SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –  Sophomore inside linebacker Iquann Crawford picked up two sacks for the Post University Football defense on Saturday afternoon at AIC, but the Eagles would drop a defensive battle to the Yellow Jackets, losing their fifth consecutive game after starting 3-0 on the year, falling 19-10. 

THE BASICS

Post University 10, AIC 19

Post University (3-5, 1-5 NE10)

AIC (1-7, 0-5 NE10)

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the affair, Post would rush for only 54 total on 28 attempts, after totaling up 86 yards, but losing 32 along the way. In the air between junior quarterback Tyler Phommachanh and senior quarterback Malakai Taylor, the duo would have 143 passing yards on a combined 10-for-29 game with one touchdown and one interception, both of which were thrown by Phommachanh. In total, the Eagle offense would be forced to punt six times, turn the ball over twice via fumble and interception, twice turn the ball over on downs, and end up with a safety, giving two points to AIC.

Quarterbacks Cephas Williams and Connor Dietz both saw action for the Yellow Jackets, with Dietz rushing eight times for 28 yards and the first touchdown of the game, while going 1-for-1 passing with 14 yards. Williams did a majority of the passing, and despite being sacked four times by the Post defense, he would go 17-for-23 with 187 passing yards and a touchdown. The rushing attack for AIC combined for 84 rushing yards total, having 134 before losing 50 along the way, including 31 from four rushes from Williams alone.

The Yellow Jackets had the first 16 points of the game, led by Dietz's one-yard run in the first quarter and then a safety after sophomore running back Edward Bandy was tackled by defensive lineman Shamar Pink in the end zone on the first play of Post's drive following an AIC punt. Capping off their 16-0 first-half lead was wide receiver Andres Perez with a 17-yard snag from Williams, before freshman kicker Nathan Hawkins connected on a 29-yard field goal to end the half for Post, who trailed by 13 points, 16-3, at the break.

Cutting further into the lead to start the second half, freshman wide receiver Israel Hiraldo had a 19-yard grab from Phommachanh with 6:09 remaining in the third, making it only a six-point game, 16-10, before the AIC defense clamped down the rest of the way. The following four drives for the Eagles would end in a turnover of downs, two punts, and an interception on fourth down in the waning moments of the quarter, which sealed the first win of the season for the Yellow Jackets. Kicker Santana Fonseca made it a two-possession game in the fourth, helping give AIC some breathing room with his 23-yard field goal with 6:36 left in regulation, in their 19-10 win. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Iquann Crawford tied the single-game record for sacks with two against AIC, Kevin White and Imeer Johnson both recorded two sacks each in separate games this season
• In total, eight different Post University players finished with a reception, while six different Eagles finished with at least one rush in the game
• When held to under 150 rushing yards this season, Post University is now 0-5 overall, while holding a 3-0 record when eclipsing the 150 rushing yard mark as a team
• Post University has lost all three matchups in program history to AIC, including the last two by less than 10 points each

WHO'S NEXT
For their Senior Day next Saturday, Post University will face Saint Anselm College in what will be a non-conference game for the two sides. The matchup back on October 4th at Municipal Stadium counted towards the Northeast-10 Conference standings, in which the Hawks scored on the final drive of the game to beat Post, 30-23.