ROME -- The Hawks' season opener didn't go as planned Saturday afternoon at they fell to Mars Hill, 40-14, at home.

The Mountain Lions opened the game with 27 unanswered points on four touchdowns, before the Hawks finally broke through just before the half when B.J. McCoy took a 2-yard run into the end zone for his first score of the season for the 27-7 score at the break.

Shorter then made it a 27-14 game midway through the third on a one-yard run from Tyler Pullum. Only to have Mars Hill tally a touchdown of their own later in the frame to bring their advantage to 33-14, before scoring once more in the fourth for the 40-14 score.

For the afternoon, the Hawks finished with 322 yards of offense – with 244 coming in the air – as Pullum completed 19 of 28 passes, with an interception. McCoy – returning from a back injury that caused him to miss all of 2016 – led the Hawks' rushers with 78 yards on 21 carries. While, Joseph Ross turned in 101 yards receiving on seven catches.

Lewis Hayes added 87 yards on seven receptions, in addition to, three punts for an average of 39.7 yards, and three kickoffs for an average of 53 yards.

On defense, Rodney Jackson led the effort with 10 tackles – seven solo and three assists – while Khdir Banks added six – three solo and three assists. John Jarrard turned in the lone sack of the afternoon for Shorter for 11 yards, and Le'Chauz Langford forced the Mountain Lions lone fumble.

Mars Hill quarterback, David Salmon, passed for 257 yards on 17 completions; while Malik Prescott led the rushers with 110 yards on 17 carries and Keshaun Taylor added 131 yards on 8 receptions. The Mountain Lions had four players finish with five tackles while Chris Leamon tallied three and picked Pullum for an 85-yard run and a touchdown.

The Hawks will look to get into the win column for the first time in 2017 this Saturday, September 9, as they travel to Tusculum College for the first road game of the year. Game time is set for 6:00 PM from Greeneville, Tenn.