leading part of an AIC defense that recorded six sacks.

AIC's final away game of the season is next, a 1:00 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, November 9 at Post University.