The Misericordia University football team dropped its MAC opener to Wilkes, 35-15, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.
 
David Cromwell had a rushing touchdown for the Cougars while Mitchell Micale connected with Kevin Pearson for a score.
 
Tavion Rogers led the Cougars with a school-record 18 tackles.
 
Wilkes broke open a close game with three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
 
The first quarter was scoreless until Wilkes got on the board as time expired in the opening period.
 
The score held until the Colonels scored in the closing seconds of the first half to take a 14-0 lead.
 
The Cougars cut the lead in half with their first score late in the third quarter.
 
After Rogers and Justin Moreno combined for a stop on fourth down deep in MU territory, the Cougars took over at their own nine-yard line.
 
Micale hit Dwayne Sharpe for an eight-yard gain and found Eric Jefferies in the left flat for a first down at the 20.
 
Micale rushed for 15 yards and a Wilkes penalty moved to the ball out to the 40.
 
Cromwell burst up the middle and bounced outside and raced down the left sideline to set up first-and-goal at the Wilkes 10.
 
On third down, Micale rolled to his right and found Pearson in the back of the end zone to make it 14-7 with 2:09 to play in the third quarter.
 
Wilkes answered with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter and took advantage of an interception to take a 28-7 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
 
Carlos Artson returned the ensuing kick-off 29 yards to the MU 43-yard line to set up a Cougars scoring drive.
 
A Wilkes penalty moved the ball across midfield and Dallas Engel picked up 15 yards to the 23-yard line.
 
Engel hit Pearson to convert a fourth-and-seven and Cromwell plowed in from seven yards out.  The two-point conversion got the Cougars within 28-15 with 3:56 to go.
 
Wilkes recovered the on-sides kick and tacked on a 43-yard TD pass to close out the scoring.
 
MU will visit FDU-Florham, Saturday.