The Misericordia University football team dropped a hard-fought 20-9 decision to Lebanon Valley, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.

Jacob Hunter led the Cougars with 55 yards rushing and Ronnie Borden connected with Jacob Hoy on a fourth-quarter touchdown pass.

Connor McLaughlin added a 24-yard field goal.

Gavin Morris had a team-high 14 tackles and Derik Sauve added 10 stops.

After Lebanon Valley took a 7-0 lead on its opening possession, the Cougars answered with a scoring drive on their second possession.

Jassan Whittaker returned the kick-off 22 yards up the left seam to the MU 32 yard line.

Facing second-and-14, Hunter found L.T. Messick down the middle for 17 yards and a first down at the 50-yard line.

Whittaker caught a quick slant pass for 10 yards and Messick picked up 12 yards on a quick out pattern to the Dutchmen 41.

On third-and-10, Hunter scrambled down the right sideline for 15 yards to the Leb Val 13.

Hunter ran for seven yards on second down, the Cougars settled for a 22-yard field goal by McLaughlin to get within 7-3 with 1:16 left in the first quarter.

The Cougars trailed 20-3 when Borden entered the game midway through the fourth quarter.

Borden hit Owen McGuffey for 21 yards down the right sideline to convert a third-and-10 at the Cougars 40.

After a facemask penalty backed the Cougars up, Borden hit McGuffey over the middle for 32 yards on fourth-and-long and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty move the ball to the Leb Val 21.

Whittaker made a sliding catch to convert another fourth-down to set up first-and-goal at the Dutchmen eight yard line.

Hoy made a leaping catch over a defender in the right corner of the end zone to get MU within 20-9 with 3:55 to play.