The fifth-ranked Diamonds scored all 20 of their points before halftime and then used a tough defensive effort to shut down McGuinness.
Jeromy Davenport scored on runs of 1 and 18 yards to hand Sallisaw a 13-7 lead. With 1:00 left in the second quarter, Matt Oberste threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Miller and Phillip Lefler’s extra point kick put the Diamonds up 20-7 at the break.
McGuinness, the defending state runner-up, tried to rally when quarterback Camden Tharp scored on a 3-yard run with 3:16 left.
However, the Diamonds fielded the ensuing kickoff and were able to run out the clock after Oberste scrambled for a first down.
Sallisaw improved to 11-1 while avenging last year’s 33-30 quarterfinal loss at McGuinness. The Diamonds will play Star Spencer in the semifinals at a date and time yet to be announced. Star Spencer beat Oologah 44-29 on Friday night.
McGuinness, which got a first-half touchdown run from LaRone Richardson, ended its season at 9-3.
Salina 26, Central 8
SALINA - Salina pulled away from the seventh-ranked Tigers to notch a second-round win in the Class A playoffs on Friday night.
Central saw a six-game winning streak come to an end while closing its season with a record of 10-2.
Salina (11-1) advances to the third round and will play Oklahoma Bible Academy, which defeated Cordell 51-8 on Friday.
