The Pace Setters football team (1-9, 0-9 NE-10) lost 15-10 against the American International College Yellow Jackets (4-6, 4-5 NE-10) in a defensive battle Sat., Nov. 8 at Pace Stadium.

Pace scored a field goal by kicker Nick Fountis following a 50-yard kickoff return by defensive back Jamir Gee and a nine-play drive. AIC answered with two Touchdowns in the first quarter to lead 12-3.

Gee totaled 143 yards on four kick returns for an average of 35.8 yards per return, he had five tackles, one pass breakup and ran for 34 yards on seven carries. AIC did not shy away from kicking the ball to him.

“[AIC] kept giving me the ball, so I just kept getting yards [and] getting great field position for the offense,” Gee said. “I looked for the hole and looked for good blocking and shot right through the hole fast, just keeping my feet moving and tried to get to the end zone.”

Gee made an impact on offense as well. He got the opportunity to take direct snaps as quarterback in some wildcat packages and showed his ability to run the football as well.

“In 25 years of coaching college football I have never seen anyone affect a team like that,” Rondeau said. “He can return kicks and everybody holds their breath. Whether he’s making dynamic tackles on defense or whether he is running the ball on Offense. It’s really neat.”

In the second quarter, Pace scored a touchdown on a third-and-one run from the 1-yard line by quarterback Delaney Wallace making it 12-10.

Wallace started his first game at quarterback for the Setters this year. He rushed for 74 yards on 20 carries and completed 3-7 throws.

“It was different, especially now that I was really standing there the whole game making all the read progressions,” Wallace said, who was recruited to be a running back. “It was good to be able to control the offense and make sure that I always have a hand in helping my team do the best that they can.” Wallace said.

However, the Setters still were held back by penalties and an inability to score in the red zone. The team was stopped twice on the 1-yard line by the AIC defense and had multiple false start penalties, which stalled momentum on drives.

“When we jump off sides or when we don’t understand the substitution and alignment it’s hard,” Rondeau said. “It’s great to say that’s the tough part of field position, that where games are won and lost we all know that. When we get down to the 1 [yard line] but based on a missed assignment that goes back to the 6 [yard line] and now were climbing back up the hill again.”

Coach Rondeau sees the improvement of his team and their weekly battle, and he believes that they have an opportunity to be successful.

The team’s nine seniors were honored before the game for their service to the team, and were given framed picture collages.

The Setters head on the road to Connecticut next week to face St. Anselm College in a rematch to end the season.