Boxscore

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Marek Prezbylek kicked a 34-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to cap a late surge as the American International College football team pulled out a 36-35 victory over Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Mass. The Owls led 21-7 after one quarter and held a 35-26 lead with just under eight minutes remaining before the Yellow Jackets rallied to score the final 10 points of the contest.

SCSU dropped to 2-2, 1-1 in Northeast-10 play with the loss. AIC is now 1-2, 1-2.

The Owls jumped out to a quick start in the contest, taking the opening kickoff and marching 67 yards in eight plays. Brandon Toles (Fort Washington, Md.) capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run around the left side.

AIC evened the score at 7-7 on the ensuing possession, a drive that ended on a three-yard touchdown pass from Rob Parent to Travis Poole.

SCSU answered by scoring the next two touchdowns of the game. Steve Armstrong (Nutley, N.J.) connected with tight end Tom Cerny (Mahwah, N.J.) on a 37-yard touchdown pass to put the Owls back in front. On the next SCSU possession, the Owls went 58 yards in 10 plays, culminating on a 20-yard run by Jarom Freeman (Peekskill, N.Y.).

AIC was able to close the game to 21-13 at the halftime thanks to a pair of field goals from Prezbylek.

The hosts then narrowed the gap to a single point at 21-20 midway through the third quarter when Parent found Tyler Scaccia on a 44-yard strike.

SCSU promptly went 70 yards in 10 plays to pad its lead back to eight points at 28-20. Freeman capped the drive with his second touchdown run of the day, this time from six yards out.

The Yellow Jackets responded next with a two-yard run from Calvin Hall. However, the PAT was missed, allowing the SCSU lead to stay at 28-26.

SCSU seemed to tack on an insurance score midway through the final frame when Armstrong found Chris Bergeski (Mountainside, N.J.) for a 14-yard touchdown. Bergeski outleaped three AIC defenders to haul the ball in near the near right corner of the end zone.

AIC started the comeback with a 12 play, 65-yard drive that ended on a nine-yard pass from Parent to Poole. Following the PAT, the Yellow Jackets trailed by two at 35-33.

SCSU recovered the ensuing onside kick, but was forced to punt. The ensuing kick went for a touchback, and a personal foul penalty against SCSU allowed AIC to start the final drive at its own 35.

From there, AIC went 48 yards in nine plays to set up Prezbylek's third field goal of the day.

Armstrong finished 21-of-27 for 241 yards. Bergeski hauled in six passes for 100 yards, while Johnny Lee (Norwalk, Conn.) had seven receptions for 56 yards.

Freeman closed with 102 yards on 24 carries, marking the 19th straight game that the Owls have had a rusher surpass the century mark.

On the defensive side, James Williams (Plainfield, N.J.) had two interceptions for the Owls.

SCSU returns to action on Friday, Sept. 28 for a Northeast-10 contest against Merrimack. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Jess Dow Field.