WISE - - Mars Hill brings one of the nation's top defensive units to Carl Smith Stadium Saturday when Head Coach Tim Clifton's team squares off with UVA Wise in a 12 p.m. kickoff.

The Lions (5-2, 5-1 SAC) are tied for the Mountain Division lead in the SAC and can ill afford a hiccup against a Cavalier (2-6, 1-5 SAC) squad that snapped a six-game losing skid last Saturday.

Mars Hill ranks 14th in NCAA Division II in total defense, holding opponents to 268.1 yards per game. The strength of the unit is its ability to stop the run. Teams are averaging just 85 rushing yards per game as the Lions have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this fall.

Six-foot-2, 225-pound senior linebacker Landon Honeycutt has been one of the top players at his position in the country this season. Honeycutt is averaging a league-best 1.8 tackles for loss per game in addition to his 52 tackles and four sacks.

On offense, Mars Hill uses a strong running game and a big play offense to score. The Lions rank second in the SAC at 200.9 rushing yards per game while quarterback Jimmy Urzua ranks fourth in the country in yards per completion at 16.2. Running back Jervon Newton is averaging 106.3 yards per game and his 744 total rushing yards have the West Florida University transfer on pace to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards.

Despite its 2-6 record, UVA Wise has played better of late. After a 10-9 setback to Tusculum two weeks ago, Dane Damron's club rebounded with its first SAC win of the year, 28-13, at Erskine last week.

Patrick Taylor has intercepted a pass in back-to-back games from the Cavs' defensive secondary. Overall, the UVA Wise defense is holding teams to 147.4 passing yards per contest, the number is 10th best in NCAA Division II.

Jakoby Johnson returned from injury at Erskine and provided the UVA Wise rushing attack a boost. Johnson racked up 95 rushing yards and a touchdown while adding three receptions and 20 yards.

Juwan Dent was a winner in his second career start at quarterback as the redshirt freshman fired the first touchdown pass of his career on a fourth-and-goal play to Joey Vandyke to help the Cavs overcome an early 10-0 deficit.

This will be the final home game of the season for UVA Wise. The Cavs finish the year with consecutive road tilts at Carson-Newman and Wingate to wrap up the schedule.