SALLISAW– It took a while for the Black Diamonds to get rolling Friday night, but when they did they cruised to a 31-14 opening night win.

After a turnover on downs in the opening quarter by Pryor, Sallisaw got the ball to the 12 yard line but had to settle for a 29-yard Brian Castor field goal to open the scoring.

In the second quarter Tigers QB Braden Ward took it in himself from the 3 yard line with 10:21 remaining in the half to give Prior a 6-3 lead. The 2-point attempt failed on an incomplete pass on the trick play from the 2 yard line.

On the first play from scrimmage Jackson Harris split the defense for a 72-yard scamper all the way to the Pryor 4 yard line. After Harris lost his helmet on the play and had to leave the field for one play, Cooper Jackson took the next snap and got in for the score. With the Castor extra point Sallisaw went back on to 10-6.

On a fourth down and 7 yards to go Ward took the Tigers into the end zone once again when he avoided a tackle and sprinted up the middle 18 yards for a Pryor score with 3:38 remaining in the half. Caleb Cantrell added a 2-point conversion, and the Tigers led 14-10.

The Black Diamonds weren’t done. With less than 20 ticks left in the half, Harris threw a dart to Tae Muskrat-Flynn for an 11-yard touchdown pass and Sallisaw went to the lockers with a slim 17-14 lead.

In the third quarter Harris plunged in with the help of the “O” line from the 1, but the Diamonds were called for assisting the runner. Two plays later it was rinse and repeat with a 1-yard dive by Harris for a 10-point 24-14 advantage.

The ensuing Tiger drive stalled at the Black Diamonds 3-yard line when Ward was stopped short on a fourth and 2 yards to go.

In the fourth quarter on a fourth-and-one from the 41. Harris broke a tackle and scampered up the right sideline for his third score of the night and a 31-14 Sallisaw lead with 5:30 remaining in the game.

With the tigers threatening late in the game Cole Mayfield came to the rescue with an interception on Sallisaw’s 3 yard line and returned it to the Pryor 43 with 3:14 remaining.

The Diamonds will travel to Stigler next week to take on the Panthers and Pryor returns home for their home opener against Catoosa.