Senior linebacker says team will bounce back at Stilwell
The Sallisaw Black Diamonds were hoping to enter Thursday night’s District 4A-4 road game at Stilwell on a seven-game losing streak, but they lost 28-13 to the Poteau Pirates last Friday night at Costner Stadium.
“Defensively, we couldn’t do our jobs,” Sallisaw senior linebacker Noah Briley said. “We tried to do too much, instead of just doing our jobs. That’s something we have to do better at. We need to do what we (as individuals) need to do, not other people’s jobs.”
After the Black Diamonds lost their Zero Week season opener at Pryor, they won six straight games. If they duplicate that feat again, they will capture the Class 4A state title as there are two regular-season games and four playoff games left, should the Black Diamonds run the table. Briley said such a feat is definitely doable.
“I’m very confident,” he said. “I think we can go all the way — I know we can. This team is really special. We like to play for each other. We don’t play for ourselves. It’s a team effort for us. I’m really confident we can go win.”
The Black Diamonds will travel to meet the Stilwell Indians (1-7 overall, 0-5 in district play) at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Black Diamonds are not overlooking the Indians.
“Every team is a football team,” Briley said. “You never know what could happen. We were supposed to go down there and beat Poteau — look what happened. You have to stay focused on that week. They have good players like Brayton Carter and Chase Benham. Every one is an athlete. You have to be ready because you never know.”
In each of the last two seasons, the Black Diamonds have made the playoffs, but they have seen the postseason parade end with a state quarterfinal loss. To just get into the state semifinals, if not the finals, would be great.
“We would like to start off winning the district obviously, and get those two home playoff games — and play in front of our home fans both times,” Briley said. “Hopefully, we’ll play at UCO in round four (state championship game), and get to experience it. Hopefully, we’ll bring home that gold ball.”
If the Black Diamonds can indeed repeat a six-game winning streak, which would culminate with the Class 4A state championship and the gold ball for the trophy case, Briley could think of no better way for not only him to go out, but for all his teammates also.
“It would be amazing,” he said. “I can’t put it into words, really. I’ve never really seen it. I just know it would be a very emotional moment for me and all my brothers in this locker room.”
While playing college football is a dream for the senior linebacker, right now he is just focused on getting the Black Diamonds to the promised land this season.
“I would love to play at the next level, but right now I am focused on high school and what we can do here,” Briley said. “I’m having fun.”
