Broken Bow spoils Black Diamonds’ homecoming

For the first time this season, things did not go the Sallisaw Black Diamonds’ way, and it was not a happy homecoming either.

Broken Bow quarterback Greydon Howell accounted either in full or in part on six of Broken Bow’s eight touchdowns as the Savages polished off the Black Diamonds 56-14 to spoil Sallisaw’s homecoming last Friday night at Perry F. Lattimore Stadium, and hand the Black Diamonds their first loss of the season and first District4A-4 setback of 2024.

With the game tied at 7-all after a period, the Savages (4-1 overall, 2-0 in district play) saw Howell take it in on a fourthdown run from the Sallisaw 1-yard line. Victor Silva hit the extra point to put Broken Bow ahead for good at 14-7 with 11:02 left before halftime.

After the Black Diamonds (4-1, 1-1) were stopped on downs at the Sallisaw 44-yard line on the ensuing possession, the Savages cashed in the gift possession as Howell scored on a 16-yard run. Silva’s PAT upped Broken Bow’s advantage to 21-7 with 3:51 remaining in the first half.

Each of the next two Sallisaw possessions ended in turnovers, a fumble recovery by Jackson Porter and an interception by Jaqob Champagne, who got the 5-yard return to the Sallisaw 10-yard line with 1:06 left in the first half.

This time, Howell used his arm as he hit Dejhaun Hall on an 8-yard TD pass with 25 seconds remaining before halftime.

Silva’s extra point gave the Savages a 28-7 halftime lead.

In last week’s game, the Black Diamonds trailed the hosts Hilldale Hornets 21-6 and ended up winning 40-34 in double overtime. There was no such magic on homecoming for the Black Diamonds.

However, it looked as if there might be as the Black Diamonds scored on the opening possession of the second half as Broque Oft got around the left side of the line and went down the Sallisaw sideline for a 45-yard touchdown run. Brian Castor hit the PAT to cut Sallisaw’s deficit to 28-14 with 9:25 left in the third quarter. It ended up being as close as the Black Diamonds would get to the Savages.

On the ensuing possession, the Savages found paydirt once more as Quinlan Bailey scored on a 10-yard TD run. Silva’s extra point increased Broken Bow’s lead to 35-14 with 6:48 remaining in the period.

The Black Diamonds were forced to punt but an errant snap to Oft ended up turning into essentially a sack back at the Sallisaw 29-yard line with 5:23 remaining in the quarter.

Howell scored his fourth rushing TD of the night on a 13-yard run. Silva’s PAT upped Broken Bow’s advantage to 42-14 with 3:12 left in the period.

The Black Diamonds got stopped on downs once more at the Broken Bow 40yard line with 53 seconds remaining in the period as the Savages took a 42-14 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Savages cashed in this gift possession with a 53-yard scramble by Howell in which he high kicked into turbo speed at about the Sallisaw 25yard line and took it home to paydirt. Silva’s extra point put Broken Bow ahead 49-14 with 11:47 left in the game.

The Black Diamonds once more went for it on fourth down on their next possession, but were stopped on downs once more, this time at the Broken Bow 39 with 7:51 remaining to be played.

The Savages cashed in this gift with another TD run, this one by Cole Patrick, who carried the ball on all seven plays of the drive. After being denied the touchdown on plays No. 5 and 6, play No. 7 finally saw Patrick score from a yard away. Silva’s PAT made it 56-14.

The Savages scored first on Howell connected with Hall for the first of two TD pass plays, this one a 21-yard pass. Silva hit the extra point for a 7-0 Broken Bow advantage with 8:50 left in the opening period.

The Black Diamonds responded by ending their ensuing drive, wich was started off by a 5-yard Broken Bow punt to set up possession at the Broken Bow 47, in the end zone as Jackson Harris connected with Cooper Cox on a 42yard TD pass on fourth down with 3:49 remaining in the first quarter. Castor’s PAT knotted the game at 7-all after the first quarter.

“That was not a very good effort on either side of the football,” Sallisaw coach Brandon Tyler said. “Hats off to Broken Bow. They’re a heck a football team. They have the X factor with that quarterback. We were more scared of him when it was third-and 14 than we were on first and second downs because we knew what he was going to do. When he gets out in space, he’s tough to tackle. He put on a show tonight and showed why he’s the best player in our district, and probably one of the best players in the state.”

The Black Diamonds will look to regroup with back-to-back road trips beginning next Friday night at Tulsa McLain, then Oct. 17 at Glenpool.

“There’s still a home playoff game, so there’s still a lot to play for,” Tyler said. “We just have to forget this one and regroup, and come back and try to go beat (Tulsa) McLain and Glenpool. Then we get Poteau back at home. All our goals are still there, such as having a home playoff game. We just have to put this one behind us. There’s nothing we can do about it now, and try to get better and see what happens next week.”

Between the homecoming festivities and kickoff, the Class of 2024 was inducted into the Sallisaw High School Sports Hall of Fame. Inductees were Ron Etheridge, Craig Benson, Phil Green and the late Gilbert “Bos” Green, who passed away in 2020. Etheridge and Benson, along with their families, were present for their respective introduction into the Sallisaw High School Sports Hall of Fame.

The Black Diamonds will return to action at 7 p.m. Friday at Tulsa McLain.