Black Diamonds senior just wants to be on the field to help his team

When Sallisaw coach Brandon Tyler made the decision to put senior Jackson Harris back to running back instead of sharing the quarterbacking duties with Kase Adams as he did in 2024, it was just fine with him.

“It’s awesome,” Harris said. “I’m just here to better the team. It doesn’t matter where I’m at as long as I’m on the field and making plays for the team. I think that’s the big picture. I don’t care about the title or the position as long as I’m out there making plays and helping my team win.”

The Black Diamonds will begin their 2025 season tonight with a 7 p.m. road game against the Pryor Tigers. The last time the Black Diamonds took to the field for a meaningful game, it was last year’s Class 4A state quarterfinals in Elgin, which was won by the Owls 49-6 en route to the Owls winning the Class 4A state title.

Harris said the Black Diamonds have been chomping at the bits to return to action on the gridiron ever since.

“Elgin was a tough (loss),” the senior running back said. “They were really solid. They were the state champs. It happened two years (in a row) — (losing to) them and Blanchard (in 2023). We’re looking forward to going to Pryor. We’re looking to do like we did last year with that big win (31-14 in the 2024 season opener at Perry F. Lattimore Stadium). We’re all excited for it. We’re expected to set that tone and beat them at their own place. I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to it.”

Last season, the Black Diamonds opened with a 31-14 victory over Pryor at Perry F. Lattimore Stadium to begin the season at 1-0, which led the team to open the season with four straight wins before tasting defeat. Harris said winning the season opener is very important.

“It sets the tone for the season, especially with a big school like Pryor,” he said. “They’re bigger than us. We’re technically the underdogs going in. If we can get a win against them, it will get the morale up and set the tone for this upcoming season.”