Coach: MARK HUTSON 

SCHEDULE: 9-26 – at Stigler 

9-9 – vs. Muldrow 

9-16 – at Tahlequah 

9-23 – vs. Ada 

9-30 – at Stilwell 

10-6 – at Broken Bow 

10-13 – vs. Hilldale 

10-21 – at Poteau 

10-28 – at Fort Gibson 

11-4 – vs. Madill 

QUICK HITS: 

Quarterback Brock Streun threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 125 yards and a score in the Black Diamonds 43-21 loss to Ft. Gibson. 

Sallisaw is paired with Ada in the district for the first time since 1995. The Black Diamonds won the last meeting between the teams in the quarterfinals of the 2003 Class 4A playoffs. 

LAST 8 YEARS: 2021 – 1-9 

2020 – 5-5 

2019 – 8-4 

2018 – 3-7 

2017 – 1-9 

2016 – 7-3 

2015 – 5-6 

2014 – 6-5 

OFFENSE 

The Black Diamonds enter the 2022 season eager to prove that WE is greater the me centered around an “ALL-IN” team approach. At the hub of excitement this season is a new head coach as Mark Hutson, a two-time All- American at the University of Oklahoma prior to his 32-year coaching career at the college and NFL levels brings a winning mindset to the program. The orange and black offensive attack will go hurry-up, operating from the spread with a pair of talented and experienced athletes engineering the offense at quarterback. Brock Streun (6-2, 190, Jr.) who totaled 1050 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and Parker Jackson (6-1, 190, Sr.) who maintained a 58 percent completion average continue to impress Hutson and staff going into the season. Cealm “Sim” Kilpatrick (5-11, 165, Sr.) will be a featured performer making the most of his 4.47 40-speed at running back or as a wide receiver. Added threats giving energy to the air attack will be running backs Ashton Foster (5-9, 145, Jr.) and Cole Stephens (5-10, 180, Jr.) along with sure handed receivers including Cooper Jackson (6-0, 200, So.), Mehki McMillion (5-8, 155, Jr.). Tight ends Braxton Lamb (6-1, 200, Jr.), Chance Rich (6-1, 225, Sr.) and Cash Keepes (6-2, 185, So.) will provide receiving targets as well as adding strength to the ground game through blocking schemes. Sallisaw has a tradition for big, strong and aggressive offensive linemen and Hutson expects Caleb Cowen (6-1, 240, Sr.) to anchor the battles in the trench along with Craten Sides (6-4, 275, Jr.), Noah Flores (6-2, 200, Jr.) and Zyler Rogers (6-2, 278, So.) while Caden Pollard (5-10, 195, Jr..) initiates every snap at the center position. “We’re matching our skills with our efforts in order to get the maximum results,” said Hutson. “Our offensive line will be key to allow our skill personnel to do what they do best in order to be a balanced attack.” 

DEFENSE 

Confidence and toughness are two of the skills that Sallisaw’s 3-4 defensive alignment will use to overpower their opponents in 2022. Last year’s experience is helping Hutson and his staff create depth in their alignment. Caleb Cowen will be part of the strength in the 3-man front at end that will also include Noah Flores, Patrick Mills and Zyler Rogers. The linebacker unit looks to build a wall against the run with Cooper Jackson and the always hungry for contact efforts of Kiowa Coffman (6-2, 185, Sr.) inside while Charlie Martin (5-8, 175, Sr.), Cash Keepes and Parker Jackson will protect the edge against the run and pass. The Black Diamonds will have speed and cover skills in the secondary featuring the athleticism of Cealm Kilpatrick, Cole Stephens who produced 41 solo tackles joining forces with Parker Pratt (6-0, 140, Jr.) who charted 34 tackles last season, Max Stump (6-3, 165, Jr.), Cooper Cox (6-2, 145, So.), Mehki McMillion, Parker Jackson and Brock Streun. “With our depth in the secondary we want to play both man or zone coverages while using the size and mobility in the front-7 to get a lot of hats to the ball in a hurry,” Hutson said in defining the defensive game plan for 2022. “We’re in one of the toughest districts in Class 4A so we’ve got to continue to improve in every practice as well as every Friday night.”