Skyhawks Drop Season Finale, 35-10
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Jeffery Payne ran for a career-high 162 yards on 27 carries for the Skyhawks. |
North Easton, Mass. - On a day when the Stonehill football program took time to honor its 12 seniors playing their final game, it was a freshman and junior who stole the show, as American International scored 25 unanswered points to register a 35-10 win over host Stonehill on Saturday afternoon at W.B. Mason Stadium.
Yellow Jacket signal caller Rob Parent was 14-for-24 for 200 yards and a touchdown to lead the AIC attack, while Stonehill junior running back Jeffery Payne (West Haven, Conn.) ran for a career-high 162 yards and a score on 27 carries to pace the Skyhawks offense.
With the score tied at 10-10 late in the second quarter, the freshman Parent, found Tyler Scaccia wide open for a 44-yard touchdown and a 17-10 lead that the Yellow Jackets would never relinquish.
After a three and out by the Skyhawks, Parent connected with wideout Travis Poole for 39 yards, setting up Marek Prezbylek's second of three field goals on the day, this one a 29 yarder, that upped the AIC advantage to 20-10 going into halftime.
The lead grew to 26-10 after Calvin Hall's second short touchdown run of the day, but Prezbylek's the extra point try was blocked by Stonehill senior Dana Burris (Boston, Mass.).
The final field goal from the Yellow Jackets was followed by an early fourth quarter touchdown by Adeboyega Akingba ended all scoring and gave the Yellow Jackets their sixth straight win.
After being picked ninth in the preseason coaches' poll, Stonehill ends head coach Robert Talley's first season at 5-5, and in sole possession of fifth place in the Northeast-10 standings.