OWINGS MILLS, Md. – In front of a sellout crowd, the Stevenson University football team broke two school records and rallied for a 33-21 win over Misericordia (2-5, 2-4 MAC) at Mustang Stadium.
The win kept the pace with nationally-ranked Delaware Valley, who the Mustangs will face next week.
The Mustangs rushed the ball 57 times, eclipsing the school mark of 53 set against Widener in 2013.
Louis Clouser set a new school record by rushing the ball 43 times, breaking the single game record of 32 held by KK Smith in 2012.
Stevenson (6-1, 5-1 MAC) outscored Misericordia 20-0 over the final 25 minutes of the contest. Clouser finished the day with 147 yards and three scores (3,5 and 4-yards) and also caught a two-point conversion to account for 20 total points. That is fourth-best in school history in a single game.
Quarterback
Nyaire Wilson threw for 145 yards and a score, a 21-yard pass to
Makhi Walker on fourth down in the third quarter to spark the comeback. Clouser also had a team-best three receptions, while
Jaiheem Henderson had a team-high 66 yards.
Justin Rutkowski had two interceptions for a total of 65 yards including a 65-yard pick-six, while
Jacob Baytoff had a pick for 15 yards.
Gavin Shields made seven solo stops, with
Daniel Johnson and
Anthony Lembo each having five.
Stevenson took an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter as Clouser scored on a 3-yard run with 11:34 left in the first quarter. Misericordia would score after a Wilson interception, going 40 yards in five plays capped by a 4-yard run from Jacob Hunter and a 7-6 Cougar lead.
Baytoff's interception in the second quarter set up Stevenson's next score, as following a ten-play, 46 yard drive, Clouser rushed up the middle for five yards and a 13-7 Stevenson lead with 6:09 left until halftime.
Misericordia would take a 14-13 lead into intermission as Xander Shaner returned a Stevenson fumble 58 yards for a score with 2:10 left.
A 54-yard touchdown pass with 11:37 left in the third, to Owen McGuffey from T.J. Lattimore gave the Cougars a 21-13 lead.
Stevenson tied the score on the ensuing drive, going 60 yards in 11 plays with a pass from Wilson to Walker with 5:08 tying the score at 21-all.
Five seconds into the fourth quarter, Clouser scored on a 4-yard run to give Stevenson a 27-21 lead. Rutkowski's INT return came at an even ten minutes left in the game for a 33-21 lead. He would later get his second pick of the game at the 3:21 mark, sealing the win.
