Jacob Hunter ran for two touchdowns and threw a game-winning touchdown pass to lead the Misericordia University football team to a thrilling 24-20 win over Widener in front a Homecoming crowd, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.
 
The Cougars defense forced four turnovers, including two in the end zone, to protect the winning margin.
 
Hunter ran for two scores in the first quarter as the Cougars jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead.
 
Widener rallied to take its first lead midway through the third quarter, but the Cougars went back in front for good later in the period.
 
Lamontae Wilson returned an interception down 20 yards down the right sideline on the game's opening possession to give MU the ball at the Widener 22 with 13:29 left in the opening period.
 
Hunter hit Jacob Hoy over the middle to the Widener and then ran a QB-draw to set up a first-and-goal from the one where he plowed in for a 7-0 lead with 11:17 left in the first quarter.
 
Christian Ibe recovered an on side kick to give MU the ball back at the Widener 48.
 
Facing third-and-9, Hunter scrambled around the right end for 11 yards to the Widener 36.
 
On second-and-8 from the Widener 24, Hunter pulled the ball down and raced untouched to the left pylon to give the Cougars a 14-0 lead with 9:21 to go in the first quarter.
 
Widener marched 86 yards on the ensuing possession to cut MU's lead in half with 3:30 to go in the opening quarter.
 
Both offenses struggled in the second quarter until the Pride took advantage of a short field after an interception return to the MU 23 yard line.
 
The Pride took just four plays to pull even, 14-14, with 3:25 left in the first half.
 
Jassan Whittaker took the Pride kickoff 19 yards up the let seam and the Cougars took advantage of two pass interference penalties to move into Widener territory.
 
An unnecessary roughness penalty gave the Cougars a new set of downs and Connor McLaughlin put the Cougars back in front, 17-14, with a 20-yard field goal with :16 remaining.
 
Widener forced an MU punt on the opening series of the second half and then marched 65 yards on nine plays to take  20-17 lead.
 
After a false start penalty on the point after, Jordan Chmielewski blocked the attempt.
 
MU punted on its next possession, but got the ball back deep in Widener territory when Gavin Morris recovered a fumble at the 30.
Hunter found Owen McGuffey wide open on the first snap to give MU a 24-20 lead with 4:27 left in the third quarter.
 
The Cougars drove deep into Widener territory late in the fourth quarter, but settled for a field goal attempt.
 
After taking over on downs, the Cougars ran the clock down to 16 seconds before punting to pin Widener deep.
 
Derik Sauve had 12 tackles to lead the MU defense and Gavin Morris had 10 stops and a fumble recovery.
 
Lamontae Wilson had two interceptions.