It was good to see Sallisaw football returning to days of old

After two woeful seasons in 2021 (1-9) and 2022 (0-10), the Sallisaw Black Diamonds, thanks to new coach Brandon Tyler’s leadership and guidance, returned to past glory with a winning season of 7-5 and a trip to the Class 4A state quarterfinals.

“Looking back, I don’t think anybody would have thought in August when we started this that we would be one of the final eight teams, with a chance to go to the (Class 4A) state semifinals,” Tyler said. “I’m just proud of our team. I want to thank our coaches, our staff and this community. I want to thank our school board and our administration for obviously giving us a chance to do it (make the state quarterfinals) — and for giving me a chance to take over this job. It’s been great with the community support, and the support from school and our administration, our band and our cheerleaders. It’s been a great year so far to this point for our school. I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

Tyler was appreciative of his 13 seniors, who helped mine this diamond if you will this season, and to be the building blocks for future seasons to come. Two of them, quarterback Brock Streun (1,138) and running back Cole Stephens (1,040), each eclipsed 1,000plus yard rushing.

“Looking ahead, I told our seniors they laid a foundation for this program to where we need to be,” Tyler said. “We want to get better each year obviously. This (season) has set the groundwork for 2024. Now, there will be a lot more momentum going into the weight room this winter coming off seven wins — as opposed to going 0-10 the year before. There will be a lot more excitement within the kids and the coaching staff. I know we’re all looking forward to next year. Our kids are looking forward to it. There ought to be a lot more excitement going into the off-season, this summer and the 2024 season.”

Speaking of the 2024 season, Tyler is excited about what his offensive unit will look like.

“We have a lot coming back on offense,” he said. “Offensively, we’ve got four of the five lineman coming back. We have three of the four receivers coming back. We have two of the three running backs coming back. Jackson (Harris) will hopefully slide in and take over for Brock (Streun) as he got a lot of playing time throughout the year, so offensively we feel like we’re going to be set pretty good. Plus, we’ll have some kids who will come back out. Tae Muskrat-Flynn was one that didn’t get to play this year, and he will be a difference maker for us on both sides of the ball. We’ll have a few players to replace on defense.”

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For the first time in school history, the Central Tigers have been having practices as usual during Thanksgiving week. That’s thanks to what has been a 12-0 season and a berth in tonight’s Class A state quarterfinals against Hooker in Newcastle.

“It’s the first time ever,” Central coach Jeremy Thompson said. “This is the first time to get past the second round. We’re 12-0. That’s something that doesn’t happen. I couldn’t be more excited.”

In fact, I’m not sure which this special week has been special more to — Thompson or his players.

“I never got to (practice) on Thanksgiving week as a player, and I’ve wanted to do it for 18 years as a coach,” Thompson said. “Here we are. We’re going to get to practice football on Thanksgiving, then we’ll get to go play (Hooker) on the day after.”

Thompson knows tonight’s state quarterfinal game will be a literal dogfight with the Hooker Bulldogs.

“I know it’s going to be another hard-fought game,” he said. “Whatever happens, I know our guys, and week in, week out, I have confidence in what they do.”

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WEEK 12 INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS

100-YARD RUSHERS

Maddux Shelby, Webbers Falls — 223 yards.

Masyn Wright, Vian — 165 yards.

Draighton Fletcher, Vian — 135 yards.

Brock Streun, Sallisaw — 106 yards.

100-YARD PASSERS

Tate Brooksher, Gore — 204 yards.

Joseph Lee, Central — 179 yards.

Masyn Wright, Vian — 115 yards.

Brock Streun, Sallisaw — 102 yards.

Cade Tucker, Central — 143 yards.

SCORING-12 POINTS/MORE

Masyn Wright, Vian — 18 points.

Maddux Shelby, Webbers Falls — 18 points.

Cade Tucker, Central — 14 points.

Joseph Lee, Central — 12 points.

DEFENSIVE HONOR ROLL

Easton Girty, Central — 16 tackles and a punt block.

Tyler Busch, Central — 15 tackles.

Xhaiden Mosby, Central — 14 tackles.

Kolten Riggs, Sallisaw — 11 tackles, three solo.

Cole Stephens, Sallisaw — 10 tackles, six solo, and a fumble recovery.

Parker Pratt, Sallisaw — Eight tackles, one solo.

Braxton Lamb, Sallisaw — Eight tackles, one solo.

Hunter McGee, Gore — Eight tackles, seven solo, and a pass break-up.

Maddux Shelby, Webbers Falls — Eight tackles, six solo, with a tackle for loss and an interception.

Cole Mayfield, Sallisaw — Seven tackles, five solo, and an INT.

Dayton Smith, Gore — Seven tackles, two solo.

Mikey Maust, Sallisaw — Six tackles and a quarterback hurry.

Jace Holman, Sallisaw — Five tackles, two solo.

Bladin McCartney, Gore — Five tackles, two solo, a QB sack and a blocked kick.

Keeton Rowe, Gore — Five tackles.

Keiden Denton, Gore — Five tackles, two solo, with a tackle for loss.

Max Stump, Sallisaw — Four tackles, three solo, and a pass break-up.

Noah Flores, Sallisaw — Four tackles and a QB hurry.

Justin Lindsay, Sallisaw — Four tackles, two solo.

Devon Mannon, Gore — Four tackles.

Jagger Moore, Gore — Four tackles, two solo.

Dylan Young, Webbers Falls — Four tackles and an INT.

Caden Pollard, Sallisaw — Three tackles and a QB hurry.

Chester Abercrombie, Gore — Three tackles, two solo.

Kaydin McCartney, Gore — Three tackles, two solo, and a fumble recovery.

Layne Ward, Gore — Three tackles, two solo.

Dakota Moore, Webbers Falls — Three tackles, two solo.

Zane Nolan, Webbers Falls — Three tackles.

Kenyon Hill, Sallisaw — A fumble recovery.

Kash Keepes, Sallisaw — Two QB hurries and a tackle.

Austin File, Sallisaw — A caused fumble and a tackle.

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Coaches, I need to make sure I get your offensive and defensive statistics either put on your MaxPreps website wall or e-mailed to me at davids@cookson. news by no later than 10 a.m. Thursdays to be able to give your player(s) some special recognition from the week before in each week’s Gridiron Notes Column.

David Seeley is sports editor for Your TIMES. He can be reached by telephone at (918) 775-4433, Ext. 139 or by email at davids@cookson.news.