Box Score Brady Williams accounted for seven touchdowns to lead the Misericordia University football team to a thrilling 47-45 win at Wilkes, Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.

Sam Gillison set a school single-game record with 223 yards receiving and tied another mark with three TD receptions as the Cougars beat Wilkes for the third straight season to improve to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the MAC.

Isaiah Williams added four catches for 75 yards and a touchdown.

B. Williams added 78 yards rushing and three scores while David Cromwell had 67 yards on 18 carries.

Jared Skidds and Nick Yeager led the Cougars with eight tackles each and Zach Orzell added seven stops.  Yeager added an interception while Kenny Grady, Michael Conway and Jason Anderson all recovered fumbles for MU.

Joe Grasso had five tackles, including a sack, and covered the on-side kick to allow the Cougars to run out the clock.

The Cougars went three-and-out on their first drive and Wilkes struck quickly with a three-play, 65-yard scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead with 11:33 left in the first quarter.

MU answered with a quick strike of their own to get within a point.

B. Williams picked 14 yards on third-and-2 for a first down into Wilkes territory.  After hitting Gillison for a six-yard gain, Williams found Gillison over the top for a 37-yard TD.  The PAT failed and the Cougars trailed 7-6 with 9:01 left in the first quarter.

Wilkes scored on its second possession to take a 14-6 lead, but the Cougars answered with an even quicker strike.

After a short gain by Jamal Dallas, Williams hit I. Williams for a 58-yard touchdown to get within 14-13 with 3:04 to go in the first period.

Wilkes missed a field goal early in the second quarter, but the Colonels got the ball back when the Cougars fumbled on their second play.

MU regained possession on the next play when Yeager forced a fumble and Kenny Grady recovered.

Facing third-and-11, Williams hit Klayton Kelly for a first down into Wilkes territory.

Three runs by Cromwell moved the Cougars to the Wilkes 14 yard line and B. Williams went the rest of the way to give MU its first lead, 20-14, with 6:37 left in the first half.

Wilkes added a field goal as time expired and the Cougars led 20-17 at halftime.

The Colonels marched 61 yards on eight plays to open the third quarter and go back in front, 24-20.

The Cougars were forced to punt, but got the ball back after a missed field goal.

An eight-yard catch by I. Williams converted a third-and-8 and B. Williams found Gillison in stride for a 68-yard TD to give the Cougars a 27-24 lead with 3:07 left in the third quarter.
 
Wilkes went back up, 30-27, on its next possession and the Cougars were forced to punt on their next series.

Michael Conway pounced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage and the Cougars took over at the Wilkes 27-yard line.

B. Williams 10-yard run set up a first and goal and he went in from six yards out to put MU in front for good, 34-31, with 11:05 to play in the fourth quarter.

The Cougars got the ball back on Yeager's interception on Wilkes' first play and returned it 24 yards to the Wilkes 32-yard line.

Cromwell picked up 14 yards on four carries and a holding penalty on Wilkes set up first and goal from the seven-yard line.

Williams did the rest of the work, going up the middle for a two-yard TD on third down and the Cougars led 40-31 with 5:58 to play.

Wilkes responded with an eight-play, 85-yard drive in just 1:32 to get within 40-38 with 4:23 remaining.

Not to be out-done, the Cougars scored on three plays in just :27 with Gillison hauling in a 77-yard bomb to stretch the lead to 47-38 with 4:56 to play.

The Colonels converted a fourth-and-15 from deep in their own end with a 45-yard completion and scored on their next play to cut MU's lead to 47-45 with 2:45 to go.

After Grasso secured the ensuing on-side kick, B. Williams rambled for 16 yards which allowed the Cougars to run out the clock.

At 2-0, the Cougars are in a four-way tie for first place in the MAC.  MU will host Castleton (VT) in a non-league game, Saturday at noon.