The Misericordia University football team's fourth-quarter rally fell short as the Cougars fell to FDU-Florham, 35-20, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.
The Cougars offense scored did all of its scoring in the latter stages of both halves.
Ronnie Borden led the MU attack with 184 yards passing, including a touchdown. Jacob Hoy had three catches for 69 yards and Angelo Fluri had three receptions for 64 yards.
Braden Bashore had a 29 yard touchdown reception and Davon Reams added a touchdown run.
Connor McLaughlin was two-for-two on field goals.
The Devils took a 7-0 lead on the game's first possession and extended their lead to 14-0 in the opening minute of the second quarter.
Following a missed field goal attempt by the Devils, the Cougars took over to their own 21-yard line with 5:32 to play in the first half.
Angelo Fluri took a quick screen from Jacob Hunter and raced 43 yards down the left sideline to the FDU 36.
Jacob Hunter scrambled around the right side for a nine yard gain and connected with LT Messick for nine yards for a first down at the FDU 18.
Reams picked up eight yards with a quick pass to the right side, but the drive stalled and the Cougars settled for a 33-yard field goal by McLaughlin to get within 14-3 with 1:55 to play.
Luke Wellman's sack led to a three-and-out and the Cougars got the ball back in FDU territory with 1:20 remaining.
Hunter picked up six yards on a quarterback draw and Fluri broke a tackle on a 12-yard gain on a screen pass for a first down at the FDU 26.
Hunter ran for a first down to the Devils 13, but the drive stalled and McLaughlin converted a 22-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-6 with :10 left.
FDU-Florham scored twice in the third quarter and added a score midway through the fourth to extend its lead to 35-6.
Following another missed field goal, MU took over at its own 21-yard line with 5:20 left in the game.
Billy McCleery had an 11-yard reception on third down and the Cougars converted a fourth-and-five when Hoy made a leaping grab over a defender to move to the Devils 14.
Borden hit Hoy on a quick slant to set up first and goal and Reams bounced off a tackler in the backfield and trotted into the end zone with 2:09 to play.
Misericordia forced a quick punt and got the ball back at their own 17 with 1:02 remaining.
Jordan Alston sandwiched two catches for 23 yards around a 17-yard reception by Mike Rozell to move the Cougars to the Devils 29.
Facing third-and-10, Borden hit Bashore in stride for an over-the-shoulder catch in the left corner of the end zone with :10 to go.
Christian Ibe recovered the ensuing on-side kick and Borden found Rozell for a 24 yard gain. MU's pass in the end zone fell incomplete on the game's final play.
Gavin Morris led the Cougars defense with nine tackles and Derik Sauve made seven stops.
