Sallisaw focuses on Hilldale after loss at Broken Bow

BROKEN BOW – Sallisaw struggled Friday night on the road during its 55-13 loss to Broken Bow in Class 4A District-4 play, but Sallisaw head coach Mark Hutson has challenged his team to step up and lead by example on the sidelines as the Black Diamonds prepare to host Hilldale at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The Black Diamonds‚ defense kept Broken Bow to just one touchdown through the first quarter, with Sallisaw‚s special teams recovering an onside kick to start the game.

“We started the game with an onside kick and we recovered it, but went four and out,” Hutson recalled. “I tell ya, our defense played well that first quarter, but then it was like the Ada game. We had five turnovers in the Ada game and we had six turnovers in the Broken Bow game. When we don‚t take care of the football and we turn it over, especially to good teams, and give Broken Bow credit, because they certainly are. They made plays on the perimeter and scored, and it got away from us quickly.” Two minutes into the second quarter, the Savages were able to score again after Sallisaw‚s defense worked Broken Bow‚s offense for 22 downs before it went south in a hurry.

The Black Diamonds had the equivalent of six turnovers this game, with five of them happening in the second stanza. Big mistakes like those were responsible for Broken Bow‚s lead going from a manageable 7-0 in the first quarter to a show-stopping 48-0 going into halftime.

Sallisaw‚s defense has the talent which it proved by flying around the field and stopping Broken Bow in the first quarter, allowing only seven points. But things broke down at the first sign of trouble in the second stanza.

“At halftime, we talked and the players challenged each other. We played a lot of players that don‚t get in as much time, and they really responded and played hard.”

Instead of giving up as they did during the Ada game, Sallisaw‚s coaches wanted the players to step up so some players that wouldn‚t usually get to play had a chance to prove themselves in the second half.

“We asked for leadership on the sidelines, and several players stepped up. I was glad to see Charlie Martin, one of our senior leaders, congratulating players, patting them on the back, and he was encouraging them. That‚s something positive in the second half. Instead of giving up and just not finishing, they came out and were able to respond and play hard.”

With the Hilldale game coming up Thursday, Sallisaw needs to fill its open running back slot, since first- and second-string backs Cole Stephens and Sim Kilpatrick, respectively, are both out due to injuries, and Ashton Foster left the program. Hutson used the Broken Bow game to try some potential replacements.

“One guy that really stood out was running back Aaron File. He ran as hard as anybody has run all year, and it was exciting to see him and the way he responded. Ty Brown was another one, and we worked Charlie Martin into the tailback position and we‚ll continue to try people in the tailback position.”

The next hurdle for the Black Diamonds is a fast and physical Hilldale team from Muskogee that is going to test Sallisaw on both sides of the ball.

“We certainly have been working on Hilldale,” Hutson said. “We have two common opponents in Stillwell and Ada, and Hilldale beat both of them. They only have two losses, they lost to Claremore early in the season, and they lost to a very good Poteau team. Watching them on film, they‚re a big group. They have a number of seniors, they‚re big on both the offense and the defensive line. They‚re very physical and have a lot of skill players. They‚re fast on the edge, and that‚s something that we‚re seeing throughout our district.”

“One of the things that we‚re needing and encouraging is leadership from within, and it‚s something that we‚ll have to keep working on even going into next season.”