The Misericordia University football team used a strong running game and a stingy defense to pick up its second straight win with a 25-8 victory over Eastern, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.
 
Dominic Caruso rushed for 139 yards and Jacob Hunter and T.J. Lattimore combined for three rushing touchdowns as the Cougars improved to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the MAC.
 
Caruso had a couple of nice runs on the game's opening possession to move the Cougars near midfield, the Cougars were forced to punt.  Chris Moyer's 52-yard kick was his first of four inside the 20-yard line on the day and pinned the Eagles at their own one-yard line on their first series.
 
Eric Glass made a tackle in the end zone on the Eagles first play to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead on a safety with 11:51 to go in the first quarter.
 
Eastern threatened to take the lead midway through the first quarter, but their 28-yard field goal attempt bounced off the right upright.
 
MU went three-and-out, but Moyer boomed a 56-yard kick that was downed at the Eastern 21.  A low snap and a tackle for loss by Andrew Lee and Gavin Morris had Eastern facing a third-and-24 from their own seven.  Another botched snap led to the second safety of the game and gave the Cougars a rare 4-0 lead with 5:39 left in the first quarter.
 
L.T. Messick returned the ensuing free kick 12 yards to give the Cougars good field position at their own 43-yard line.  Caruso bounced outside on first down and raced 22 yards to the Eastern 35.  Hunter and Caruso combined for 15 yards on three carries for another first down at the 20.
 
Lattimore found a wide-open Cameron Smeltz on the left flank where he broke a tackle to set up a first-and-goal at the four.  Facing a third-and-goal after a false start penalty, Hunter raced around right end and dove inside the right pylon on the first play of the second quarter.  Lattimore rolled right and hit Ryan Krisiak for the two-point conversion and a 12-0 lead.
 
The Cougars forced a punt on the opening drive of the second half and put together a long scoring drive on their first possession.  Facing third-and-9 from their own 22-yard line Caruso got the needed yardage on a draw play.  After a pass interference penalty moved the ball near midfield, Messick made a leaping grab for a 35-yard gain to the Eastern 18.  Hunter picked up 15 yards on two carries to set up a first-and-goal and Lattimore powered in from the one for an 18-0 lead to cap a nine-play 79-yard drive with 6:49 left in the third quarter.
 
Eastern answered with a 65-yard TD pass on the second play of the ensuing drive and added the two-point conversion to get within 18-8.
 
The teams traded punts over the next few possessions and a low snap on an Eastern punt attempt gave the Cougars the ball at the Eagles 16-yard line.
 
Hunter went around left end for 16 yards on the next play and a 25-8 lead with 6:07 left in the game.
 
T.J. Prather had a team-high six tackles while Logan Baxter, R.J. Tocco and Eric Glass all had five stops.