FOOTBALL ROLLS OVER SAINT ANSELM IN SEASON OPENER
MANCHESTER, N.H. (September 2, 2006) - Marlon
Beckles (Brooklyn, N.Y.) carried 24 times for 189 yards
and a touchdown, in the process becoming the No. 3 all-time rusher
in American International College football history, as the Yellow
Jackets opened the season with a 34-10 Northeast-10 win over Saint
Anselm College at Grappone Stadium Saturday afternoon. It
marked the season opener for both teams.
Beckles, who entered the game with 2,720 yards, finished the game with 2,909 yards, passing Glenn Dumont, who racked up 2,823 yards from 1967-69. He sits just 184 yards shy of second place Rashid Thomas, who rushed for 3,093 yards from 1993-95.
American International quarterback Shane Murphy (Bogota, N.J.) was 12-22 passing for 198 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while receiver Tyler Scaccia (Webster, N.Y.) caught four balls for 97 yards.
Defensively, freshman Terrence Holley (Bronx, N.Y.) finished with a team-high seven tackles, including 1.5 tackles for a loss, while Carlos Cataquet (Brockton, Mass.) and Marcus Worilds (Carteret, N.J.) each finished six stops. Brian Kelly (Springfield, Mass.) and Travis Briggins (Rosedale, N.Y.) each registered interceptions.
AIC opened up the scoring with 9:31 left in the first quarter when Murphy connected with Scaccia for a 55-yard touchdown completion to make it 7-0. The Yellow Jackets doubled their advantage with 4:39 to go in the stanza when Murphy found Kertis Hussey (Paterson, N.J.) for a 7-yard touchdown strike.
The Hawks got on the board via a 10-yard run by Ryan Drago following an interception by Brian Tormollan with 7:19 left in the second quarter to make it 14-7. Beckles would make it a two touchdown game 45 seconds later when he ripped off a 68-yard touchdown run, during which he surpassed Dumont.
Michael Garcarz kicked off the scoring in the second half when he nailed a 34-yard field goal 4:03 into the second half to make it 21-10. With 5:30 left in the third quarter and American International facing fourth-and-1 on the Saint Anselm 5-yard line, fullback Marcus Cameron (Hempstead, N.Y.) dove in for the score.
Jon Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass.) capped an 11 play, 84 yard drive the lasted 5:33 with a seven-yard run with 7:53 to play to make it 34-10 and close out the scoring
AIC returns to action Saturday, September 9, when it hosts Bryant University in the home opener. Game time at John Homer Miller Field is slated for 1:00.