After suffering their first loss of the season and seeing three key players go down to injuries, the Sallisaw Black Diamonds are focused on bouncing back this week.

Sallisaw will get a second chance to clinch the District 4A-4 championship on Friday night when Tulsa Webster visits for the final game of the regular season. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Perry F. Lattimore Stadium.

The Diamonds are 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the league after falling to Wagoner last Friday. The loss was a costly one as seniors Matt Oberste, Damon Lynch and Hayden Spencer were all knocked out of the contest.

Head coach Craig Benson said the team is intent on overcoming the personnel losses and wrapping up the 4A-4 title this week.

“We had a great practice on Monday. There was a different mentality. They came in ready to go to work and our practice was longer than it normally is. I told them we need to grab a hammer and start pounding some nails. Everybody’s got to go to work,” said Benson.

“But the good side of it is that when you have injuries, you have some kids that might not have had much playing time step in. The silver lining is that it makes you better down the road because you have kids getting playing time that may not have had the opportunity.”

Two of those players vying for playing time this week are quarterbacks Ben Oberste and Colt Spencer, who both saw action against Wagoner when senior standout Matt Oberste left the game in the first quarter.

“We’re going to evaluate them both this week and they’re going to compete for the job. After one day of practice, they both have their strengths and they both have inexperience,” said Benson. “We’ll work both of them and make a decision at the end of the week. I’m sure both of them are going to get playing time, but we need one of them to step up and show he’s going to lead this team.”

Benson described Matt Oberste’s injury as a bruised AC joint.

“He’s got a bruise on his throwing shoulder. He’s out this week, but he’s rehabbing and he should be back next week for the playoffs,” said Benson.

The injury is similar, but not as bad, as the shoulder injury that sidelined University of Oklahoma of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.

“Bradford had a Grade 3 and the ligament to his shoulder was torn. Matt’s is a Grade 1. It’s the same kind of injury, but not as severe.”

Also injured against Wagoner was senior cornerback Damon Lynch and senior defensive end Hayden Spencer.

“Damon has an MRI scheduled for Thursday and the preliminary indication is he has a torn MCL,” said Benson. “Hayden Spencer has got bruised ribs. He’s still tender and sometimes a bruise is as bad as a break. There’s nothing you can do for those and it’s strictly a day-to-day thing.”

Sallisaw thrashed Webster 64-20 last season, but the Tulsa school has tripled its win total from 2008. Webster is 3-6 overall and 1-5 in district play with its lone league win coming against Muldrow.

“They’re a better than last year—they’ve got two more wins than they did at this time last year. They don’t have much depth, but they have a lot of speed,” commented Benson.

“Keenon Ellis plays fullback, linebacker and noseguard for them. He’s the most dangerous player on defense. And Jerod Billings plays everything from quarterback to receiver to corner. He’s a returning starter and he’s a really good athlete,” added Benson.

“If you let them hang around and stay in the game then you can be in for a tough game,” said the coach.

Sallisaw was alone in first place of District 4A-4 until falling to Wagoner. Now the Diamonds and Broken Bow are tied with identical 5-1 league marks. However, Sallisaw owns the head-to-head tie-breaker over the Savages and can clinch the title by defeating Webster.

“We still have a lot to play for,” said Benson. “We’re playing for a district championship.”

Player of the Week

Instead of its usual three Players of the Week, Sallisaw opted instead to pass out one honor after the Wagoner game. Junior tailback Jeromy Davenport, who rushed for two touchdowns and 93 yards, is the lone honoree.

“The one guy we thought played his heart out and played every down was Jeromy Davenport,” said Benson. “He took a beating and kept coming back to give one out.”