WISE - - Two teams heading in opposite directions meet Saturday when Tusculum visits UVA Wise in a 12 p.m. kickoff at Carl Smith Stadium.

Tusculum (5-1, 3-1 SAC) has won three consecutive games and brings one of the nation's best defenses to Wise to face a UVA Wise (1-5, 0-4 SAC)squad that has eclipsed 20 points just once this fall.

The Pioneers' pass defense ranks 10th nationally, holding opposing quarterbacks to 138.2 yards per game while the unit has forced the sixth most turnovers in the country at 16.

Those facts could pose problems for a Cavaliers squad that passed for 70 yards last week and has turned the ball over 20 times in the season's first six games.

Seven different Tusculum players have combined to intercept 10 passes this season while Preseason All-SAC pick DaJavon White has recorded 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks from his defensive line position.

A bright spot for UVA Wise continues to be the play of sophomore Robert Carter. Last week, Carter returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. The defensive back has tallied a team-leading 599 all-purpose yards this season as he has added a South Atlantic Conference best four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

This will be the 13th all-time meeting between UVA Wise and Tusculum. Each program has won six games but, the Pioneers have controlled the series of late. Tusculum has won two in a row and four of the last five meetings.

A year ago, the Pioneers scored twice in the game's final six minutes to claim a 37-21 triumph as Cortney Jackson scored the decisive blow with under a minute to play when the running back crossed the goal line. Jackson is back this season and has rushed for a program best three touchdowns while averaging 6.6 yards per carry.

The Cavaliers last win in the series came in 2016 when first-year Head Coach Dane Damron guided his team to a 13-10 double overtime victory in Greeneville. UVA Wise has not defeated Tusculum at home since a 31-28 win in 1997.

The Pioneers are firmly in contention for a SAC Mountain Division crown and a berth in the playoffs. Following Saturday's game at Wise, coach Jerry Odom's club will play consecutive home games with Emory & Henry and Erskine before wrapping up divisional play at Mars Hill.

UVA Wise visits Erskine next week to face former Cavalier defensive coordinator Shap Boyd's Fleet. Game time from Greenwood, S.C. is set for 4 p.m. Saturday.