By: Jacob Pumphrey
Editor's Note: In honor of the 20th Anniversary of the 1997 Mulerider Football Team capturing the Gulf South Conference Championship, the Southern Arkansas Sports Information Department will, on a weekly basis, recreate the 1997 season through brief game recaps and box scores.
ADA, Okla. (Sept. 4, 1997) – Behind an offensive attack that racked up 456 total yards and 24 first downs, combined with a defensive unit that surrendered just 167 total yards and a lone touchdown, the Southern Arkansas Muleriders opened the 1997 football season in dominating fashion as they beat the Lone Star Conference's East Central University 37-9 on Thursday night at Norris Field in Ada, Oklahoma.
The Muleriders (1-0) controlled the football for more than 38 minutes during Thursday night's win due in large part to a ground game that tallied 371 total yards on 61 attempts, and 19 first downs. Leading the way in Southern Arkansas' rushing success was junior fullback Jason Smelser (Monroe, La.) who gained 119 yards on 22 carries. Smelser also added a pass reception for 16 yards.
Behind Smelser's century-plus yardage were a trio of Mulerider backs that found the end zone in the win. Kevin Little (Shreveport, La.), who opened the season's scoring with a one-yard plunge, Kendrick Law (Shreveport, La.) and Timothy Barrington (Lafayette, La.) all scored on Thursday night and combined for 154 yards on 18 carries.
Despite just four total pass attempts, sophomore quarterback Adam Pendergrass (Van Buren, Ark.) used one of his three completions, this one under a heavy rush, to connect with former high school teammate and sophomore split end Drew Cone (Van Buren, Ark.) on a 36-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Pendergrass followed with a successful two-point conversion on a pass to senior tight end Marcus Winn (Texarkana, Texas).
Cone would finish the game with a pair of catches for 69 yards and the lone score through the air.
In addition to the impactful performances of both the offense and defense to open the season, the Muleriders also changed the game on special teams against the Tigers (0-1). Following the aforementioned Pendergrass-to-Cone touchdown score in the second quarter, junior defensive back Lucas Melott (Irving, Texas) blocked a punt on the ensuing ECU possession that was recovered in the end zone by sophomore defensive back Al Dismuke (Dallas, Texas) which pushed the Southern Arkansas lead to 21-0.
After Law's touchdown run of 23 yards put the Muleriders out front 28-0 eight minutes into the second half, the East Central offense would find the end zone for the only time on Thursday night with just over a minute to play in the third quarter as the Tigers' Jason Lewis scored from 11 yards out.
Sophomore kicker Garron Spickard (Bauxite, Ark.) opened the scoring in the fourth quarter as he connected from 40 yards away giving SAU a 31-7 lead, before Barrington found the end zone from 47 yards out four minutes later for his first career touchdown in his collegiate debut. The Tigers would block their second Mulerider PAT of the evening; this time resulting in a 98-yard return that would settle the score at 37-9.
Defensively, senior linebacker Anthony Hullaby (Ringgold, La.) led the Muleriders with 11 total tackles (2 solo), with senior All-America linebacker Fred Perry (Fort Smith, Ark.) adding ten total tackles (3 solo). Four other Muleriders recorded at least five tackles in the win.
Southern Arkansas forced three Tiger turnovers on Thursday night including an interception by sophomore defensive back Robert Fox (Irving, Texas) and a pair of fumble recoveries that were picked up by sophomore defensive back Chase Brossett (Irving, Texas) and junior defensive lineman Mel Polk (Broken Bow, Okla.).
Polk also added one of SAU's four tackles for loss with Perry leading the way with two and junior defensive lineman Jody Walker (Fairfield, Texas) collecting one.
Following the season-opening victory, the 1997 Muleriders then prepared to open Gulf South Conference action and did so at home in the friendly confines of Wilkins Stadium where they welcomed in perennial Division II powerhouse North Alabama.
