They say speed kills and certainly it did some damage Saturday in the Eastern bracket of the DIAA college playoffs.

Bolstered by a solid forward effort, the pacey backs of AIC and Notre Dame College saw the two teams through to Sunday's semifinals.

The Falcons of Notre Dame College defeated Middle Tennessee State 38-7 to advance. Meanwhile AIC raced past James Madison 68-27.

AIC started quickly, getting two tries from flyhalf Jihad Khabir and tries also from hooker Nic Franklyn and center Deshae Edwards on the way to a 37-5 halftime lead. Lui Sitama contributed the kicks and ended up with a total of 18 for the game.

AIC in white. Kevin Mercer photos.

Prop Jamal Hadley, scrumhalf Kurtis Werner, and center Jacob Ponder touched down in the second half to make it 58-5 before JMU scored three tries in quick succession. Scrumhalf Justin Owens and wing Christ Adams finished off the scoring.

"We moved the ball really well and we did a good job of holding onto possession for long periods," said Ponder. "Our forwards defintiley stepped up. They ran some good lines."

As for Ponder, he's usually the conduit to some dangerous runners, and he relishes that role.

"It's great know them whoever I pass to is going to take a good line and break tackles and challenge the defense," he said.

AIC and Notre Dame College are somewhat similar teams in that their backlines are faster and more athletic than most, but anyone who says they're only about the speed is making a mistake. Ponder acknowledged that NDC might well stop some AIC breakaways that normally become tries, but added "today we score because of some really good support play, and we know we'll need that tomorrow."

Possession was the story for NDC, too.

"We did a really good job of maintaining possession near their goal line and scoring from short range," said Notre Dame College Head Coach Jason Fox. "We know we can score from far out, but we need to show we can have that patience, as well."

Notre Dame College was hit for three yellow cards, one on a ruck infraction, one on an early hit, and one for repeated offside. Fox said that has to change.

"We can't give AIC 30 minutes of us being shorthanded," he said.

With the wind, NDC dominated the first half. Wing Roneil Reynolds was set up nicely for the opening try. Zack Forro scored the first of two in what was a very good game for the center. Then fullback Marcus Tupuola, who slotted into the backline effectively all day, raced over for the Falcons' third. Captain Spencer Duncan trundled up the middle, and then Forro scored his second to cap a 31-0 half.

Leading the way was flyhalf Logan Weinstock, whose kicking from the hand pinned MTSU back and made it difficult for the Moosemen to mount an attacking movement.

In the second half, the teams traded tries, with sophomore flanker Cullen Barelka finishing things off for NDC 38-7.

Kevin Mercer photo.