LA PLUME, Pa. – For the first time in 74 years, the Keystone College Giants (0-2, 0-0 ECFC) hosted a football game on campus. In front of a capacity crowd, the Giants fought valiantly, before ultimately falling to the Misericordia Cougars (1-0, 0-0 MAC) 28-7.
 
The first half was a defensive battle, with the Cougars leading 13-7 going into the half.
 
Misericordia led just 2-0 after a first quarter safety on a bobbled snap by the Giants in the end zone on a punt. In the second quarter, the Cougars lead grew to 10-0 on a Michael Gawlick touchdown run.
 
Keystone immediately responded, with a 12 play 73-yard drive, that resulted in a Kevin Lewis (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) two-yard touchdown run, his second of the season.
 
Misericordia added a field goal 27-yard field goal late in the second quarter to hold its 13-7 lead.
 
In the second half, the Cougars scored the lone 15 points on two more Gawlick touchdown runs.
 
The Giants again utilized two quarterbacks with Tom Roach (Burlington City, N.J./Burlington City) and Deswa Evans Jr. (Pennsauken, N.J./Pennsauken) combining to go 10-for-24, 110 yards and one interception by Roach that came in the late moments of the second quarter.
 
Lewis led Keystone on the ground, rushing for 63 yards on 17 carries with the touchdown. Mujaheed Muhammad (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) added 41 yards on 10 carries. Jorden Cook (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) was the leader in receiving yards with 51 on two catches, while Javier Tazza (Burlington City, N.J./Burlington City) reeled in three catches.
 
Defensively, Sean Tocci (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) led the Giants with 12 tackles (9 solo, 3 assist) and a tackle for loss. Tyshaun McClain (Jersey City, N.J./) totaled nine tackles (5 solo, 4 assist), while Jerell Springer (Brooklyn, N.Y./Midwood) had seven solo tackles and one pass break-up. Dontez Crawford (Baltimore, Md./Pennsauken) forced the lone Misericordia turnover, intercepting Mitchell Micale.
 
Keystone returns to the field on Saturday, Sapt. 18 when it hosts William Patterson. Kickoff for game three of the 2021 season is slated for 1 p.m.