RALEIGH, N.C. – Tailback Walter Sanders (Sr./Baltimore, Md.) rushed for 125 yards on 27 carries and scored two touchdowns for Saint Augustine's College, but Mars Hill College came away with a 41-12 non-conference victory Saturday at Broughton High School Stadium.

The rushing yards were the most for Sanders since he gained 128 yards on 23 carries against Mars Hill in a 20-14 loss in 2009. Though the Lions (2-1 overall) failed to contain Sanders, they overcame his rushing output by gaining 357 offensive yards and taking advantage of five Falcon turnovers.

The Lions scored off one turnover – a five-yard fumble recovery by Vernan Frett – to take a 34-0 lead early in the third quarter. The Lions extended the lead to 41-0 before Sanders put the Falcons (1-1 overall) on the scoreboard with two short scoring runs in the fourth quarter.

Sanders was the main bright spot for the Falcons, but Tyron Laughinghouse (Soph./Greenville, N.C.) gained 44 yards on two kickoff returns and Newton Miller III (Redshirt Fr./York, Pa.) gained 85 yards on four kickoff returns to excite the pro-Falcon crowd in the home opener. Linebacker Chaz Robinson (Fr./Hampton, Va.) led the Falcons with eight tackles and linebacker Steven Stanback (Sr./Temple Hills, Md.) added six tackles and a fumble recovery.

Jon Richt paced the Lions with five touchdown passes including three to P.J. Gore, who caught four passes for 127 yards. Richt completed 11 of 19 passes for 220 yards. Maurice Harris led the Lions with nine tackles.

The Falcons return home at Broughton High School Stadium on Sept. 18 to host Saint Paul's College in a CIAA game at 1:30 p.m. The Lions stay on the road for the third straight week as they take on Charleston Southern at 1:30 p.m.