Worcester, Mass. (September 29) -- Assumption built a 23-14 lead late in the game before American International closed with 13 unanswered points as the Hounds dropped a 27-23 final to the visiting Yellow Jackets on Saturday afternoon at the Multi-Sport Stadium.

The Yellow Jackets jumped on the board just 1:23 into the game as Hunter Beckman scored from two yards out for the 7-0 lead. Junior running back Terrell Williams, who leads the Northeast-10 in rushing, picked up 63 yards on the drive before leaving the game for good following an 11-yard rush that got the Yellow Jackets down to the two.

Assumption answered on its next drive though as junior Matt Pedone (Holden, Mass./Wachusett) rumbled in from 27 yards out to tie the game just over four minutes into the opening quarter.

In the opening minutes of the second, Pedone broke a number of tackles and got the Hounds down to the five-yard line with a 27-yard run for a first-and-goal. The Hounds converted that into a 21-yard field goal from junior Tad Beuchert (Danvers, Mass./St. John's Prep) for the 10-7 lead with 10:26 on the clock. In the final two minutes of the half, Beuchert added a 24-yard shot to extend the lead to 13-7 as the Hounds outgained the Yellow Jackets 252-201 in total offense in the first half. American International made the most of their opportunity of the half though Gary Farley pulled down a five-yard touchdown catch to cap a seven-play, 62-yard drive that took just 1:31 and take a 14-13 lead into the break.

Beuchert put the Hounds back in front just under five minutes into the third quarter as he knocked in a 36-yard attempt for the 16-14 edge. Early in the fourth, the Hounds forced an AIC turnover as freshman Nik Kessel (Tarpon Springs, Fla./Tarpon Spring) recovered a fumble on a punt return to give the Hounds field position deep in Yellow Jacket territory. Three plays and 37 yards later, sophomore quarterback Bobby Jordan (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) rumbled in from four yards out for his first rushing touchdown of the season and the 23-14 lead.

Quarterback Kevin Arduino and the Yellow Jackets answered with an 11-play, 85-yard drive that was capped by a 12-yard rush from Arduino to pull within 23-20 with 8:43 left in the fourth. The extra-point attempt was no good though as the snap was mishandled and the game stayed as a three-point margin.

American International regained the lead for good with 4:34 left as Farley hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass across the middle to cap a 75-yard drive that took just five plays.

The Hounds had a solid chance on third down with 4:13 remaining, but a pass to an open Adam Gruschow (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) went thru his hands and Assumption was forced to punt. The Hounds got the ball back with under three minutes left and managed to get into Yellow Jacket territory, but an Assumption fumble with 2:37 left ended the day for the Hounds.

Pedone led the Hounds with 128 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, while Jordan finished the day 17-for-31 for 247 yards and a rushing touchdown. For AIC, Arduino rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown, along with completing 16-of-29 passing attempts for 152 yards and two scores. Eddy Frazier (Worcester, Mass./Burncoat) led the team with four catches for 73 yards, while junior Mike Bates (Holden, Mass./Wachusett) had nine tackles and two pass breakups.

The Hounds fall to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in Northeast-10 play, while the Yellow Jackets improve to 3-1 on the season and remain perfect in league action at 3-0.

Assumption returns to action next Saturday as the Hounds hit the road to take on nationally-ranked New Haven in a 1 p.m. start.

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