The Misericordia University football team moved into third place in the MAC with a 31-14 win over Widener on Senior Appreciation Day at Mangelsdorf Field.
The Cougars improved to 6-3 overall and 5-3 in the MAC and clinched a MAC-Centennial Bowl berth.
Ronnie Borden threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns and
Jassan Whittaker had 10 catches for 167 yards and two scores.
Zander Schied had two catches for 95 yards and a score and
Angelo Fluri ran for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Christian Meletta led the MU defense with 11 tackles while
Austin Lyons,
Aaron Green and Max Webb all had interceptions.
The Cougars struck quickly as they scored on the game's opening possession and never looked back.
Whittaker took the opening kick 33 yards to give MU excellent starting field position on their own 45.
After a tough six-yard run by Fluri gave the Cougars a first down in Widener territory, Borden hit Whittaker on a slant for a 37-yard TD less than three minutes into the game.
The teams exchanged punts and the Cougars took over at their own 10 yard line with 4:35 left in the first quarter.
Facing third-and-7, Borden scrambled for a seven-yard gain and a first down at the 21.
Borden connected with Whittaker on a screen pass for a nine-yard gain and then hit Schied in stride down the right seam for a 70-yard TD and 13-0 lead with 1:59 left in the first quarter.
The score held until the Cougars got the ball on Lyons' interception with 1:02 remaining in the first half.
Borden hit Infante deep down the right sideline for a third-down conversion to the Widener 29. The drive stalled, but
Chance Hall connected on a 41-yard field goal as time expired to give MU a 16-0 lead.
Whittaker made a nice over-the-should catch in the left corner of the end zone to cap a 14-play, 73-yard drive to put MU in front, 23-8, late in the third quarter.
The Cougars blocked a punt to take over deep in Widener territory early in the fourth quarter.
Borden rolled right and hit Whittaker along the right sideline at the one and Fluri punched it in for the clinching score with 10:38 to go.
The Cougars will wrap-up the regular season next week at King's at noon.
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