JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - This is the fourth in an 11-part series breaking down each of Carson-Newman football's opponents for the 2015 season.  This feature breaks down the Eagles' first road game of the year on Sept. 26 – a date with the Mars Hill Lions.

Carson-Newman has won three consecutive against the Lions ever since Mars Hill denied Ken Sparks his first shot at his 300^th career victory at the very end of the 2011 season. 

The Eagles dominated Mars Hill last season to the tune of a dominating 48-20 victory that featured three Andy Hibbett touchdown runs of 55 yards or longer. 

Last year  the Lions had an effective offense that ranked fourth in the league with more than 400 yards per  game. 

However, MHU must replace  some big names from that offense.  Gone is  stalwart quarterback Trent Miller.  Gone is the SAC's all-time leading wide receiver. Gone are current Indianapolis Colt and first team All-SAC offensive lineman Denzelle Good and first team All-SAC offensive lineman Nick Allison. 

Yet, the Lions may return the top backfield in the league.  Normally one would presume either Carson-Newman or  Lenoir-Rhyne would have a pair of first team all-conference tailbacks.  That's not the case this year – that distinction belongs to Mars Hill. 

The Lions have Jamel Harbison back, who rushed for 1,204 yards and nine touchdowns in the absence of 2014 preseason first team All-SAC pick Shaikel Davis. Davis was sidelined for 2014 with an injury, but turned in a phenomenal 2013 campaign. He had 1,254 yards on 246 carries plus nine touchdowns. 

The main question with the Lions exceptional backfield is how head coach Tim Clifton will divvy up the carries.  Mars Hill has primarily featured a one-back system where it isn't uncommon for one star tailback to get upwards of 30 carries a game.  That's been a tenant of  the Mars Hill offense at least for as long as Jonas Randolph was building his Harlon Hill trophy resume. 

Even with the loss of Holmes, the Lions have plenty of offensive weapons out wide to keep teams honest.  The league's offensive freshman of the year Keshaun Taylor leads the returning wide receivers with 626 yards on 32 catches but just a pair of touchdown receptions.  Following him, Jeremy Hughes snagged 19 passes for 213 yards. 

The incumbent to distribute the ball in Mars Hill's spread offense is  Matt Layman.  He saw  significant action in seven games last year as Miller's backup, including sizeable time against C-N.  Layman threw for 443 yards last year but completed just 40 percent of his passes with six interceptions.  Against the Eagles, he was 4-for-9 through the air for 32 yards and a pick. 

Defensively, the Lions will try to improve upon a unit that was last in the league in yards allowed (443.1 per game) and sixth in the SAC in scoring defense (31.4 points per game).

Mars Hill only loses three starters on that  defensive unit in defensive  back Marvin James and linebackers Drew Martin and Jasper Mason.  Mason was the Lions leading tackler last year with 76 stops. 

Junior defensive  back Trey Clark is the Lions leading returning tackler with 59 tackles and two picks. 

Of particular concern last year for the Lions was their rushing defense, which surrendered 274.9 yards on the ground per game, second to last in the country, 

Carson-Newman's Better Know The Opponent series returns Thursday with a preview of week five opponent Lenoir-Rhyne.