Sallisaw Black Diamonds shut out Muldrow to end 17-game overall losing streak, 2-game skid to Bulldogs

The losing streak is over. I repeat — the losing streak is over.

For the first time since Sept. 24, 2021, the Sallisaw Black Diamonds won a football game — and they didn’t just win, they dominated.

The Black Diamonds blanked the Muldrow Bulldogs 45-0 Friday night at Marty Rogers Field to end not only their overall 17-game losing streak, but a two-game losing streak to the ’Dogs — who beat the Black Diamonds on Oct. 1, 2021, to begin the 17-game losing streak.

Brandon Tyler

“It (ending the losing streak) means a lot to this program,” first-year Sallisaw coach Brandon Tyler said. “I’m proud for these seniors. They’ve had a lot of adversity for the last two years. I’m proud of our team. I’m proud of our coaching staff. It was a great team win. They’ve got to start expecting to win. We have to change the mindset. I’m proud of our kids. They fought all night long. Our kids were ready to play this week. They were looking forward to it. I’m very excited for these kids. I’m just glad to be their head coach.”

It didn’t take long for the Black Diamonds (1-1) to strike gold. On the third play of the game, Sallisaw quarterback Brock Streun threw a swing pass out to Cooper Cox, who went 47 yards down the east sideline virtually untouched for a touchdown. Brian Castor kicked the extra point to put Sallisaw ahead 7-0 with only 55 seconds coming off the clock.

“We challenged our kids all week,” Tyler said. “We had two weeks to get ready. It’s been a while since we’ve played, but our kids responded well. I’m proud of them. I’m proud of the effort. I’m happy for them. I’m happy for this team.”

Sallisaw’s defense — which registered four takeaways on the night, and a fifth if you consider stopping Muldrow on downs — gave its offense the ball at the Sallisaw 30 yard line as Broque Oft picked off Muldrow QB Reid Sutton to thwart the Bulldogs (1-2).

The ensuing Sallisaw drive stalled, but still got points as Castor connected on a 30-yard field goal with 5:38 left in the opening quarter for a 10-0 lead for Sallisaw.

Things looked like they were going to finally get going for the Bulldogs as Jermauree Palmer returned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards to the Sallisaw 34. However, just like Muldrow’s first possession of the game, this one, too, ended with a turnover as Parker Pratt recovered a fumble at the Sallisaw 31 with 3:43 left in the first period to keep Sallisaw ahead 10-0 after the first 12 minutes.

In the early stages of the second quarter, another Muldrow drive stalled, and the ’Dogs appeared to be prepared to punt. However, it ended up being a fake punt, which the Black Diamonds snuffed out, tackling the ball carrier at the Sallisaw 37 with 10:36 left before halftime.

Sallisaw cashed in on the takeaway, just as it did on the first one, as Streun ran six yards to paydirt. Castor’s PAT upped Sallisaw’s advantage to 17-0 with 9:48 remaining in the first half.

After the Bulldogs had to punt, their punter shanked a punt that was downed at the Muldrow 27 with 6:58 remaining before halftime.

That Muldrow miscue also was cashed in by Sallisaw as Cole Stephens took it in from three yards out. Castor’s extra point made it 24-0.

However, the nail in the coffin happened on essentially the final play of the first half as Stephens intercepted a Sutton pass at his 43 and took it the distance for a pick-6 with 00.5 seconds left in the first half. Castor’s PAT put Sallisaw ahead 31-0 at halftime.

“What about our defense? We had five turnovers — one pick-6,” Tyler said. “We did a great job defensively. We got a shutout against a good offense.”

The only score of the third quarter was a 20-yard run by Stephens with 3:34 left in the period. Castor’s extra point put Sallisaw ahead 38-0 going into the final quarter.

Before the period ended, Muldrow recorded its biggest play of the night, a 23-yard run by Will Stratmann with two minutes left in the quarter.

However, just into the fourth quarter, Sutton threw his third interception as Stephens got him again and returned the pick 13 yards to thwart the Bulldogs once more.

The final period only saw one score, a nine-yard TD run by Sallisaw quarterback Jackson Harris with 4:37 left in the game. Castor hit the PAT.

“We didn’t execute,” Muldrow coach Logan Coatney said. “It’s about the worst we could have played. It was Sallisaw’s Super Bowl game. They needed to win one. Their kids came out fired up and ready to play, and we failed to execute on every aspect of the football game.”

Now, the Black Diamonds can begin a winning streak.

“We’re starting a new streak now,” Tyler said. “We’re 1-0.”

Coatney said it’s back to the drawing board for the ’Dogs.

“We have to get healthy,” he said. “We have a lot of dudes banged up right now and weren’t able to participate. We had some get hurt. Then, we just have to get back down to the basics. Again, we didn’t execute in any aspect of the game. It was the worst we could have played on a Friday night.”