A LOOK BACK: BARTLESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 1988 FOOTBALL TEAM
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Aug. 12, 2025
By Mike Tupa
Each year as we prepare to rev up a new high school football season one question by fans is inevitable: What was the best-ever team in our history?
That’s not an easy question to answer for the Bartlesville faithful. The program boasted a handful of exceptional campaigns. Perhaps the three at the top are 1988 (9-4), 2009 (9-3) and 2015 (10-2).
Without getting bogged down in detail, each of those teams eyed unique challenges. Each suffered at least one rugged regular season loss that impacted its playoff seeding for the worse.
All things considered, the 1988 team — coached by Mickey Ripley — has a good case for a claim to be the top Bruin football team through 2024.
This battled-hardened squad finished 7-3 in the regular season and then plowed with winning resolution through the first two rounds of the playoffs — the only-ever Bruin team to win two postseason games. Lawton Eisenhower finally ended the Bruins’ postseason run, 39-27, in the Class 5A semifinals.
That was a shocker that Bruin 1988 team member Craig Tate still remembers.
“I really thought we were the better team on paper,” Tate said. “We were the favorites going in. … It was just one of those nights where we didn’t get the breaks.”
But Eisenhower outlasted the Bruins and moved into the Class 5A state championship game — where it lost to Midwest City, whose coordinator was future Bartlesville head coach Ron Smith.
Despite the loss to Eisenhower, the ’88 team remains a standard-setter for the best of the Bruin gridiron tradition.
It was a highly-talented group. A tight-knit crew.
“The strength of that team was more so the camaraderie of the players,” said tailback Mark Nash. “We loved playing beside each other.”
Especially the night the Bruins pulled the seismic stunner against state championship favorite Tulsa Washington — in the Hornets’ hive — in the first round of the playoffs, 20-12.
Bartlesville shouldn’t have to travel in the first round — and wouldn’t have if not for a 24-17 upset loss to Tulsa Memorial.
“They (the Washington Hornets) were the team to beat,” Tate said.
The fierce battle had a little bit of everything — including a lengthy lightning delay in the second half and a clutch fourth-down running play for Bartlesville.
It was the Bruins that seemed to be energized by the lightening on this fateful and historic evening. It all came down to a fourth down slicing run by fullback Dennis Littleaxe.
“He probably had the best game of his senior year,” Tate said. “On fourth-and-6 we had to keep the drive going. We gave the ball to Littleaxe. He got hit in the backfield but he spun free and broke three or four tackles to get the first down. … Our team was loaded.”
Perhaps the team’s favorite letter in the alphabet was “M.” M as in quarterback Mark Gentry, state-leading receiver Mark Miller, prodigious precision kicker Kyman McGary, clutch tight end Scott Milburn and the elusively tough tailback Mark Nash.
Of course many other stars helped fill out the roster. Some of them included Victor LeFlore, Kenny Carter, Tate, Josh Pierce, Brett Payne, Billy May, Scott Milburn, Phil Pugh, Clint Davis, DeAngelo Joseph, Steve Stewart, Dennis Littleaxe and Steve Page.
The Bruins recorded a noteworthy but hardly monumental regular season record of 7-3. In addition to being upended by underdog Tulsa Memorials, Bartlesville fell to Broken Arrow, 35-31, in three overtimes and came up short against Stillwater — with Gentry being sacked nine times — in a 17-6 decision.
Bartlesville’s regular season win column included shutting out Jenks, 17-0; wiping out Tulsa Union, 30-6; and burying a very good Sand Springs team, 27-7.
Several different Bruins stepped up in crucial times to propel the team’s momentum during this season of destiny:
— Page made two game-saving interceptions — one in a 20-12 playoff victory against Tulsa Washington, the other a goal pick to preserve the 35-29 overtime quarterfinal playoff win against Muskogee.
— In that same playoff win, May recovered a fumble in the end zone for Bartlesville’s first touchdown.
— Littleaxe ran in touchdowns of five and 38 yards in a three-overtime loss to Broken Arrow.
— Pugh recovered a fumble against Broken Arrow.
— McGary nailed two 37-yard field goals in the first quarter to energize the Bruins past Ponca City, 23-6.
— In the same game against Ponca City, Bruin defensive pass rushers Pugh, Pierce and Stewart put maximum pressure on the quarterback.
— Milburn hauled in a reception that went for 27 yards to set up an early score vs. Sand Springs.
— In the win against Sand Springs, Pierce recovered two fumbles.
— Payne picked off a pass and recovered a fumble against Sand Springs.
— LeFlore seized a 19-yard TD pass in the semifinals against Lawton Eisenhower.
— Davis and Joseph both registered 11 tackles against Lawton Eisenhower.
As mentioned, the primary producers were Miller, Gentry, Nash and McGary.
Miller not only attracted a huge spotlight he provided the electricity — a state-leading 82 receptions for 1,324 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Five of Miller’s game receiving stats:
— Vs. Ponca City, 5-108, 1 TD (44).
— Vs. Muskogee (regular season), 7-128, 1 TD (22).
— Vs. Tulsa Memorial, 8-153, 2 TDs.
— Vs. Tulsa Union, 6-140, 1 TD.
— Vs. Lawton Eisenhower (semifinals), 10-131, TD NA.
Nash continued a family legacy of terrific tailbacks. His older brother Mitch Nash had been a key performer during Bartlesville’s back-to-back playoff teams of 1983 and 1984. Mitch went on to run for Oklahoma State during the Thurman Thomas-Barry Sanders era.
Mitch remained Bartlesville’s only 1,000 yard rusher for 29 years, until 2003, and all-time leading career rusher until 2015.
“I was always trying to fill Mitch’s shoes,” Mark said. “But it (1988) was a different team (than Mitch’s 1984 senior season). … We were more of a passing team. We had different running styles. I was more of getting a pitch on the outside swing.”
Mark also had a talent for catch-the-short-pass and run.
“Give me the ball in the flat,” he said.
Some of Mark’s outstanding performances in 1988 included:
— Rushing for 182 yards and two touchdowns and being on the receiving end of a 38-yard touchdown pass in a 37-16 win against Tulsa East Central.
— Running for 91 yards and a touchdown in the 17-0 shutout of Jenks.
— Scoring two red zone touchdowns in a 27-7 tweaking of Sand Springs.
As suggested, McGary ranks among the greatest ever place kickers in Bruin history. He made the automatic extra point or the field goal valid weapons for Ripley.
Gentry proved to be Mr. Catalyst — despite being sacked four or five times in multiple games — for the Bruin offense.
Some of his most prolific performances included:
— Vs. Muskogee (regular season): Threw touchdowns to three different players (Miller, LeFlore and Littleaxe) despite being sacked six times in 28-14 victory. He finished with 258 yards passing.
— Vs. Tulsa Memorial: Hit on 12-of-22 passes for 194 yards in 24-17 setback.
— Vs. Tulsa East Central: Connected on 16-of-25 passes for 269 yards and two TDs in a 37-16 triumph.
— Vs. Tulsa Union: In a real slug-out, Gentry threw for 159 yards and ran in a TD in a 30-7 win.
— Vs. Tulsa Washington (playoffs): Once again the Bruins relied more on clock control, resulting in Gentry hitting 7-of-16 passes for 106 yards, including a 43-yard scoring hook-up with Miller in the 20-12 victory.
— Vs. Muskogee (quarterfinals): Gentry zinged 3 TD passes in regulation — to LeFlore and two to Miller. Gentry then ran in the winning touchdown in overtime in the 35-29 victory.
— Vs. Lawton Eisenhower (semifinals): Gentry endured a rugged day — seven sacks for minus-51 yards. He still managed to pass for 269 yards, one of them for a 19-yard TD to LeFlore.
Following are game-by-game summaries for the 1988 season.
Bartlesville 27, Sand Springs 7
Mark Nash scored two rushing touchdowns (6,3) and quarterback Mark Gentry connected with Scott Milburn for a 27-yard pickup to set up a score as Bartlesville won its opener on the road. Sand Springs turned the ball over nine times, including six fumbles. Gentry also scored on a one-yard run and Victor LeFlore ran in from 11 yards out.
Bartlesville 23, Ponca City 6
McGary opened up the Bartlesville scoring with two 37-yard field goals in the first quarter in the home opener. Mark Miller scored on a 44-yard pass from Gentry. Gentry also hit Billy May for an 11-yard touchdown. Ponca City had just 74 yards of total offense. Miller caught five passes for 108 yards. Nash rushed for 78 yards. Defensive players Phil Pugh, Josh Pierce and Steve Stewart put pressure on the Ponca City quarterback all game.
Stillwater 17, Bartlesville 6
Gentry was sacked nine times for minus-58 yards in Stillwater. The Bruins had minus-four yards rushing. Nash scored the Bruins lone touchdown on a seven-yard run with 2:20 left in the game.
Broken Arrow 35, Bartlesville 31 (3OT)
Bartlesville lost its second straight, this one at home, despite out-gaining Broken Arrow almost three-yards-to-one. Dennis Littleaxe scored on runs of five and 38 yards for Bartlesville. May caught a nine-yard pass from Gentry and Nash bulled in from two yards out. Bartlesville had 92 yards in penalties. Pugh recovered a fumble.
Bartlesville 28, Muskogee 14 (Homecoming)
Bartlesville snapped back with a win on Gentry’s hot start in Muskogee. He finished with 258 yards passing. Miller had seven catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Bartlesville led at halftime, 21-7. Gentry, who was sacked six times for minus-55 yards, threw touchdown passes to Miller (22), LeFlore (18) and Littleaxe (11). Nash also scored on a six-yard run. Bruin coach Mickey Ripley praised Bruin nose guard DeAngelo Joseph.
Tulsa Memorial 24, Bartlesville 17
Bartlesville fell to 3-3 despite a big game by Miller (eight catches, 153 yards, two touchdowns) at Custer Field. Gentry was 12-of-22 for 194 yards. McGary kicked a 23-yard field goal.
Bartlesville 37, Tulsa East Central 16
Bartlesville shook off its inconsistency starting with this game. Nash scored three times on runs of 53 and 14 yards and on a 38-yard pass connection from Gentry. Gentry and Littleaxe combined on a 75-yard touchdown pass play and LeFlore scored from three yards out. Bartlesville had 518 total yards and 26 first downs. Gentry was 16-of-25 for 269 yards with two interceptions. Nash rushed for 182 yards on 23 carries.
Bartlesville 17, Jenks 0
Nash ran for 91 yards and a touchdown. Miller caught a nine-yard TD pass from Gentry, who was sacked four times at Jenks.
Bartlesville 42, Hale 0
Bartlesville pounded Tulsa Hale with a big rushing night, 285 yards. Gentry through nine games had thrown for 1,590 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Bartlesville 30, Tulsa Union 7
Bartlesville nearly posted its third-straight shutout in its regular-season finale. Miller caught a 29-yard touchdown pass at Custer Field. He had six catches for 140 yards. Gentry was 9-of-18 for 159 yards. Nash scored from 14 yards out and Gentry bulled in from one yard out. McGary hit a 37-yard field goal.
Bartlesville 20, Washington 12 (playoffs first round)
Washington led in the fourth quarter in Tulsa, 12-7. Gentry and Miller hooked up for a 43-yard touchdown pass play for the game winner in this playoff opener. Miller also caught a seven-yard TD later. Steve Page intercepted a Washington pass late in the game to seal the win. Gentry was 7-of-16 for 106 yards.=
Bartlesville 35, Muskogee 29 (OT) (quarterfinals)
In this wild-and-wooly game, 27 points were scored in the fourth quarter, 19 of them by Muskogee at Custer Field. Bartlesville won in overtime on Gentry’s five-yard run. Gentry also passed for three TDs in regulation, 12 yards to LeFlore, 12 yards to Miller and 56 yards to Miller. Page had an interception at the goalline in overtime to stop Muskogee.
Lawton Eisenhower 39, Bartlesville 27 (semifinals)
Gentry was sacked seven times for minus-51 yards but still managed to pass for 269 yards, including a 19-yard TD connection with LeFlore in this state semifinal playoff. Miller closed out the season with 10 catches for 131 yards. Clint Davis and DeAngelo Joseph led the Bruins in tackles.
Former Bartlesville High School football coach Mickey Ripley
Former Bartlesville High School football standout Craig Tate coaches his grandson.
Photo provided