By DAVID SEELEY
The Sequoyah County Times
In a District 4A-4 football showdown in the rain Friday night at Costner Stadium, the host Poteau Pirates put an end to the Sallisaw Black Diamonds’ six-game winning streak with a 28-13 victory.
The Pirates (7-1 overall, 4-1 in district play) and the Black Diamonds (6-2, 4-1) are in a four-way tie for first place with Ada and Broken Bow, all at 4-1 in the district, after the Savages routed the Cougars 42-14 Friday night at Broken Bow’s Memorial Stadium.
See the Oklahoma week 8 football scores HERE.
The Black Diamonds took the opening possession, and, thanks to a fourth-down conversion, drove as deep as the Poteau 20-yard line, only to be stopped on downs at the Poteau 27 with six minutes left in the first quarter.
Updated District 4A-4 standings
The Pirates went 73 yards as quarterback Sam Tecla took it in from a yard out with 2:29 remaining in the period. Nic Burgos hit the extra point to put Poteau ahead 7-0 after a quarter.
Late in the second quarter, the Pirates had to start their drive deep in their own territory at their own 12-yard line with 4:20 left in the first half.
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The Pirates capped the drive with a 45-yard touchdown run by Camden Crew with 2:37 remaining before halftime. Burgos hit the PAT to give Poteau a 14-0 lead at halftime.
The Pirates got the first possession of the second half, but it was short lived as Sallisaw defensive back Chase Stephens picked off Tecla at the Sallisaw 13-yard line and returned the interception 15 yards to the Sallisaw 28 with 11:01 left in the third quarter.
However, Sallisaw’s possession, too, was short lived. Poteau strong safety Jacob Gutierrez picked off Sallisaw quarterback Kase Adams at midfield and returned the INT 24 yards down the west sideline to set up the Pirates at the Sallisaw 26-yard line with 9:50 remaining in the period.
The Pirates cashed in the takeaway with a 22-yard TD pass from Tecla to Gutierrez. Burgos connected on the extra point to increase Poteau’s advantage to 21-0 with 8:20 left in the period.
The Black Diamonds finally got the offense going on their ensuing possession. Keyed by a 21-yard kickoff return by Tae Muskrat-Flynn to set up Sallisaw at its own 42-yard line.
The Black Diamonds went 58 yards to paydirt, with the last 42 yards coming on running back Jackson Harris’ touchdown run with 6:44 remaining in the quarter. Ethan Girdner’s PAT cut the Poteau lead to 21-7 after three quarters.
On the ensuing Poteau drive, the Pirates were stopped on downs at the Sallisaw 45-yard line with 2:58 left in the quarter.
Sallisaw’s ensuing drive was capped off on the first play of the fourth quarter when Adams scored on a 1-yard TD run. However, there was a bad snap on the PAT attempt, making the conversion fail, but the Black Diamonds did cut their deficit to 21-13 with 11:55 left to play.
The Black Diamonds stopped the Pirates, forcing a punt by Tecla, which pinned the Black Diamonds at their own 1-yard line with 7:44 remaining to play.
The Black Diamonds methodically moved down field and got to the Poteau 30-yard line and looked like they were on their way to a potential game-tying touchdown. However, the Poteau defense put away the game as Ryder Waddell picked off Adams at the Poteau 23 and went the distance virtually untouched for the 77-yard pick-6. Burgos hit the extra point to make it 28-13 with 2:28 left to play.
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