Mars Hill College scored all of its points off Saint Augustine’s College’s mistakes in a 22-9 non-conference football victory over the Falcons on Saturday, Sept. 1, at Broughton High School. The contest was the season opener for both teams.

Mars Hill scored 13 points off three Falcon interceptions, and a safety and free kick led to nine more points. A fumble in the end zone prevented the Falcons from scoring a touchdown.

On the Falcons’ first series, quarterback Brandon Franklin (Kannapolis, NC) connected with Tim Lovick (Garner, NC) for 47 yards on a trick play to the Mars Hill two-yard line. Two plays later, the Falcons fumbled in the end zone.

Mars Hill scored on a safety with 5:24 in the first quarter for a 2-0 lead. After Mars Hill received the free kick, Chappell Rose capped a five-play drive with a 17-yard touchdown run at the 4:18 mark of the first quarter. Chase Harris kicked the extra point for a 9-0 lead.

The Falcons cut the deficit to 9-6 on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Franklin with no time remaining in the first half. In the opening minutes of the second half, Franklin tossed an interception which set up Chappell Rose’s two-yard scoring run. Harris converted the extra point to give Mars Hill a 16-6 lead.

On the next series, Harris connected on a 37-yard field goal following Franklin’s second interception for a 19-6 Lions’ lead. Addison Daniels (Raleigh, NC) booted a 20-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter to slice the margin to 19-9, but Harris added a 26-yard field goal in the fourth quarter after Franklin was picked off for a third time.

Lovick (Garner, NC), a wide receiver, caught five passes for 81 yards to lead the Falcon offense. Defensive tackle Marcus Kennedy (Georgetown, SC), a preseason All-CIAA pick, led the Falcon defense with 10 tackles and two sacks. Defensive end Alex Hall (Glenarden, MD), a preseason All-American, added nine tackles and one sack. Both Kennedy and Hall combined for eight tackles for losses.

For the game, the Falcons committed 10 penalties for 119 yards while Mars Hill committed five penalties for 47 yards. The Falcons travel to North Carolina Central on Saturday, Sept. 8, for a 6 p.m. matchup.