Black Diamonds pick up road win over Eufaula, move to 3-0

EUFAULA — After being off for two weeks, the Sallisaw Black Diamonds picked up right where they left off as they picked up a 27-14 road win over the Eufaula Ironheads last Friday night at Paul Bell Stadium to move to 3-0 in their final non-District 4A-4 game of the season.

Jackson Harris rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns, while passing for 38 yards.

Cooper Jackson scored another TD on a 1-yard plunge into the end zone, while the fourth touchdown came on a touchdown pass from Kase Adams, who passed for 27 yards, to Caleb Hightower.

All total, Sallisaw rushed for 209 yards, and amassed a total of 305 yards of offense.

However, the win was somewhat overshadowed by the injury suffered to receiver Brodie Nickell.

Sallisaw coach Brandon Tyler could not elaborate on his status due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) — which is the equivalent of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for hospitals with regard to releasing information about patients.

However, the Sallisaw Football Booster Club Facebook page had updates on Nickell’s condition. According to one Booster Club Facebook post, he was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa on Friday night with a contusion to his neck, several cracked ribs and a contusion to his lung. By the start of the week, Nickell was back home, and another Booster Club Facebook post showed where eight of his teammates visited him at his home.

On the Sallisaw Black Diamonds Football Facebook page, the Booster Club responded to a post inquiring about Nickell’s condition that he will be out from six to eight weeks during his recovery.

The Black Diamonds will begin District 4A-4 play at 7 p.m. this Friday on the road against the Hilldale Hornets in Muskogee.