By Jeremy Short

Phoenix Correspondent

WAGONER — Sallisaw running back Matt Mitchell rolled for 228 yards and four touchdowns to lead the No. 4 Black Diamonds to a decisive 37-14 win against No. 8 Wagoner.

Mitchell did much of his damage in the second half as he racked up 181 yards and three touchdowns after gaining just 47 in the first half.

“I've always said that Matt Mitchell comes to play in big games,” said Sallisaw head coach Craig Benson. “He had a great offensive line to run behind.”

Wagoner (5-4, 4-2 District 4A-4) struggled to get its offense going until the fourth quarter when the game was already well in hand. The Bulldogs managed just 268 yards of offense and the 14 points marked the lowest point total since a 14-13 win against Muldrow in the fourth week of the season.

Oklahoma commit Gus Jones was held to 39 yards rushing, carrying the ball just 12 times — only once in the second half.

“They beat us in every phase of the game,” said Wagoner head coach Dale Condict. “It was a disappointing night for us.”

Sallisaw (8-1, 5-1) got the on the board late in the first quarter when Carlos Nieto hit a 34-yard field goal with a minute left to give them the early advantage.

After Nieto converted his second field goal of the night to make it 6-0 the Bulldogs were driving to answer, but quarterback Prince McJunkins was sacked for an 11-yard loss on fourth-and-2 that gave Sallisaw the ball deep in Wagoner territory.

“That's one of the things we go over and over in practice,” said Condict. “They have got to do what they're coached to do. There are a lot of young kids playing so it's going to be a learning process.”

Sallisaw pushed the lead to 28-0 before Wagoner got on the board with 8:49 left in the fourth quarter on a Jeremy Applegate 2-yard touchdown run.

McJunkins added a 45-yard touchdown run later in the quarter to finish out the scoring for the Bulldogs.