Box Score The Misericordia University football team had its best chance of victory in its short history in Saturday's 33-14 loss to Wilkes.

The Cougars trailed just 17-14 early in the fourth quarter and had the Colonels pinned on their own two yard line facing a second-and-38.

Misericordia eventually forced a Wilkes punt, but the loose ball took a Colonels' bounce for a 58-yard kick and gave the Cougars possession at their own 15 yard line.

MU lost six yards on the ensuing drive and Wilkes took over in Misericordia territory after a Dylan Quirk punt.

Facing a fourth-and-six from the MU 32, Taylor Young connected with David Claybrook for a touchdown and a 24-14 lead with 10:35 to play.

Wilkes held the Cougars on a fourth-and-one on the next series and went Jordan Fredo made a 26-yard field goal to make it 27-14 with 6:27 to go.

The Colonels took over on downs on the next series and put the game away with a six-play, 35-yard scoring drive to take a 33-14 lead with 3:03 remaining.

The Misericordia defense kept their team in the game despite losing the field position battle throughout much of the day.

After forcing a Misericordia punt on the opening drive, Wilkes took over on its own 38 and moved to the MU 23 yard line on six rushing plays by Patrick Ingulli.

Tim Martin and Tyler Hessert made tackles on short gains on first and second down and Hunter pates broke up a pass attempt on third down and Fredo's 37-yard field goal attempt was wide right.

After Puckett picked up a first down with an 11-yard run on the next drive, Wilkes recovered a fumble on the next play at the Misericordia 27.

Rob Hart stopped Ingulli for a loss of seven yards and the Colonels eventually settled for a Fredo 29-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 6:21 to play in the opening quarter.

Misericordia went three-and-out the next series and the Colonels took over on the MU 32 after a 22-yard punt.

Young picked up 18 yards on two rushes to set up a first and goal and he found Claybrook along the right sideline for an eight-yard scoring strike and 10-0 lead with 1:28 left in the first period.

After a 16-yard Wilkes punt, the Cougars took over at their own 38 yard line with 5:34 left in the second quarter.

Puckett picked up 12 yards on three carries to make it first-and-goal and Santarsiero gained four yards and a Wilkes penalty moved to ball to the three yard line.

Puckett punched it in on second down to get the Cougars within 10-7 with 2:31 to go in the half.

Mason Smith bobbled the ensuing kickoff at his own 10 yard line before scampering for a 35-yard return to the 44.

Young scampered for 20 yards on first down to move into Misericordia territory and eventually capped a six-play scoring drive with a 23-yard touchdown toss to Jonathon Conklin for a 17-7 lead with 11:35 remaining in the third quarter.

The two teams exchanged punts before the Cougars took over on their own 27 yard line.

Puckett connected with Juwan Petties-Jackson for a short gain, but a face mask penalty moved the ball out to near midfield.

Kurt Kowalski made an 11-yard grab for a first down in Wilkes territory and Puckett found Petties-Jackson behind the Wilkes defense on the next play for a 43-yard touchdown to get MU with 17-14 with 5:30 left in the third.

The score held until Young found Claybrook for their second scoring pass early in the fourth quarter.

Puckett had 63 yards on the ground with a score and added 86 yards through the air with another score.

Petties-Jackson had four catches for 52 yards, including a 43-yard TD, and Kowalski had three catches for 24 yards.

Hart led the Cougars with 10 tackles, including one for a loss.

Jake Livingston had seven stops and Brandon Salazar had six tackles and a fumble recovery.

Ben Camacho had five tackles and an interception.

The Cougars will host King's for Homecoming, Saturday, October 5 at 1:00 at Mangelsdorf Field.