BARTLESVILLE DROPS HOME OPENER; KENT PUTS UP SOLID NUMBERS
Bartlesville Bruins quarterback Michael Kent (14) runs the ball during their 51-34 home opener loss to New Castle Friday night.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Aug. 30, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
His first name might be Michael but for most of Friday’s season football opener Bartlesville High School sophomore quarterback resembled Clark Kent’s alter ego.
But the Racers of Newcastle still found a way to outduel Kent and his Bruin teammates in Friday's season opener. In front of thousands of energized fans at Custer Stadium, the Racers put the foot to the metal in a 51-34 victory.
However Kent delivered a gritty, prolific effort.
He threw for more than 270 yards, rushed for more than 100 and caught a 14-yard pass on the Bruins’ first touchdown drive. It wasn't a perfect outing — he threw three picks, but some of that was due to bad luck and trying to rally the team from behind.
His super play throughout most of the first half and in part of the second helped the Bruins put five touchdowns on the Custer Stadium scoreboard.
Unfortunately, the visiting Newcastle Racers pulled past the Bruins at the finish line, 51-34 — thanks largely to big plays on special teams.
Bartlesville fell to 0-1 on the season and 1-9 in its last 10 non-district games, dating back to 2022.
Bartlesville will look to reverse that trend when it plays host next Friday (September 5) to the Claremore Zebras in another non-district showdown.
Bruin head coach Harry Wright and his coaching staff might be focused this week on shoring up special teams coverage, limiting turnovers and working on some defensive issues.
However there also were many positives Friday to build on — Kent connected with nearly 10 different receivers, the pass protection for the most part did its job, tailback Sutton Williams ran hard in limited action, the Bruins recovered an onside kick (Cale Granger) and other players contributed big plays, including a fumble recovery by Williams.
On the receiving end of Kent’s three touchdown throws were Evan Goad (6 yards), Ivan Griffiths (24 yards) and Daeton Stevens (58 yards).
Williams ran for two touchdowns (5 yards, 6 yards) in basically a half of action.
Bartlesville had blitzed to a 28-13 lead in the opening 20-plus minutes — but only scored once in the second half.
Newcastle grabbed momentum shortly for halftime with a 10-0 run in the final 3:22 — and kept on building in the second half on its forward thrust.
(Note: A follow-up report is planned next week.)
AROUND THE AREA
— Dewey stunned Locust Grove, 53-43 — Dewey’s first win in the series since 2012.
— The Copan Hornets shut down Midway, 52-0, in an eight-man football mercy rule.
— Barnsdall continued its domination of its series against Caney Valley, 36-8, extending their series winning streak to eight straight.
— Pawhuska pounded out a 60-18 win against Nowata in a rare first-week district game.
— Colcord knocked off Oklahoma Union, 60-14, in a Class A non-district battle.
(Note: More detailed reports on these games are planned for next week.)