The Misericordia University football team's second-half rally came up short in a 63-37 loss to King's before a Homecoming crowd, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.

The Cougars pulled within 42-31 early in the third quarter, but King's responded with three straight touchdowns.

Brady Williams (17-27-263) threw for a school record five touchdowns and Josh Dieter tied the school record with three touchdown receptions.

Mark Rainey and Isaiah Williams both added TD catches.

Tyler Collins led the MU defense with nine tackles and Jordan Aquino and Fredo Santorelli both had eight stops.

After King's took an early 14-0 lead, the Cougars responded with a big play of their own.

Brady Williams hit Rainey streaking down the right sideline for a 48-yard touchdown cut the deficit in half with 9:02 left in the first quarter.

King's went ahead 21-7 and the Cougars put together a scoring drive to end the first quarter.  On third-and-11 from their own 43, Williams hit Dieter across the middle for a first down at the King's 44.  Williams connected again with Dieter who juked a defender and went 21 yards down the middle of the field to the King's 18.

A penalty backed the Cougars up and they eventually settled for a 36-yard field goal by Ryan Davis and trailed 21-10 at the end of the first quarter.

King's scored twice in the second quarter before the Cougars answered with two straight scores. 

Brady Williams ran a draw up the middle, cut to his left and raced 45 yards to the King's 42.    Williams picked up another first down on the ground before finding a wide-open Dieter down the left sideline for a 29-yard touchdown to get MU within 35-17 with 2:51 to play in the first half.

MU opened the second half with Brady Williams connecting with Isaiah Williams on a flea-flicker down the right sideline to the King's 26.

One play later, the duo connected again with I. Williams making a diving catch at the left pylon for 34-yard touchdown.

The Monarchs scored the Cougars were forced to punt, Matt Martin recovered a muffed fair catch to give MU the ball at the King's 31.

Brady Williams went around right and cut back to his left for 18 yards to the 13 and then hit Dieter in the right corner of the end zone on the next play to the Cougars within 42-31.

King's put the game out of reach with three consecutive TD's before Dieter scored late in the fourth quarter.

Misericordia has a bye next week and will host Lebanon Valley, October 21.