Jacob Hunter scored the game-winning touchdown as time expired as the Misericordia University football team moved into sole possession of first place in the MAC with a 23-21 win at Lebanon Valley, Saturday.

Facing fourth-and-goal with :03 remaining, Hunter plowed in on a quarterback keeper from one-yard out as the Cougars improved to 4-1 overall and 4-0 in the MAC.

Angelo Fluri ran for 107 yards and a touchdown and Anthony Rucci had seven catches, including a touchdown.

Connor McLaughlin added a 36-yard field goal.

Gavin Morris led the defense with 10 tackles.

The Cougars turned the ball over on downs near midfield on their opening possession and Lebanon Valley took advantage of the short field to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

MU answered with a lengthy scoring drive on its next possession.  Hunter hit Rucci over the middle for 28 yards to midfield and Fluri picked up 19 yards on three carries to the Leb Val 33 yard line.

Hunter connected with Jordan Alston down the middle for 31 yards to set up first-and-goal at the two.  Fluri scored his team-leading seventh touchdown on third down to tie the score, 7-7, with 4:09 to play in the first quarter.

The Cougars defense forced an incompletion on fourth down to get the ball back near midfield on the first play of the second quarter.

Rucci's seven-yard reception converted a fourth-and-six and Rucci picked up eight yards on first down to move the ball to the LVC 30.

Hunter scrambled around the left end for eight yards to convert a fourth-and-five and set up a first-and-goal at the Lebanon Valley six yard line.

After a false start penalty against the Cougars, Hunter rolled right and found a wide-open Rucci in the back of the end zone for the score and a 14-7 lead with 6:50 left in the first half.

Patrick Murphy and Stacey Jackson combined on a sack for fourth a punt on the ensuing drive to get the ball back with 4:40 to go in the second quarter.

Fluri gained 15 yards on two carries and Jacob Hoy had a nine-yard grab to move the ball to the MU 44.

Hunter scampered around right end for 10 yards to convert on third-and-eight and connected with Rucci down the middle on the next play for 18 yards to the Leb Val 21.

The drive stalled there and McLaughlin drilled a 36-yard field goal to give the Cougars a 17-7 lead with :14 to play in the first half.

After Lebanon Valley scored on the opening drive of the second half, the Cougars moved into Lebanon Valley territory, but the Dutchmen intercepted a pass in the end zone.

Lebanon Valley marched 80 yards to take a 21-17 lead with 13:30 to play.

The Cougars threatened on their next possession as they moved to the Lebanon Valley 20, but the drive was thwarted on an interception in the end zone.

Antonio McDonald broke up a pass to force a punt to set up the game-winning drive at MU's 47-yard line with 4:50 remaining.

Jacob Hoy's sliding catch was good for 10 yards on a key third-down conversion to the Leb Val 38 and Fluri picked up 12 yards off left tackle on the next play.

Facing third-and-10, Hunter found Billy McCleery for a first down on an out pattern and Davon Reams spun up the middle for six yards on the next play.

A holding penalty on the Dutchmen set up first-and-goal and Hunter went up the middle for the game-winning score on fourth down as time expired.