Barnsdall High football revs up for promising campaign
Barnsdall High School’s Lincoln Gott runs the ball last season. Despite graduating several seniors, the Panthers are expected to return a strong team. (Professional game photos from last season can be purchased at https://beckyburch.zenfolio.com. All sales go towards supporting this free local sports website.)
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
June 2, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Armed with a powerfully-built mobile quarterback and robust experience at several other positions — and a prodigious winning tradition the past decade — Barnsdall High School’s football team should loom like a noxious nightmare for opposing teams next fall.
Despite graduating an incredible tandem of versatile warriors like Mav Lanphear and Easton Malone — not to downplay departed Friday night dynamos such as Braden Byers, James Johnson, Brohk Townley and Henry Easley — 10th-year Barnsdall Panther head coach Kylee Sweeney and his staff could be ramping up for a quixotic quest.
It all starts around the quarterback spot, where Lincoln Gott took most the snaps during the recent spring practice.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound athlete brings a lot of attributes to the attack.
“He definitely has good arm strength and his athletic ability is very strong,” Sweeney said. “He is very fast and very agile. He was the Offensive Player of the Year in basketball in our conference. We lined him up last year at running back against Nowata and he ran the ball effectively.”
Gott also threw four touchdowns against Caney Valley.
“He has a lot of starting experience and his leadership is strong,” Sweeney said.
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Barnsdall High School head football head coach talks to his players during a game last season.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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Also back is all-around gladiator Blaine Miller, a four-year starter at linebacker. He racked up a team-leading 115 tackles last year and also played running back, rushing for 800-plus yards and nine touchdowns.
Four starters are back on the offensive front — Braxten Willis, Cayden Adams, Haydon Collins and fullback/tight end Andrew Cole.
Kaydon Francis also will be expected to be a force after seeing time last season in the rotation.
Gavin Wood should be a major contributor on both sides of the ball.
He started last year at linebacker and is another candidate as a target in the receiving rotation.
Barnsdall’s biggest question mark will be at receiver following the graduations of Johnson and Byers.
Some of those with previous experience in the defensive secondary or as pass catchers or who got good reps in spring ball include Tripp Barbee, Bryce Byers, Tanner Wells and Derek Robbins.
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Barnsdall High School’s Maverick Lanphear played in the Pawnee Bill’s All-Star Football game. Brohk Townley was named MVP. (Professional game photos from last season can be purchased at https://beckyburch.zenfolio.com. All sales go towards supporting this free local sports website.)
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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PAWNEE BILL ALL-STAR GAME
Several of last year’s Barnsdall’s senior stars made a strong impact on this past weekend’s Pawnee Bill’s All-Star Football Game held in Pawnee.
Byers, Lanphear and Johnson each caught a touchdown in the 20-6 victory by the White Team.
Johnson also made two interceptions, Malone recorded two sacks and Townley and Easley distinguished themselves on the line.
Townley received the MVP Award for the White Team, which Sweeney helped to coach.
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MISCELLANEOUS
Malone is set to wrestle for Cowley County (Kan.) College.
Barnsdall is slated to participate in the Pawhuska passing league.