WEATHER ALTERS DAY ON CRUCIAL AREA FOOTBALL GAMES; BARTLESVILLE HOSTS SENIOR NIGHT ON THURSDAY
The 2024 Bartlesville Bruins won the ConocoPhillips Bowl Cup at Ponca City last year. The Bruins host the Wildcats on Thursday for senior night.
Photo courtesy of Cody Meade
Note: Live free radio/streaming coverage of Bartlesville and other select area high school football games can be found on Bartlesville Radio stations. Bartlesville Bruin football radio broadcasts can be found on KWON (1400-AM, 93-3-FM and 95.1-FM). Live streaming of games is available on the Bartlesville Radio website under the on demand tab at KWONTV. Pawhuska games can be found on the radio at KPGM (1500-AM or 99.1-FM), or also streamed live on KWONTV. There also is an area Game of the Week, often featuring Nowata or Dewey games, on one of Bartlesville Radio’s other stations.
By Mike Tupa
Oct. 22, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Due to the threat of incoming storms on Friday several area high school football games, including Ponca City at Bartlesville, have been moved to Thursday evening.
A list follows. Last-minute changes are still possible. Before making a long drive or getting out in inclement weather conditions, before going out one might try to double-check the schedule.
Following is a look at the schedule for the weekend of October 23-24. Days and times are always subject to last minute changes.
6A-II-2: Ponca City (3-4, 1-3) at BARTLESVILLE (1-6, 1-3) (Thursday)
2A-I-4: DEWEY (3-4, 2-2) at Sperry (2-5, 2-2) (Thursday)
A-I-3: Quapaw (3-4, 2-2) at PAWHUSKA (6-1, 3-1) (Friday)
A-I-3: CANEY VALLEY TROJANS (0-7, 0-4) vs. Morrison (3-3, 2-1) (Thursday)
A-I-3: Pawnee (5-2, 3-1) at NOWATA (1-6, 1-3) (Thursday)
A-I-3: OKLAHOMA UNION (1-6, 1-3) at Tonkawa (6-1, 4-0) (Thursday)
A-II-4: BARNSDALL (4-3, 1-3) at Afton (0-6, 0-3) (Thursday)
A-II-4: Porter (2-5, 1-3) at HOMINY (5-2, 4-0) at Porter (2-5, 1-3) (Thursday)
B-II-4: COPAN (6-1, 2-0) at Webbers Falls (4-2, 1-1) (Thursday)
C-3: Bluejacket (4-3, 1-1) at SOUTH COFFEYVILLE (3-2, 2-0) (Thursday)
KANSAS: CANEY VALLEY BULLPUPS (6-1, 3-0) at Riverton (4-3, 3-0) (Friday).
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Following are previews and analysis of the games.
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Ponca City (3-4, 1-3) at BARTLESVILLE (1-6, 1-3) (Thursday)
Last week’s results: BARTLESVILLE 42, Putnam City North 28; Sapulpa 22, PONCA CITY 0
2024: Bartlesville 30, Ponca City 20
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Although no peace-loving person wants to use the term “bad blood” in describing a football showdown, let’s just say players from Bartlesville and Ponca City should be incredibly alert Thursday night.
Not only are bragging rights on the line between these two proud foes. Also up for grabs is the vaunted ConocoPhillips Bowl Cup — a traveling trophy tradition that began about a decade ago.
Bartlesville is currently in custodianship of the trophy by virtue of last season’s 30-20 win at Ponca City.
There’s more at stake in this year’s collision. Both teams are 1-3 in district games, which means a loss this week will pretty much wipe out any hope of hosting a first-round playoff game. Bartlesville is 4-1 in home playoff games.
This series has definitely taken on a character of its own since the teams first met in 1982 during the inaugural Bartlesville Bruin football season. Bartlesville leads the series, 21-18.
The only team the Bruins have played more than Ponca City is Sand Springs (42, 21-21).
Of the 39 games between Ponca City and Sand Springs, 10 have ended with a single digit margin and 20 have decided by 14-points-or-fewer. The series has a slight homefield advantage — Bartlesville is 11-8 at Custer Stadium and the teams are tied 10-10 in Kay County.
SOME SIGNIFICANT MEETINGS
In 1983 Bartlesville notched its first victory against Ponca City in a defensive de-cleater, 3-2. … In 1996 the teams scrapped to a four-overtime decision decided by Ponca City, 35-33, depriving Bartlesville of only its second district win in four seasons. … In 1997 Bartlesville outlasted Ponca City, 16-6, for Homecoming. This was Bartlesville’s first Homecoming win in at least five seasons. Geoff Beaulieu’s punt return for a touchdown was the key play. … In 2007 Ponca City nipped the Bruins, 16-15, during Bartlesville’s 1-9 season. … In 2011 Bartlesville won a thriller at Ponca City, 40-38, in a shootout that ended with a last gasp touchdown. … In 2019 the Bruins captured a thriller at Ponca City, 34-29. … In 2020 Ponca City edged the Bruins, 10-7, in the last time the teams met at Custer Stadium prior to this season.
The tradition goes back at least as far as 1929, when the Bartlesville Wildcats defeated the Ponca City Wildcats, 7-0. Talk about your dramatic endings. On the game’s last play a Ponca City receiver caught the ball and sped 40 yards toward the end zone — but Bartlesville tackled him before he crossed the goal line. Bartlesville drove the ball most the length of the field — led by the crushing runs of Dutcher, Prichard, Clark and Newsom — to score the lone touchdown. Prichard carried the ball the final three yards and Langston booted the extra point. Bartlesville completed only one pass — a connection from Newsom to Coleman that went for 30 yards. Ponca City hit on 9-of-19 passes for 150 yards. Bartlesville won the rushing battle, 125 to 110.
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS
Bartlesville takes aim on this game off the momentum of a 42-28 win at Putnam City North. Ponca City is coming off a 22-0 loss against Sapulpa. Bartlesville is 7-4 in Week 8 games since 2014.
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Bartlesville High School’s Harrison Ketchum (17) makes a play during an earlier season game. The Bruins host Ponca City on Thursday night.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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EXPLOSIVE WEAPONS
With the return to full action last week of tailback Sutton Williams, the Bruin offense has a multi-faceted attack. Quarterback Michael Kent — who made his first-ever varsity start in last season’s game against Ponca City — is the triggerman in a well-orchestrated passing attack that can utilize up to a half-dozen-or-more receivers (Gavin Thomas, Matthew Sears, Harrison Ketchum, Daeton Stevens, Boden Roberts, Evan Goad and others) for crucial catches during a game. Kent also can be a dangerous set-play runner and scrambler. Williams ran for more than 100 (103) yards and three touchdowns last week. He had missed the previous five games on offense — with the exception of a carry or two — due to injury and recuperation.
Kent is completing his passes at a .640 clip for 1,695 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is on pace to throw for about 2,500-or-more yards and 20-or-more touchdowns, depending on how deep of a playoff run the Bruins might make. Kent also has rushed for 408 yards, giving him more than 2,100 through seven games. At that rate, he could surpass 3,000-to-3,300 offensive yards, again depending on how many more games the Bruins play.
Despite only 21 carries, Williams has bolted for five touchdowns and is averaging 7.4 yards per attempt.
Five receivers have accumulated between 199-to-414 yards. The list includes: Roberts (27-414), Ketchum (31-381), Thomas (22-289), Sears (30-273) and Stevens (20-199). Seven different receivers had snared touchdown passes, one of them heaved by Sears.
The Bruin defense boasts an under-rated defensive secondary as far as deep pass coverage. Much of the aerial damage inflicted by opposing offenses has been due to its mid-range passing game, or short receptions and yards after the catch. The return last week of linebacker Davin Carter provided the Bruins a major boost. Linebacker/lineman Sonji Ketiku has been a spear in the hearts of opposing defenses with his penetration into the offensive backfield, tackling (a team-high 29) and short pass coverage. Ivan Griffith, Williams, Roberts, Adrian Jones, Wyatt Mathis, Shaun Thrasher and Conner Ketiku, Cale Granger and Landon Shaw have been some of the other main stoppers on defense.
Back for Ponca City is Ryder Trepton, who caught the game’s final touchdown.
LAST YEAR
In 2024, Bartlesville surged to a 16-0 lead and held on to win, 30-20, in Kent’s debut. He threw for three touchdowns (E.J. Belisle, Ketchum, Damien Niko).
Ponca City rallied in the second half to pull within two points, 16-14.
Bartlesville answered with a 76-yard march, highlighted by a 12-yard completion from Kent to Niko, a 13-yard scamper by Kent, 4 carries by Williams for 48 yards and a two-yard scoring burst by Stevens.
Bartlesville would go up 30-14 after Kent heaved a 30-yard rainbow to Niko for a score.
Carter contributed a defensive safety.
Ponca City responded with a touchdown in the final two minutes and ran out of time.
Scoring for Ponca City were Trepton, Lance Arbona, Jaxon Goddard and Roland Barton.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Ponca City’s offense displayed an explosive touch the first half of the season. The Wildcats scored more than 50 points in four games and averaged scoring 52.2 points their first five games. But, they’ve scored a total of only seven points the past two weeks. Defensively, they’ve limited four opponents to fewer than 30 points.
Bartlesville reached 40 points last week for the first time this season. The Bruins have been the victims of only one real runaway. Other than that, they’ve been in contention well into the second half in their other five losses.
As mentioned, Williams’ rushing histrionics last week provided the Bruin offense a new dimension. It took a lot of pressure off the pass rushes and bruising scrambles that Kent had battled against the previous few games. The running success allowed Kent a little more time on many passing downs and let the receivers get deeper into their patterns. The Bruin offense also chewed more time off the clock and kept the Putnam City North offense cooling on the sideline.
The way this game might unfold is hard to grasp because the matchups are so unpredictable. Will Ponca City regain its offensive mojo from earlier in the season? Will Williams turn in another 100-yard rushing game? Even though Ponca City scored only seven points the past two weeks, it didn’t give up more than 30 in either game. What will the Wildcats bring to the table defensively? Will the Bruin defense continue to make life miserable for an opposing passer?
COACH WRIGHT’s KEYS
“Keys with Ponca City defensively will be to limit their big plays and force some turnovers. Offensively it will be to spread the ball around using our tempo effectively and taking care of the football. Special teams we need to find a way to flip momentum,” said Bruin head coach Harry Wright.
Series (since 1982): Bartlesville leads, 21-18.
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Dewey High School’s Braxton Braden (1) is behind center during an earlier season game. The Bulldoggers travel to Sperry on Thursday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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DEWEY (3-4, 2-2) at Sperry (2-5, 2-2) (Thursday)
Last week’s results: DEWEY 49, Tulsa Webster 14; Tahlequah-Sequoyah 42, SPERRY 0
2024: Sperry 39, Dewey 7
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Dewey has been here before the past few years. Getting the most it can from a couple of winnable games and then butting heads in a basically 50-50 contest against one a strong district team.
Unfortunately, the Doggers haven’t recorded that break-through win for a few years. This showdown will give them that opportunity again.
With a triumph, the Doggers — who are coached by Scott Sapulpa — can almost clinch their first playoff berth since 2019.
Beating Sperry also would be a thunderous statement about Dewey’s turnaround program.
The Doggers unleashed an explosive running game last week that saw five different players (Eddie Rice, Easton Davis, Fenix Bolding, Nate Sloan and Kade Lackey) run for at least one touchdown and another (Jayden Vallen) rumbled for 137 yards.
With a victory, Dewey would improve to 3-2 in district, putting it within just another win of clinching a postseason spot. However, Sperry is also 2-2 in district and playing for the same thing.
Something’s gotta give. Perhaps this is Dewey’s year to rule the scoreboard.
Series (since 2000) — Sperry leads, 12-3.
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CANEY VALLEY TROJANS (0-7, 0-4) vs. Morrison (3-3, 2-1) (Friday)
Last week’s results: Oklahoma Union 12, CANEY VALLEY 8; Tonkawa 35, MORRISON 14
2024: Morrison 51, Caney Valley 8
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Once again, the Trojans go into the fray as the underdog. But head coach Derrick Hammer is determined to see his team progress while battling through its challenges. Perhaps the fruits won’t be enjoyed until next season — perhaps later this season.
And who’s to say the Trojans might not put it all together this week?
Last week, the Trojans came close. They were driving for the winning score when they threw an interception in the final two minutes. Bryor Bonde tallied Caney Valley’s lone touchdown.
Series (since 2020) — Morrison leads, 3-0.
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BARNSDALL (4-3, 1-3) at Afton (0-6, 0-3) (Thursday)
Last week’s results: BARNSDALL 29, Summit Christian 15; Woodland 70, AFTON 22
2024: Barnsdall 54, Afton 0
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: The Panthers snapped their three-game losing streak by racking up a two-touchdown win last week. Barnsdall should be favored this week to collect another district win.
Quarterback Lincoln Gott, who was hurt earlier this season, gashed the Summit Christian defense for 324 yards rushing — and four touchdowns — last week. He also threw for 42 yards.
Blaine Miller, Hayden Collins and Talon Bond made impactful returns to action for Barnsdall and made major defensive contributions.
Series (since 2013): Tied, 3-3.
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Copan High School’s Zane Stricklin handles the ball during an earlier season game. The Hornets travel to Webbers Fall on Thursday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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COPAN (6-1, 2-0) at Webbers Falls (4-2, 1-1) (Thursday)
Last week’s results: COPAN 58, Gans 8; WEBBERS FALLS 15, Wesleyan Christian 0 (forfeit)
2024: Copan 41, Webbers Falls 12
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: This is one of those measuring stick games for Copan, which is still in the hunt for a district title and homefield playoff advantage. By beating Webbers Falls,
Copan opened up on its passing game — for the first time this season — in last week’s rout of Gans. First-year starting quarterback Zane Stricklin delivered a profuse aerial performance, hitting on 13-of-20 passes for 253 yards and multiple touchdowns.
Shooter Brewington hauled in two touchdowns and Payten Call grabbed the other. Teegan Caron and Weston O’Rourke rushed for 121 and 103 yards, respectively, with two touchdowns apiece.
With that kind of offensive firepower, Copan should melt down a lot of opposing defenses. But Webbers Falls is a strong opponent and motivated by its own quest for a district title and to host a first-round playoff game.
With heightened desire and daunting determination, Copan appears to have a superb opportunity to stay unbeaten in district.
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Pawnee (5-2, 3-1) at NOWATA (1-6, 1-3) (Thursday)
Last week result: NOWATA, bye; PAWNEE 72, Quapaw 23
2024: Pawnee 26, Nowata 6
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Nowata — who is a much stronger team than its record suggests — is coming off a bye week. Whether all that healing and extra preparation will boost the Ironmen to what would be a considerable upset in Class A-1 will be determined Thursday.
The Ironmen played the Black Bears close last year and are hoping this year’s rematch won’t be decided until the final period.
Adrian O’Dell has put together a strong campaign as Nowata’s first-year starting quarterback. If his main weapons Asiah Saxton and Brett Malone are healthy, the Ironmen might find a way to bag their quota of ursine.
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Quapaw (3-4, 2-2) at PAWHUSKA (6-1, 3-1) (Friday)
Last week’s result: PAWHUSKA, bye; Pawnee 72, QUAPAW 23
2024: Pawhuska 72, Quapaw 13
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: The Pawhuska Huskies have had an extra week to lick their wounds following a rugged loss two weeks ago to Tonkawa. Pawhuska is still in the running for a district title and certainly to host a first-round playoff game.
But they’ll have to take care of business against a Quapaw team that no doubt will be fired up to take down a state championship contender.
Pawhuska coach Matt Hennesy’s quiver is full of explosive weapons, including first-year starting quarterback Kane Foreman, running back Vann Wildcat, receiver Corlin Cass, Dane Jensen, Tripp Walker, Jarek Edwards, Jenson Snodgrass, Logan Cass and others.
Many of those players also deliver a big punch on defense.
With a possibility of wet turf, Pawhuska’s ability to run the ball on offense — and stop Quapaw’s ground attack on defense — could be major keys.
With a win, Pawhuska would improve to 4-1 in district and is hoping that during the final three weeks someone will knock off Tonkawa in order to have a chance to claim district supremacy.
Series (since 2020): Pawhuska lead, 3-0.
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OKLAHOMA UNION (1-6, 1-3) at Tonkawa (6-1, 4-0) (Thursday)
Last week’s result: OKLAHOMA UNION 12, Caney Valley 8; TONKAWA 35, Morrison 14
2024: Tonkawa 20, Oklahoma Union 16
2023: Tonkawa 43, Oklahoma Union 20
2022: Tonkawa 52, Oklahoma Union 6
OUTLOOK: Oklahoma Union is coming off its first season win but has to face district leader Tonkawa in a No. 7 vs. No. 1 showdown.
Oklahoma Union has yet to play its best game and perhaps will pull out all the stops Thursday and make a volcanic statement.
In last week’s 12-8 victory, the Cougars relied heavily on quarterback Aiden Talbott, who threw two touchdowns, one to Colten Wickham and the other to Jensen Anderson.
Series (since 2022): Tonkawa leads, 3-0.
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Porter (2-5, 1-3) at HOMINY (5-2, 4-0) at Porter (2-5, 1-3) (Thursday)
Last week’s results: HOMINY 36, Fairland 20; Ketchum 34, PORTER 0
2024: Hominy 15, Porter 0 (fft.)
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Hominy is trying to sew up the district title with three hungry teams (Fairland, Ketchum and Woodland) just one game behind.
A win against Porter would keep Hominy on top of the district standings going into the final two week.
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Bluejacket (4-3, 1-1) at SOUTH COFFEYVILLE (3-2, 2-0) (Thursday)
Last week’s results: SOUTH COFFEYVILLE 44, Cornerstone 12; BLUEJACKET 46, Billings 0
2024: Bluejacket 38, South Coffeyville 34
2023: Bluejacket 30, South Coffeyville 12
2022: Bluejacket 46, South Coffeyville 0
OUTLOOK: Langston Akers and Jace Keys have both thrown several passes for South Coffeyville.
But it’s the rushing game that has been a major weapon. In five contests, Gabe Thorne rumbled for 280 yards on better than four yards a pop, with five touchdowns.
Keys and Adcock added 182 yards (three touchdowns) and 162 yards (three touchdowns), respectively, during that stretch.
On the defensive side, Gabe Arredondo made 37 tackles through five games while Emmitt Hills added 32. Hills also made four sacks.
If they break through Thursday night, the Lions will have plenty about which to roar coming down the stretch toward the playoffs.
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KANSAS: CANEY VALLEY BULLPUPS (6-1, 3-0) at Riverton (4-3, 3-0) (Friday)
Last week’s result: CANEY VALLEY 48, Galena 6; RIVERTON 52, Fredonia 14
2024: Caney Valley 51, Riverton 14
2023: Riverton 30, Caney Valley 11
2022: Caney Valley 36, Riverton 0
OUTLOOK: Just call this a mega-showdown between two teams that are nearly even in their previous nine meetings since 2008.
Caney Valley leads the series, 5-4, including last year’s 51-14 win.
At stake in this regular season finale is the district title. Both teams are unbeaten (3-0) in district. Although both teams are already guaranteed to advance to the playoffs, a win Friday could drastically improve their postseason seeding.
Caney Valley brings a lot of explosiveness to the field. The Pups scored nearly 50 points — IN A SINGLE QUARTER — in a win two weeks ago.
Last week they finished their game with a 48-0 run to win 48-6 and set up this Friday’s helmet-banger for the district throne.
Quarterback Layne Denny has been solid in running the offense and has thrown for triple digits in multiple games. But the Pups mostly thrive on the running game, led by Traxcyn Garton and Jace Buckley.
Jacob McVey and Drake Roberds have been Denny’s favorite receiving targets.
On the defensive side, Caney Valley boasts enough stars to fill a mountaintop sky on a moonless night.
But Riverton is not your Uncle Fester, Herman Munster or Homer Simpson in cleats. The Rams obviously will be playing with some talent, pride and determination as well.
Much could depend on whether one team can seize the early momentum.
Series (since 2008) — Caney Valley leads, 5-4..