Big first half enables Sallisaw (2-0) to defeat Stigler

The Sallisaw Black Diamonds defeated the Stigler Panthers 35-21 on Friday night to end a seven game losing streak against the Panthers and move to 2-0 for the first time in nearly a decade.

“I thought the first half we played extremely well, (but the) second half we kind of got a little complacent there,” Sallisaw coach Brandon Tyler said. “Hats off to Stigler. They kept fighting and kept battling. (I’m) just proud of our kids. It’s a tough place to play here, and it’s been a long time since we won here.”

On the second play of the game, senior Broque Oft ran for a 73-yard touchdown. Brian Castor made the extra point to give the Black Diamonds a 7-0 lead just 43 seconds into the game.

The Panthers (1-1) then went on a drive that lasted more than six minutes that ended with Stigler quarterback Jackson McCarter scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run. Brian Lopez made the PAT to tie the game at 7-all.

Sallisaw junior quarterback Jackson Harris answered back with a 6-yard rushing touchdown. Castor’s extra point gave Sallisaw a 14-7 lead.

After the Black Diamonds forced the Panthers to go three and out, Harris scored on a 10yard touchdown run which put Sallisaw ahead 21-7.

Jace Holman recovered a fumble as Stigler running back Thunder Elza lost the ball with 2:34 remaining in the first half.

Sophomore Brody Nickell caught a 35-yard touchdown pass thrown by Harris to give the Black Diamonds a 28-7 lead at halftime. Sallisaw scored a touchdown in four of its five first-half drives.

After swapping punts on the first drives for each team to start the second half, Stigler scored a touchdown on fourthand- 15 play from Sallisaw’s 17yard line. McCarter connected with Will Yarosz in the end zone. The score put Stigler within two touchdowns with 57 seconds left in the third quarter.

After another Sallisaw punt, Stigler drove the ball and Elza scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown with 5:57 to go in the game to cut the Sallisaw lead to 28-21.

With less than two minutes to go, Sallisaw decided to keep the offense on the field for a fourthand- 1 from the Stigler 26-yard line. Harris ran for a first down on a designed quarterback keeper, but the play was called back due to holding, which set the Black Diamonds up with a fourth-and-6. Harris connected with wide receiver Cash Mayfield for a Sallisaw first down on the next play, then Oft then scored on a 6-yard touchdown run. Castor’s PAT gave the Black Diamonds a 35-21 lead with 58 seconds left.

“Jackson (Harris) made a great pass over here in the corner,” Tyler said about the fourth-down conversion pass play to all but seal the deal. “Cole (Mayfield) made a great catch. I’m glad we were able to score on that drive and put it away.”

Sallisaw is idle this week and will play Sept. 20 at Eufaula.