The #2-ranked AIC Yellow Jackets defeated UMass 41-11 Friday night to move to 7-0 in the ECRC.

AIC had to really work to break through a tenacious UMass defense, but ultimately the Minutemen were beaten by a patient and very quick Yellow Jackets squad.

AIC opened the scoring after a break down the right wing by Deshae Edwards and snappy recycling by the forwards. UMass infringed after that and fullback Lui Sitama put the ball over for a 3-0 lead.

AIC almost got into big trouble right after that, as they tried to play out of their own end and almost coughed up a try as they worked the ball behind their goal line. Somehow, though, they survived. Still, UMass got a penalty out of that and tied it 3-3.

After the restart, AIC got back into UMass territory and sent Edwards on a set play up the middle, and he powered through for a try.

UMass was able to put over another nicely-taken penalty to make it 8-6, but AIC settled down after that. They worked the hands off a lineout to set free Christian Adams, and the left wing thundered over and through several tacklers to score in the corner.

Then, after more good work from the forwards, flyhalf Jihad Khabir tapped quickly, scampered through, and just stretched over for the try and, with Sitama’s conversion, a 20-6 halftime lead.

In the second half, UMass started to a tire a little, at and some space opened up. Khabir started a run inside his half and sidestepped it seemed the entire UMass team to score a long-range try. 

UMass replied and scored a nicely-taken try in the corner to make it 32-11, but right after that, AIC attacked to the UMass goal line. The Minutermen got the ball back and looked to clear the ball, but the pass was fumbled in-goal and hooker Nick Franklyn dove in to touch it down.

Khabir put the final stamp on the game from a scrum at midfield, taking the pass and just outpacing everyone to the corner.

That finished it off.

Now AIC looks to a game against Boston College for the ECRC title, and then, for the winner, an ACRC Bowl Series game against Clemson.