ALBANY, Ga. (Nov. 22, 1997) – SAU senior linebacker Anthony Hullaby (Ringgold, La.) registered 17 total tackles and classmate linebacker Fred Perry (Fort Smith, Ark.) followed with 13 total stops as the Southern Arkansas defense held the No. 5 Albany State Golden Rams under 230 yards of total offense, but an ASU 38-yard field goal late in the first half would prove to be the difference in an offensive struggle for both sidelines as the Muleriders fell 10-6 in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs on Saturday afternoon at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany, Georgia.
 
The Muleriders accumulated 202 yards of total offense in 65 plays, including 151 yards on 44 rushing attempts and found the end zone for the only time in the game late in the third quarter as freshman quarterback Tim Barrington (Lafayette, La.) scored on a four-yard rush to cut the deficit to four after a failed point after attempt.
 
Prior to the Barrington touchdown, Southern Arkansas was forced to punt on its first ten possessions, before the Mulerider defense forced a fumble which was recovered by senior defensive lineman Toby Blanchard (New Iberia, La.) deep in ASU territory that led to the lone SAU score three plays later.
 
Albany State scored twice in the first half beginning with a two-play drive on its first possession that covered 53 yards highlighted by a 48-yard touchdown pass as the Golden Rams led 7-0 just 52 seconds into the contest. The SAU defense buckled down after that score forcing four punts and a turnover-on-downs before ASU pushed its lead to ten with the aforementioned field goal attempt.
 
Southern Arkansas averaged just over three yards per play to Albany State's 4.1 and after allowing ten first half points to ASU, the SAU defensive unit stoned the Golden Ram attack forcing five second half punts, while also forcing the lone ASU turnover that led to the Mulerider score.
 
After finding the scoreboard late in the third quarter, the Muleriders owned the fourth quarter by holding the football for 10:01 and found itself with an opportunity to potentially take the lead late in the game, before an interception ended the threat.
 
Offensively, junior fullback Jason Smelser (Monroe, La.) led the rushing attack with 67 total yards on 16 carries and senior halfback Kendrick Law (Shreveport, La.) added 46 yards on 11 carries. Barrington finished at 5-of-16 passing for 51 yards with two of those completions going to sophomore wide receiver Drew Cone (Van Buren, Ark.) for 30 yards.
 
No. 10 Southern Arkansas' (9-2) impressive run during the 1997 season came to an end on that Saturday, but its successes that year remain one of the most memorable seasons in program history.