Senior glad Black Diamonds won home opener, says bye week will be good for team

The Sallisaw Black Diamonds won their home opener last Friday night at Perry F. Lattimore Stadium, shutting out the Stigler Panthers 27-0. Senior wide receiver/defensive back Tae Muskrat-Flynn was glad the team got that first win of the season.

“It felt good because we needed it after (losing to) Pryor,” Muskrat-Lynn said. “It was a good team win I think.”

Due to opening the season on Zero Week on Aug. 29 at Pryor, it means that somewhere within the 10 weeks of the regular season that the Black Diamonds have to have a bye week. It just so happens this week has been that bye week. The Sallisaw senior said that the bye week has been beneficial for the Black Diamonds.

“I just look at it as another week to prepare,” he said. “I think it can be a good thing.”

While Muskrat-Flynn believes the team is now starting to get on track with last week’s Stigler victory, he said now it’s important to keep it going.

“We just need to stay on track,” the Sallisaw senior said. “I think we’ll do a good job of that.”

For each of the last two seasons, the Black Diamonds have made the Class 4A playoffs, but the postseason parade has ended with a state quarterfinal loss. Muskrat-Flynn believes this year’s team can go farther.

“I believe we can (get deeper into the playoffs),” he said. “I think we’ve got this.”

Should the Black Diamonds get to and or win the Class 4A State Championship Game, it would be an awesome feeling for the senior.

“It would mean a lot with these guys,” Muskrat-Flynn said. “These are my brothers right here. To win it would mean even more. It (the gold ball) would be a good thing to have around the school.”

While he’s sad that there will be no more Sallisaw Black Diamonds football after the season, Muskrat-Flynn has been thankful for the time he has gotten to spend in the program.

“There’s a little bit (of sadness), but I’ve been grateful for the moments I have had,” he said.