Sallisaw senior lineman wishes Black Diamonds were playing this week
The Sallisaw Black Diamonds will remain undefeated this week — and that’s not because they have already won a third game. It’s because the Black Diamonds are in a bye week tonight, thus not playing until next Friday night at Eufaula. Senior lineman Caden Cowan is truly unhappy that there is no game for the Black Diamonds tonight.
“It’s very disappointing,” Cowan said. “It’s what I look forward to every week (of the football season). The fact that we can’t play this week is disappointing to me. Football is what I love to do. The fact that I can’t play (tonight) is kind of disheartening.”
However, while the bye week is disappointing to Cowan, he is glad how last Friday’s game went — a 35-21 road victory over Stigler, which snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Panthers.
“It felt great,” he said. “We haven’t beaten them since I was like in elementary school. It was a great feeling. I’m glad that we were finally able to beat them and knock them off.”
Even better than ending the losing streak to Stigler, last Friday night’s victory improved the Black Diamonds to 2-0, which hasn’t happened in nearly a decade.
“It feels very exciting,” Cowan said about winning the first two games of the 2024 season. “It’s just great to be a part of this program. I’m glad we’re starting off 2-0. We haven’t done it in like forever. I’m glad we were able to do it. We’ll try to go 3-0 next week (at Eufaula).”
So, since the Black Diamonds are not playing this week, they are trying to make the best of this bye week to get ready for the Ironheads.
“We’re just keeping the same routine,” Cowan said. “We’re trying to stay in that mindset. We have to be focused for the game next week (at Eufaula). We’re still having practices and workouts. We’re running in the mornings. We’re really trying to stay conditioned for the game next week. I’ll probably go watch a game (tonight) to keep it in that mood that we have a game next week.”
Last season, Cowan was a Gore Pirate, but upon his return to Sallisaw, he said his old teammates have welcomed him back with open arms.
“They welcomed me back really good,” he said. “It’s been a great transition. They’ve been wanting me back for a while. It was nice to be able to see a bunch of my old friends again. It’s great playing bigger teams again. It’s great to be out here in this big atmosphere again. I love it.”
Another joy that Cowan got to experience last year at Gore and this year back with Sallisaw is having his father Matt Hawkins among the coaching staff.
“He was the defensive coordinator there (at Gore),” Cowan said. “Here he is the receiving coach and cornerbacks coach. I really don’t see him that much in practice. It’s great (to be out there with him). He doesn’t go any easier on me like you would expect somebody to go on family, but he treats me the same as everybody else whenever we’re out here (on the field). He’ll give me the criticism that he needs to give me.”
To say Cowan has mixed feelings about his final season of high school football is an understatement.
“There’s a lot of things really going through my mind,” he said. “It’s tough that it’s my last year, but I’m glad that I’m able to be here and play it (final season) with some of my friends that I’ve known almost my whole life — and having it come full circle to this. I’m hoping later on I’ll be able to play some college football, hopefully, but right now I’m just focused on this season. It’s sad (with this being the final season as a Black Diamond), but I’m just really focusing on winning the next game.”
