SALLISAW — Sallisaw quarterback Matt Oberste, who has thrown for nearly 1,500 yards and was the team’s leading rusher, was injured after a keeper on Sallisaw’s first play from scrimmage against Wagoner. Oberste stayed in for the opening series but was taken out of the game, and the Bulldogs were able to take advantage of his absence, jumping out to a 15-0 first-quarter lead as they spoiled Sallisaw’s perfect season with a 35-16 win.

Oberste suffered a bruised collarbone, and was going to get it examined over the weekend.

“We would rather beat them with him, but those things happen in football; it’s part of the game,” Wagoner coach Dale Condict said. “We’ve lost our quarterback (Prince McJunkins) at times, and it cost us one, too. Really for them, they’re a mature enough team and they’re going to realize in a couple of weeks this game, long term, doesn’t matter for them; they’re going to be the district champion. All they did was help us gain confidence and we played great.

"Defensively, we felt really good about some of our matchups we had going into the game and our secondary’s playing really well. We found a little more of a rhythm on offense and I felt like going into the game we had a couple of mismatches with our receivers and we hit those plays big early and it really gave us the momentum we needed.”

Junior receiver Jordan Robinson scored both of Wagoner’s first-period touchdowns, returning a punt 55 yards for the Bulldogs’ opening score before hauling in a 39-yard pass from quarterback Prince McJunkins on Wagoner’s next offensive possession, giving the Bulldogs (6-3, 4-2) a 15-0 advantage.

Bulldog defensive back Jimmy Carter stopped a scoring threat by picking off a pass and returning it down the sideline inside the Black Diamond 40. Carter would go on to intercept three passes on the night.

Two plays after Carter’s first pick, McJunkins connected with junior Malcom Love in the end zone for a 32-yard scoring pass, extending Wagoner’s lead to 21-3.

Wagoner can wrap up a spot in the playoffs with a win over Hilldale this Friday.

Even with the loss, the Black Diamonds (8-1, 5-1) can still get the top seed from 4A-4 and play at home the first two rounds of the 4A playoffs if they can beat Tulsa Webster.