FOOTBALL PREVIEW: FINAL WEEK OF REGULAR SEASON FOR BARTLESVILLE AND AREA TEAMS
The Bartlesville Bruins travel to Capitol Hill on Friday night. The Bruins have clinched a playoff berth.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Dewey High School’s Easton Davis (10) goes in motion during an earlier season game. The Bulldoggers host Chandler on Friday night.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Nov. 6, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Note: You can hear or watch live coverage of select area football games on Bartlesville Radio stations. Bartlesville High contests are broadcast on radio (KWON-1400-AM, 93.3-FM or 95.1-FM) or can be seen on KWONTV, available on the radio station website. Pawhuska games can be heard on radio (1500-AM or 99.1-FM) or also streamed live on the radio website. There is always at least a Game of the Week involving another area team or two.
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Well, hard to believe we’ve finally reached Week 10 in high school football action.
For many seniors, Thursday or Friday will be the final chapter in their prep grid careers.
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SCHEDULE
Following is the schedule with the latest information on site, day and time. Changes late in the week are always possible, so fans might want to check on the radio or BASR website, or contact their local schools, especially before driving out of town.
6A-II-2: Bartlesville (2-7, 2-4) at Capitol Hill (0-9, 0-6) (Friday)
2A-I-4: Chandler (6-3, 4-2) at Dewey (4-5, 3-3) (Friday)
A-I-3: Pawhuska (8-1, 5-1) at Morrison (5-4, 4-2) (Thursday)
A-I-3: Quapaw (3-6, 2-4) at Caney Valley Trojans (0-9, 0-6) (Friday)
A-I-3: Nowata (2-7, 2-4) at Tonkawa (8-1, 6-0) (Friday)
A-I-3: Oklahoma Union (1-8, 1-5) at Pawnee (6-3, 4-2) (Friday)
A-II-4: Barnsdall (5-4, 2-4) vs. TBD
A-II-4: Hominy (7-2, 6-0) at Afton (1-7, 1-5) (Friday)
B-II-4: Arkoma (3-6, 1-2) at Copan (6-2, 2-1) (Friday)
C-4: Medford (7-2, 4-0) at South Coffeyville (3-4, 2-2) (Friday)
KANSAS 2A playoffs: Riverton (5-4) at Caney Valley Bullpups (8-1) (Friday)
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PLAYOFF STATUS
CLINCHED: Bartlesville, Copan, Pawhuska, Hominy and South Coffeyville. (But final seeding isn’t set in some cases.)
ON THE BUBBLE: Dewey.
NOT GOING: Caney Valley Trojans, Barnsdall, Oklahoma Union, and Nowata.
PLAYOFFS ALREADY STARTED: The Caney Valley (Kan.) Bullpups will be competing in the second round of the Kansas Class 2A postseason.
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GAME PREVIEWS
6A-II-2: BARTLESVILLE (2-7, 2-4) AT CAPITOL HILL (0-9, 0-6) (FRIDAY)
LAST WEEK: BARTLESVILLE 41, Putnam City West 0; Ponca City 69, CAPITOL HILL 6
2024: Bartlesville 62, Capitol Hill 0
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: There shouldn’t be a whole lot of mystery about this one.
Granted, at 2-7 the Bartlesville Bruins shouldn’t be really looking past anyone.
But there’s a couple of realities to factor in. Bartlesville is better than its record and has been heating up the past three games. Capitol Hill, on the other hand, has scored only 24 points in nine games — an average of 2.7 per contest. On the ledger’s other side, the Red Wolves are allowing 46.1 points per game.
By comparison, Bartlesville is averaging 21.2 points and giving up 32.0 in district play.
But in their most recent three games, the Bruins have outscored their opponents, on average, 35.3 to 17.0.
In other words, Bartlesville (2-7, 2-4) is heavily favored to collect its third district win and Capitol Hill (0-9, 0-6) to finish winless.
As far as playoff seeding, the Bruins — who are coached by Harry Wright — should finish as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in District 6A-II-2. The top six seeds advance to the playoffs.
The biggest factor in the Bruins’ seeding will be if Ponca City (5-4, 3-3) were to beat Putnam City West (1-8, 1-5). If that’s the case, Ponca City would sew up the No. 4 seed at 4-3. Bartlesville will likely beat Capitol Hill and finish at 3-4 in the district. The other part of that equation would be if Putnam City North (2-7, 2-4) upsets Muskogee (4-5, 4-2).
It boils down to these possibilities:
— If Ponca City were to lose and Bartlesville and Putnam City North both to win, there would be a three-way tie at 3-4 for the No. 4 seed. In that case, the tiebreaker would be district points, and there’s a great chance Bartlesville would finish as the No. 4 seed — especially if it were to beat Capitol Hill by at least 15 points and Ponca City were to lose by at least 13 points. The chances of this are not promising for Bartlesville because Ponca City will be a heavy favorite against Putnam City West.
— If Ponca City were to win, it would sew up the No. 4 seed at 4-3. If both Bartlesville and Putnam City North were to win, they would tie for the No. 5 seed at 3-4. In that case, Bartlesville would win the head-to-head tiebreaker — having beat Putnam City North, 42-28, in October — and clinch the No. 5 seed and a slightly easier first-round playoff game.
— If Bartlesville were to lose and Putnam City North to win, the Bruins would fall to the No. 6 seed. Or if Putnam City North were to lose — which is the likely outcome — the Bruins would be pretty much guaranteed the No. 5 seed, win or lose.
— Bruin fans should be rooting for Putnam City West to beat Ponca City and/or for Putnam City North to lose. In either of those cases, the Bruins would finish as the No. 4 or No. 5 seed — but it all depends on Bartlesville defeating Capitol Hill.
— The top three seeds are already locked up, although the pecking order will be decided this weekend — Sand Springs (7-2, 6-0), Sapulpa (7-2, 6-0) and Muskogee (4-5, 4-2). Sand Springs and Sapulpa will battle each other for the district title or No. 2 seed. Muskogee — the defending Class 6A-II state champion — is locked into the No. 3 seed.
The most important fact is this will be the fourth straight season Bartlesville has qualified for the postseason — a team record. But it must honestly be noted — for fairness to past Bruin teams — that making the playoffs has been made easier the past four years.
Prior to that, only the top four teams in the final district standings advanced to the postseason. But since the early 2020s, 6A-II expanded the playoffs from eight to 12 teams and allowed the top six teams per district to qualify. Other classes have maintained the four-playoff-teams-per-district rule.
The Bruins have competed well in the playoffs the previous three seasons.
In 2022, the Bruins (4-6 regular season) stunned Lawton (7-3) in the opening round, 36-30 (ot), and were eliminated in the quarterfinals by state champion Stillwater.
In 2023, the Bruins (4-6 regular season) crushed Putnam City North (4-6), 45-14, in the opening round and lost to Deer Creek (8-2) in the quarterfinals.
In 2024, the Bruins (3-7 regular season) fell in a competitive effort against Putnam City (6-4) in the opening round.
The possibilities about how this year’s district seeding will fall out make it too premature to speculate now on who the Bruins might meet in the first playoff round this season.
BARTLESVILLE LEADERS
Passing — Michael Kent 181-279 (.649), 2,290 yards, 14 TDs.
Rushing — Michael Kent 106-504, 2 TDs; Daeton Stevens 67-224, 4 TDs; Sutton Williams 34-201, 8 TDs.
Receiving — Boden Roberts 38-630, 4 TDs; Harrison Ketchum 34-465, 4 TDs; Matthew Sears 44-405, 3 TDs; Gavin Thomas 23-313, 1 TD; Daeton Stevens 27-252, 1 TD.
Tackles (solos in parentheses) — Wyatt Mathis 37 (22), Sonji Ketiku 35 (13), Landen Shaw 29 (14), Adrian Jones 28 (13).
Interceptions: Ivan Griffith 2.
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Dewey High School’s Kavery Weathers (18) makes a play on the ball during an earlier season game. The Bulldoggers host Chandler on Friday night.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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2A-I-4: CHANDLER (6-3, 4-2) AT DEWEY (4-5, 3-3) (FRIDAY)
LAST WEEK: DEWEY 19, Tulsa Central 14; CHANDLER 39, Sperry 12
2024: Chandler 35, Dewey 6
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Advancing to the playoffs for Dewey boils down to this — either by beating Chandler by at least six points or by Tulsa Central beating Sperry by between six to eight points.
It’s been a great run for Dewey since Week 6, winning three of four and losing by only five points to Sperry.
The Doggers — guided by first-year head coach Scott Sapulpa — have won four games for the first time since 2019 and are on pace to finish with five or more.
Last week’s 19-14 winning decision against Tulsa Central was your ubiquitous barnburner — Dewey won it on a kickoff return for a touchdown, followed by a defensive stand inside its own five-yard line when time ran out.
The Doggers boast a three-headed rushing attack that features Easton Davis, Jayden Vallen, Kavery Weathers and Eddie Rice. Quarterback Braxton Braden also can run and pass effectively in limited opportunities.
Kade Lackey, Cadyn Artherton, Wyatt Templeton and Mason Spears offer him reliable targets as well as the running backs.
Braden has thrown for 589 yards and seven touchdowns for the year.
As mentioned, Dewey depends on a devastating running attack by committee. Vallen has run for 579 yards — 7.52 yards per carry — and five touchdowns. Davis is next with 496 yards and six touchdowns, followed by Rice with 410 yards and four scores.
That adds up to 1,483 yards and 15 touchdowns between the three of them — a formidable six-legged stampede.
The Dogger defense muscled up and gave up ground grudgingly last week, mostly according to the bend-but-don’t-break doctrine.
Fenix Bolding — a valuable contributor on both sides of the ball — leads the Doggers in tackles (77), followed by Parker Garrison (47), Weathers (43) and Nate Sloan (32).
A win Friday would give the up-and-coming Dewey program only its second non-losing regular season since 2016._____
Pawhuska High School’s Leighton Snell (79) is congratulated by teammate Issac Williams (60) after scoring a touchdown during an earlier season game. The Huskies travel to Morrison on Thursday. With a win, Pawhuska can host a first-round playoff game.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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A-I-3: PAWHUSKA (8-1, 5-1) AT MORRISON (5-4, 4-2) (THURSDAY)
LAST WEEK: PAWHUSKA 68, Caney Valley 7; MORRISON 50, Quapaw 0
2024: Pawhuska 42, Morrison 23
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: With a win Friday Pawhuska can lock down the No. 2 seed and the right to host a first-round playoff game.
Morrison, meanwhile, also is still in contention for the No. 2 seed. In fact, Pawhuska could finish from No. 2 to No. 4 if it were to lose Friday and Pawnee (6-3, 4-2) picks up an expected win against Oklahoma Union (1-8, 1-5).
In case of a three-way tie at 5-2 for the No. 2 spot, Pawnee would likely garner more district points — and thus win the tiebreaker — than Pawhuska and Morrison.
But Pawhuska can avoid that scenario by simply beating Morrison and finishing at 6-1, while the best Pawnee could finish would be 5-2 and Morrison would fall to 4-3.
For an overwhelmingly successful season so far at 8-1, it’s been an interesting ride for Pawhuska, which is coached by Matt Hennesy. It suffered its only loss to Tonkawa (8-1, 6-0), which has sewn up the District No. 1 seed even if it were to lose Friday to Nowata (2-7, 2-4).
Early in the season, Pawhuska recorded some decisive wins against heavyweight opposition — defeating Meeker, 66-13; Hominy, 44-27; and Woodland, 44-12. In Game 6, the Huskies squeezed past Pawnee, 42-40.
Pawhuska boasts five players with 65-or-more tackles — Jimmie Wildcat (130), Vann Wildcat (98), Logan Cass (77) Dane Jensen (71), Hayden Henley (71), and Jack Grooms (66).
Pawhuska quarterback Kane Foreman is just 72 yards shy of the 2,000-yard mark and needs one passing touchdown to reach 30. He’s credited with only two interceptions in 217 attempts.
Vann Wildcat and Jenson Snodgrass have rushed for 486 and 464 yards, respectively, and six touchdowns apiece.
Among Pawhuska’s top receivers are Corlin Cass (23-415, 6 TDs), Vann Wildcats (22-375, 4 TDs and Jarek Edwards (16-283, 6 TDs).
SERIES (since 2015): Morrison leads, 3-2.
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A-I-3: QUAPAW (3-6, 2-4) AT CANEY VALLEY TROJANS (0-9, 0-6) (FRIDAY)
LAST WEEK: Pawhuska 68, CANEY VALLEY 7; Morrison 50, QUAPAW 0
2024: Quapaw 28, Caney Valley 0
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: This will be Caney Valley’s final chance to forge a win, but Quapaw certainly doesn’t plan to be obliging.
Win or lose, the Trojans have displayed their mettle of character by continuing to battle valiantly during a rebuilding year with a shortage of experience and a low number of players.
It’s this effort that should signal happier times ahead as the players grow bigger and faster, develop their skills, and hopefully the roster gets deeper.
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Nowata High School’s Dameion Capshaw (20) reacts during an earlier season game. The Ironmen travel to Tonkawa on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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A-I-3: NOWATA (2-7, 2-4) AT TONKAWA (8-1, 6-0) (FRIDAY)
LAST WEEK: NOWATA 56, Oklahoma Union 28; TONKAWA 14, Pawnee 8
2024: Tonkawa 6, Nowata 2
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Nowata faces a Tonkawa team that already has clinched the No. 1 district seed. If the Nowata Ironmen can hit on all cylinders and Tonkawa comes in at less than full focus, the scenario might be set for a Nowata win.
The Ironmen have slogged through more than their share of bad luck this season as far as injuries to key personnel and relying on inexperience in important spots — as well as a heart-stunning one-point loss to Barnsdall, 37-36.
They also have to compete in arguably the toughest district in Class A-I.
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B-II-4: ARKOMA (3-6, 1-2) AT COPAN (6-2, 2-1) (FRIDAY)
LAST WEEK: Wilson-Henryetta 62, COPAN 36; Webbers Falls 52, ARKOMA 27\
2024: Copan 46, Arkoma 0
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Copan finishes up with a solid, but on paper a winnable, challenge to jump-start its charge into the playoffs.
The Hornets displayed an impressive competitive output in last week’s 62-36 lead to district champion Wilson-Henryetta.
Copan — coached by Trenton Kallenberger — can wrap up the No. 2 seed and guarantee a home playoff game with a win against Arkoma.
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Oklahoma Union’s Joseph Lindner (4) gives chase to Nowata’s Asiah Saxton (5) during an earlier season game. The Cougars travel to Pawnee on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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A-I-3: OKLAHOMA UNION (1-8, 1-5) AT PAWNEE (6-3, 4-2) (FRIDAY)
LAST WEEK: Nowata 56, OKLAHOMA UNION 28; Tonkawa 14, PAWNEE 8
2024: Pawnee 36, Oklahoma Union 6
2023: Pawnee 62, Oklahoma Union 7
2022: Pawnee 68, Oklahoma Union 44
OUTLOOK: Oklahoma Union has to take on a Pawnee team battling for the coveted prize of hosting a first-round playoff game.
Oklahoma Union put 28 points on the board last week — a season high — and is starting to see stronger play from several players.
The Cougars are set up to go into the offseason with a solid nucleus on which to build and to make a run to the playoffs next season.
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A-II-4: BARNSDALL (6-4, 3-4) vs. TBD
LAST WEEK: Hominy 38, BARNSDALL 6; Porter lose by forfeit.
2024: Barnsdall 35, Porter 14
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: With the playoffs a dream gone by, Barnsdall will try to close out the season with a winning record — its eighth winning campaign since Kylee Sweeney became head coach in 2016.
This will be only the third year during the Sweeney Era that Barnsdall hasn’t advanced to the postseason.
Barnsdall quarterback Lincoln Gott has rushed for 17 touchdowns and nearly 1,400 yards and passed for almost 700 yards and seven scores.
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Barnsdall High School’s Tripp Barbee (10) carries the ball during an earlier season game. As of deadline, Barnsdall was searching for an opponent for Friday night. Porter forfeited earlier in the season.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Caney Valley (Kan.) Bullpup Konner Paulie (30) makes a play on the ball during an earlier season game. The Bullpups host their second week of postseason action on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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KANSAS 2A PLAYOFFS: RIVERTON (5-4) AT CANEY VALLEY BULLPUPS (8-1) (FRIDAY)
LAST WEEK: CANEY VALLEY 44, Galena 12; RIVERTON 26, Cherryvale 0
2025 (regular season): Caney Valley 48, Riverton 7
2024: Caney Valley 51, Riverton 14
2023: Riverton 30, Caney Valley 11
OUTLOOK: These teams will meet for the second time in less than a month — this time with a trip to the sectionals on the line.
Caney Valley is led by a quintet of explosive offensive weapons — quarterback Layne Denny, running backs Jaxcyn Garton and Jace Buckley, and receivers Drake Roberds and Jacob McVey.
What can’t be overlooked is Caney Valley’s outstanding defensive play so far this season.
The Pups have limited six of nine opponents to fewer than 10 points, including a pair of shutouts.
During the regular season meeting (October 24), Caney Valley rocked Riverton, 48-7.
But Caney Valley coach Criss Davis said last week he’s always concerned with playing a team twice, especially with one that beat them the first time. No doubt Davis and his staff will stamp out any complacency and try to have their Pups ready at full focus on Friday.
Caney Valley is trying to advance to the sectionals for the first time since 2022 and for the sixth time since 2010 (2022, 2016, 2012, 2011, 2010). Back in 2016, the Pups defeated Riverton during their playoff run.
This is the 17th-straight year Caney Valley has qualified for the playoffs and the 21st time in the last 22 seasons.
SERIES (Since 2008): Caney Valley leads, 6-4
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C-4: MEDFORD (7-2, 4-0) AT SOUTH COFFEYVILLE (3-4, 2-2) (FRIDAY)
LAST WEEK: Oaks 52, SOUTH COFFEYVILLE 12; MEDFORD, bye.
2024: Medford 56, South Coffeyville 0
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: South Coffeyville has secured a playoff spot and will be revved up to face the district champion in the regular season finale.
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A-II-4: HOMINY (7-2, 6-0) AT AFTON (1-7, 1-5) (FRIDAY)
LAST WEEK: HOMINY 38, Barnsdall 6; Afton win by forfeit.
2024: Hominy 42, Afton 8
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Hominy has locked up the district title but will be playing for momentum heading into the playoffs.
Hominy — which is coached by Caleb Christian — is continuing a string of amazing seasons. From 2022-24, the Bucks registered a cumulative 35-5 record. Add that to this year’s record so far, and Hominy is 42-7 in its last 49 games. A win on Friday would raise its winning percentage to .860 since 2022.
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