Black Diamonds will begin district play tonight with road game against Hilldale Hornets

After having a bye on Sept. 13 after winning each of their first two ball games, the Sallisaw Black Diamonds returned to action and picked up right where they left off with a road victory over the Eufaula Ironheads.

“It’s always good to go to Eufaula and win,” Sallisaw coach Brandon Tyler said. “It’s a tough place to play. They’re a very talented, well-coached football team. To go on the road and get that win was big for us and our program, especially coming off the bye week. We won those two previous games, and we had a lot of momentum going, then we take a week off and then come back. I thought our kids responded well. We had some adversity throughout the game. I thought we overcame a lot of that (adversity). We were able to get some points on the board and go win the ball game. I thought our defense rose to the occasion when they needed to, so I’m very pleased with them. We struggled at times. We just have to get more consistent on that side (offense) of the ball.”

Tyler said entering District 4A-4 play with a win was huge.

“It’s always crucial,” he said. “You don’t want to go into district play with a loss obviously. It’s always good to win going into your district play. Like I always tell the kids, the season is broken down into three parts. The scrimmages and our three non-district games is our preseason where we’re still trying to fine tune everything. Now we’re in the regular season (District 4A-4 play). From here on out, they all matter to get that playoff seeding and to try to win a district championship. It’s always big to win going into Week 4 (district opener).”

The District 4A-4 opener will be at 7 tonight as the Black Diamonds (30) travel to Muskogee to face the Hilldale Hornets (1-2).

The Hornets won their season opener 48-0 over Tulsa Edison, but they have dropped their last two games — 28-13 to local rival Fort Gibson and 30-0 last week at Claremore. However, Tyler said their record is deceiving.

“They’re 1-2 right now, but they’re a very good, dangerous football team,” he said. “They’re very good defensively. They’re going to be one of the best defenses we’re going to see all year long — and up to this point by far the best defense we’ve seen for sure. They do a really good job up from. Their defensive line will be one of the better ones we’ll see. They play very aggressive downhill.”

Tyler said the Black Diamonds will need to be sound in all facets of the game to give them a chance to open district play at 1-0 — and keep their record unblemished through four games.

“Our offensive line has their work cut out for them this week,” he said. “We’ll have to have a big game out of them. We have to hook up and get after it up front. We have to try to control the line of scrimmage a little bit and get some movement on those (Hilldale) big guys — they’re big, strong and aggressive. We just have to hook up and get after it. Offensively, we’ve got to get more consistent on what we’re doing. We’re not very consistent right now on that side of the ball. Defensively, we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing. They (the Hornets) are struggling on the offensive side of the ball a little bit right now, so we have to keep pressure on them. They’re starting a sophomore at quarterback who’s struggling a little bit this year, but he’s capable of making plays. Whoever is at quarterback this week, we definitely have to be ready to go. We just need to keep playing good, solid defense. We’ve got to play great defense. It’s going to come down to special teams as well. Field position is going to be huge.”

The win last week over Eufaula came at a price as wide receiver Brodi Nickell suffered a severe injury that likely will keep him out of action at least through the regular season. However, he is the only injured Black Diamond heading into tonight’s district opener.

“Besides (Nickell), he’s the only one who will not be in uniform,” Tyler said.

• • • TO GET THERE — Take Interstate 40 west to Warner. Take U.S. 266-Oklahoma State Highway 2 north to U.S. 64. Take U.S. 64 west to Muskogee, where it becomes Cherokee Street. Proceed north to Smith Ferry Road (signal light). Turn right to Hilldale High School.