Strong second half propels Sallisaw past Poteau Pirates

September 22, 2012

ROGER, THAT! — Poteau running back Roger Barcheers, right, heads around the left end, behind the block of Mason Jones, left en route to a 58-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of Friday night's District 4A-4 opener against the Sallisaw Black Diamonds at Costner Stadium. PDN photo by David Seeley

Friday night's District 4A-4 opener between the visiting Sallisaw Black Diamonds and the Poteau Pirates at Costner Stadium was billed as the No. 10 game in the state of Oklahoma, and it lived up to that billing.
The Pirates were tied with Sallisaw 21-21 at the end of the first half, but the Black Diamonds increased their defensive intensity in the second half. Also, when the Pirates were in the midst of a promising drive, they made silly mistakes, and had the ball deep in Sallisaw's territory only to make a miscue.
Sallisaw posted 10 points in the second half, and the Pirates were thinking of what might have been. The Black Diamonds won the game 31-21.