Box Score The Misericordia University football team enjoyed its first lead of the season Saturday afternoon at Wilkes.

The Cougars entered the stadium after the National Anthem had played and were forced to immediately take the field for the opening kickoff.

Juwan Petties-Jackson responded but racing down the right sideline to give MU a 6-0 lead just 14 seconds into the game.

Wilkes rallied for a touchdown on its second possession and went on to a 45-17 win in front of a Homecoming crowd of 1,203.

Jeff Puckett was 9-11 with a touchdown for MU and led the Cougars with 46 yards rushing.  Kurt Kowalski had a team-high five catches and Dean Lucchesi caught his second touchdown of the season.

Michael Comerford led the defense with 11 tackles while Tim Martin and Brandon Salazar both had nine stops.

Hunter Pates had seven tackles and forced a fumble.

After Petties-Jackson's electrifying return, the Cougars forced a Wilkes punt on their first possession.  MU lost yardage on each of its first three plays from scrimmage and Wilkes blocked the punt and recovered at the MU six yard line.

The Colonels took two plays to grab a 7-6 lead with 10:55 to play in the opening quarter.

MU was forced to punt on its next possession and went 55 yards in seven plays to take a 14-6 lead midway through the quarter.

Misericordia put together its first sustained drive early in the second quarter.  Starting deep in their own territory, Puckett rushed for 18 yards to give the Cougars a first down at their own 30.

Cody Lamoreaux went off left tackle for 11 yards and Puckett connected with Kowalski to get the Cougars to midfield.

A pass interference penalty moved the ball to the Wilkes 37, but the drive stalled and Corey Wall's punt was downed inside the five yard line.

Aided by a pass interference penalty and a face mask, Wilkes marched the length of the field before settling for a 20 yard field goal and a 17-6 lead with 5:29 left in the half.

A personal foul against the Colonels moved the kick off back to their own 20 yard line and Petties-Jackson's 21-yard return gave the Cougars the ball at their own 49.

Lamoreaux rumbled 16 yards down the left side for a first down and Puckett found Kowalski on the right side line for another first down at the Wilkes 24.

Puckett picked up 11 more yards on a quarterback draw and hit Lucchesi for a first down at the Wilkes five.

Puckett faked a hand-off and rolled to his left to find a wide-open Lucchesi for a touchdown with just under a minute to play before intermission.

Wilkes scored on its first two possessions of the third quarter to take a 31-13 lead and the Colonels added a pair of fourth-quarter scores for the final margin.

Limited to just four possessions after halftime, the Cougars best drive of the second half was thwarted by an interception deep in Wilkes territory.

Down 31-13, the Cougars took over at their own 31 with 7:24 to go in the third quarter.

Lamoreaux picked up five yards on second down and Puckett connected with Kowalski for a first down at the 45.

Lamoreaux bulled his way for five yards on first down and Puckett found Lucchesi for six yards and a first down into Wilkes territory.

Frank Santarsiero picked up 12 yards on two carries for a first down at the Wilkes 32, but the Colonels ended the threat with an interception at their own nine yard line.

Misericordia, 0-6 (0-5 MAC) will return to action at Delaware Valley, October 20.