The Misericordia University football team used a balanced running attack to win their home opener, 47-7, over Keystone, Saturday afternoon in an exhibition game at Mangelsdorf Field.

Eric Jeffries scored three rushing touchdowns and Michael Gawlik and David Cromwell both went over 100 yards and added scores.  Brady Williams added one rushing TD.

The Cougars ran for 395 yards as a team and compiled 549 yards of total offense in the Giants first varsity game in 60 years.

Gawlik had a team-high 132 yards and Cromwell added 108.

After Gawlik took the opening kickoff back 53 yards to the Keystone 37 yard line, the Cougars took just four plays to take the lead.

Brady Williams connected with Sam Gillison for 24 yards and Cromwell gained six yards before going around left end untouched for a four-yard TD with 13:06 left in the opening quarter.

The PAT was blocked and the Cougars led 6-0.

The Cougars forced a punt on Keystone's first possession and took over at their own one yard line.

Misericordia marched 80 yards in 15 plays while consuming 7:25 on the clock, but the drive stalled at the Keystone 19 and MU turned the ball over on downs.

The Cougars forced a three-and-out and got the ball back at their own 35 with 1:10 left in the first quarter.

Jeffries picked up nine yards on the first two carries and went up the middle for three yards for a first down at the MU 46.

Isaiah Williams made a leaping catch for a 12-yard gain near the left sideline and a roughing the passer penalty moved the ball to the Keystone 24.

Jeffries went off right tackle for six yards on first down and used a nice cutback move to 18 yards for a touchdown to give MU a 13-7 lead with 13:20 left in the first half.

Keystone scored on its next possession on a 23-yard pass from Johnathan Bates to Javier Tazza to get within 13-7 with 8:20 left in the first half.

MU started its next drive deep in Keystone territory after a fair-catch and an unnecessary roughness penalty on the kickoff.

Williams hit Gillison on a quick out on first down and Gawlik gained three yards on first down before bursting for 18 yards and a score to make it 20-7 with 6:52 to go in the first half.

The Cougars got the ball back less than a minute later on an interception by T.J. Prather at the MU 45.

Cromwell and Gawlik combined to move the ball deep into Giants' territory with Cromwell carrying tacklers on a 22-yard gain around right end to the two-yard line.

Jeffries went off right tackle for the final yard to give the Cougars a 27-7 lead with 1:00 remaining in the second quarter.

Zach Orzell picked off a Keystone pass on first down on the ensuing drive and the Cougars used another roughing the passer penalty and a 15-yard run by Gawlik to move to the Keystone seven.

Matt Dinnocenti converted a 30-yard field goal as time expired and the Cougars took a 30-7 lead into halftime.

Dinnocenti nailed another 30-yard field goal to stretch MU's lead to 33-7 with 5:38 left in the third quarter.

Williams hit Aaron Barry for nine yards to open the fourth quarter and Gawlik picked up 15 yards on three carries to move to the Keystone 13.

Jeffries gained six yards on first down and went in from four yards out to make it 40-7 with 11:40 to play.

After taking over at their own 44 following a Keystone punt, Gawlik had runs of 14, 16, and 18 yards to move the Cougars to the Giants' 16.

Mitch Micale ran for eight yards on first down and Jeffries went the final eight yards for a 47-7 MU lead with 4:33 to play.

Orzell led the Cougars with seven tackles while Mason Geary made seven stops.

Brandon Lawyer led Keystone with 10 tackles and Sean Tocci added eight.

Misericordia is off next week and will open its MAC schedule when they host Lebanon Valley, September 28.