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WISE - - Saturday the visiting Rams from Shepherd University and the homestanding Cavaliers of UVa-Wise will square off in a Mountain East Conference game at noon.  The contest pits two schools moving in different directions.  A year after winning eight games, the Rams have won its first five games of the 2013 season, including four MEC games.  Meanwhile, UVa-Wise is looking to win its first game of the season after losing its first five games overall and its first three MEC games.

The Rams are led by the league's top-ranked defense.  Thus far, Shepherd has allowed just 47 points while allowing opponents only 260.4 yards a contest.  The Rams' rushing defense has been nearly uncrackable.  Through five games, Shepherd is allowing just 39.6 rushing yards a game.

Despite the 0-5 mark, the Cavs have one of the premier players in the MEC.  James Long enters the game the conference leader in all-purpose yards, 1,086, recieving yards, 638, and receiving yards per game, 127.6.  Last week, Long totaled 380 all-purpose yards as he caught 16 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns.  

Individually, the Rams' Robert Hayes has already posted five sacks while teammates Howard Jones and Xavier Tyler each have three sacks.  As a unit, the defense has posted a MEC-high 17 sacks.  On offense, Shepherd has relied heavily on its rushing attack.  The Rams are averaging 220.6 rushing yards per game.  The duo of Allen Cross and Jabre Lolley receive the bulk of the carries as Cross has rushed for 511 yards and six touchdowns and Lolley has gained 415 yards while scoring seven times.

UVa-Wise linebacker T'ontray Billups has improved throughout the season, tallying 11 tackles in each of the last two games. On the season, Billups has produced 35 tackles and five sacks.  The five sacks lead the MEC.