When AIC became available to play in the Liberty Challenge, Fordham took on the task of playing the Yellow Jackets — something other teams might have been reluctant to do. 

The result was a famous victory for the New York college.

In a tense, physical game, Fordham held off a dynamic AIC team for a 13-10 win on Saturday at Fairfield University’s Rafferty Stadium in Fairfield, CT.

The Rams won thanks to a team defensive approach that rushed the AIC backline to take away time and space and allowed Fordham make first-up tackles all afternoon long.

“That’s what we worked on all week,” said Fordham head coach Andrew Gheraldi, who saw his team beaten badly by Rhode Island a week before. “We knew we had to be aggressive like that and tackle.”

In addition, the Rams worked a smart phase play attack that included the entire team. That phase play put the Yellow Jackets under pressure and eventually led to a Finlay McCormick penalty goal for a 3-0 lead. AIC tried to reply but struggled to get loose those long-range runs the Yellow Jackets are so known for as a team. 

Eventually, though, AIC did get through. A rumbling run from lock Tommy Clark set up quick ball, and a snappy pass from Nic Franklyn put Matty Jones away in the corner.

But Fordham came back with more pressure and another McCarrick penalty for a 6-5 lead to end the half. 

A game that many expected to produce over 70 points total had logged 11 in the first 40 minutes. But the action, while low-scoring, was compelling. The Yellow Jackets continued to run and move the ball, and the Rams continued to hold the line.

As well as being quick, AIC held sway in the scrums and was solid in the lineouts. With the rain and cold making ball-handling difficult, it might have worked for the Yellow Jackets to kick deep and chase. Instead, they tried to run everything from their own 22 but found limited success.

Early in the second half, AIC received a blow when Franklyn, the team’s hooker, left with an injury. AIC’s lineouts suffered after that, and Franklyn’s work rate and on-field leadership were difficult to replicate.

Fordham, meanwhile, pressured AIC by recycling well, and after a series of pick-and-goes near the Yellow Jackets' line, the ball was sent out wide to wing Jack Clarke, who just made it to the corner. McCarrick knocked through the difficult conversion to push Fordham's lead to 13-5.

AIC had time, though, and produced a nice piece of phase play of its own — one that resulted in Eric Folson getting a long flat pass and scampering in for the try. With his team now trailing 13-10, Folson almost had a big break moments later only to see his run called back for a forward pass.

That proved to be the Yellow Jackets' last chance, and Fordham celebrated unreservedly at the full-time whistle.

For AIC, the loss of Franklyn hurt. Speedy flyhallf Jihad Khabir did not play due to an injury, and the Yellow Jackets started five freshmen. But still there were strong performances, with Tommy Clark and Matty Jones among them.

For Fordham, it was a team performance to be sure, but flanker Logan McIntyre was inspirational, making big carries, putting in tackle after tackle, and stealing the ball. Flyhallf Fermin Moraiz, in combination with scrum-half Nick D’Amato, was crucial to the team’s offensive efforts.

But few will remember the individual performances. This was about a Rams team with a plan — take away space and time and rattle your opponents' teeth with your tackles — and it worked.