American International College is through to the DIAA Quarterfinals with a wild 55-35 defeat of Delaware Saturday.

The Delaware Blue Hens were an at-large bid to the DIAA playoffs, and met up with the ECRC champs AIC, and it was Delaware that opened up the scoring, running out to a quick 14-0 lead on the Yellow Jackets.

But slowly, AIC brought themselves back. Prop Jamal Hadley and Jihad Khabir converted to halve the Delaware lead, and then flanker and Scholz Award nominee Gavan D'Amore-Morrison powered over. Lui Sitama converted to tie the game. That was all part of a surge of tries from AIC, who, as usual, tested their opposition with a desire to run at all times. No. 8 Matt Jones gave his side the lead with a try. Delaware cam back to score and re-take the lead at 21-19, but then it was all AIC.

Center Jacob Ponder offloaded to Christian Adams, who cut back toward the middle of the field and raced through for the try. Sitama converted. Then Khabir scored almost right off the kickoff. Sitama converted again and it was 33-21 for AIC.

Sitama added a penalty kick midway through the frame and just seconds later Khabir raced the entire length of the field up the sideline put his side up 20 points. Adams then added his second try of the game as he would not be denied down the sideline breaking numerous tackles on his way to the try and Sitama added the conversion for the 48-21 lead with 12 minutes to left in the second half.

Adrian Ray added a late try and after another Sitama conversion the score was 55-21. Delware kept working and scored two late, to end it 55-35.

The win puts AIC into the top eight and sets them up with with a clash against James Madison next week at Bowling Green State University.