FRIDAY FOOTBALL LOOK: BARTLESVILLE, DEWEY, COPAN, PAWHUSKA AND BARNSDALL WILL BE HOME FOR OPENERS
It is that magical time of the year, where Friday Night Lights are turned on throughout Oklahoma. This photo was taken during a game at Nowata several years ago.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Aug. 28, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
A wise newspaper editor once passed on to me an unalterable truth — when it’s the opening of football season it’s Christmas.
His point being how rapidly the high school grid campaign seems to pass away.
It seems like we wait with almost unbearable anticipation for the season to get underway — kind of like waiting for Christmas, July Fourth, our birthday, Thanksgiving all rolled up into one colossal epiphany of joy.
Then the opening kick FINALLY arrives.
Then all of a sudden it’s all done. The lights are turned off, the Christmas tree goes up and Santa is on his way.
If there’s a point to this observation it’s this. Most area high school football teams kick off this weekend. Don’t put off jumping on board for the ride.
It will be over sooner than you think.
Eight area teams will kick-off this Friday (August 29) for Zero Week. Barring last-minute changes all games are set for 7 p.m.
The slate includes:
Newcastle at Bartlesville
Locust Grove at Dewey
Caney Valley Trojans at Barnsdall
Nowata at Pawhuska
Oklahoma Union at Colcord
Midway at Copan (8-man)
The only two area squads not in action will be Wesleyan Christian School (8-man) and the Caney Valley (Kan.) Bullpups.
Adding a spice of interest to the first-week battles will be the rivalry battles between the Caney Valley Trojans and Barnsdall and Nowata at Pawhuska.
Nowata vs. Pawhuska is unique because this will be a rare first week district game. All the other contests will be non-district.
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TEN STORYLINES TO FOLLOW
1 — The debut of Kane Foreman as the Pawhuska starting quarterback.
2 — How quickly Bartlesville quarterback Michael Kent and a new receiver rotation get on the same page.
3 — How much pressure can Bartlesville put on Newcastle's passing game.
4 — How quickly Copan's new offensive look gains traction.
5 — How Nowata's new starting quarterback holds up in the face of a fierce Pawhuska defense.
6 — The introduction of a new receiver rotation for Barnsdall and how quickly it meshes with the new starting quarterback.
7 — The performance of Dewey's secondary in pass coverage.
8 — How dominant Bartlesville's linebacker corps will be.
9 — How effective Caney Valley quarterback Bryor Bonde will be with his arm and his legs.
10 — Copan's mix of pass and run.
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Following is a closer look at some of the matchups, including the series history. (Last year’s season records are in parentheses).
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Members of the Bartlesville High School football team have fun during the first BHS coach’s show held at Dink’s BBQ on Wednesday. The show will air every Wednesday at 6 p.m. on KWON and KWON.TV.COM. Senior running back Sutton Williams was head coach Harry Wright’s guest this week. The Bruins host Newcastle Friday during Zero Week.
Photo provided by Gammy’s Photos
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NEWCASTLE (9-4) AT BARTLESVILLE (3-8)
LAST YEAR: Newcastle 49, Bartlesville 24
Bartlesville is revving up to get off to a winning start in order to erase the painful memory of last year’s 0-7 start.
Coming out of the preseason, sophomore Michael Kent was the Bruins’ designated starter at quarterback. He made four varsity starts last year.
Bartlesville head coach Harry Wright is looking to get some joltin juice out of his running game. During a preseason interview he said his hope is to have a 100-yard rusher — probably Sutton Williams — every week to fuel the attack. A few other ballcarriers should figure prominently in the mix.
The Bruin receiver corps will have to produce a new go-to threat following the graduation of Damien Niko. Harrison Ketchum turned in a good preseason.
Wright counts on a strong offensive line, led by multiple returning starters, to spearhead the thrust.
Defense could be the primary key to Bartlesville’s fortunes this season. Wright welcomes back a good chunk of starting or main rotation experience to that side of the ball.
Newcastle is coming off a blockbuster season that ended with an appearance in the Class 5A state semifinal game.
KEYS FOR BARTLESVILLE:
1 — Allowing the quarterback adequate time on passing plays to help break-in a new receiving rotation.
2 — Controlling the clock with the run and short passing games.
3 — Clamping down defensively on third-and-long plays.
4 — Winning the special teams battles.
Bartlesville vs. Newcastle series since 2024
(Newcastle leads series, 1-0)
2024 — Newcastle 49, Bartlesville 24
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LOCUST GROVE (4-6) AT DEWEY (2-8)
LAST YEAR: Locust Grove 50, Dewey 23
Dewey is focused on earning its first winning season — and playoff appearance — since 2019.
Locust Grove should offer a formidable first-game test for a rebuilding — but talented — Bulldogger team.
In charge of Dewey’s progress is first-year head coach Scott Sapulpa, who has had charge of the team for less than two months.
KEYS FOR DEWEY
1 — Defensive secondary coverage.
2 — Breaking in a new starting quarterback.
3 — Sustaining consistent play for four quarters.
Dewey vs. Locust Grove series since 2004
(Locust Grove leads series, 6-3)
2024 — Locust Grove 50, Dewey 23
2023 — DNP
2022— DNP
2021— DNP
2020— DNP
2019— DNP
2018— DNP
2017— DNP
2016— DNP
2015 — Locust Grove 68, Dewey 6
2014 — Locust Grove 72, Dewey 7
2013 — Locust Grove 58, Dewey 41
2012 — Dewey 50, Locust Grove 32
2011— DNP
2010— DNP
2009— DNP
2008— DNP
2007 — Dewey 28, Locust Grove 21
2006 — Locust Grove 56, Dewey 13
2005 — Locust Grove 42, Dewey 21
2004 — Dewey 40, Locust Grove 21
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Barnsdall High School’s Lincoln Gott (14) looks to pass during last season. The Panthers host Caney Valley Friday during Zero Week.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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CANEY VALLEY (1-9) AT BARNSDALL (6-5)
LAST YEAR: Barnsdall 55, Caney Valley 12
Barnsdall has had the best of this series the past dozen seasons — and the Panthers appear to be mighty strong again this season.
Kylee Sweeney is back for a 10th season as the Barnsdall head coach. His new quarterback already has quality varsity experience and he returns several other starters from a team coming off a playoff season in its first stint in 11-man football since 2018.
Caney Valley is led by new head coach Derrick Hammer and will try to create some traction on which it can journey through steady progress.
Hammer planned to move back to the Bartlesville area prior to knowing there would be an opening at Caney Valley.
Family reasons motivated him to come back to Washington County, where he had coached in the Dewey football program in the early 2020s. He hoped to land a teaching and coaching job in Bartlesville High’s varsity or middle school program.
But then he learned about the opening at Caney Valley, applied and landed the opportunity.
The Trojan program has traveled a bit of a roller-coaster the past several years, rising to playoff heights some seasons and struggling with losing marks, including 0-10 and 1-9, in others.
Hammer said he was concerned about chatter he had heard regarding the accountability and discipline of the Caney Valley athletes.
He’s been pleasantly surprised about their eagerness to compete.
“Those kids are really excited to have structure,” he said. “They’re really excited to be pushed.”
An example is how the players embraced the new weightroom equipment Hammer helped secure.
“They jumped right to it,” he said.
The emphasis is on the small things, being there to work and being accountable, Hammer added.
He’s tabbed veteran Bryor Bonde to lead the offense at quarterback. Senior Cayton Wiedbrauk will play pivotal roles as either a receiver, slot, a ballcarrier out of the backfield or cornerback.
“He’s a pretty quick kid,” Hammer said.
Caden Kyler and Trevor Morgan also could become impact two-way players at receiver and defensive back.
But the Trojans are young along the line.
“We’ll have a lot of freshmen that will probably be playing on Friday,” Hammer said. “We have some upperclassmen but they’re just not that experienced.”
Hammer’s main focus for Friday’s showdown is for his team to be its best and compete for all four quarters, “regardless of how the game is and how it goes. … I want each player to do his job and to fly around all Friday night. I want to be seeing guys compete and relax and not think so much.”
KEYS TO GAME:
1 — Barnsdall new mix of receivers and quarterback get on the same page.
2 — Caney Valley’s effectiveness in limiting Barnsdall’s run game.
3 — How Barnsdall’s defense deals with a new, athletic quarterback.
Barnsdall vs. Caney Valley series since 1996
(Barnsdall leads series, 16-9)
2024 — Barnsdall 55, Caney Valley 12
2023 — DNP
2022 — DNP
2021 — DNP
2020 — DNP
2019 — Barnsdall 69, Caney Valley 6
2018 — Barnsdall 50, Caney Valley 14
2017 — Barnsdall 50, Caney Valley 14
2016 — Barnsdall 34, Caney Valley 0
2015 — Barnsdall 33, Caney Valley 12
2014 — Barnsdall 48, Caney Valley 12
2013 — Barnsdall 20, Caney Valley 7
2012 — Caney Valley 35, Barnsdall 32
2011 — Caney Valley 41, Barnsdall 12
2010 — Caney Valley 21, Barnsdall 13
2009 — Barnsdall 37, Caney Valley 12
2008 — Caney Valley 27, Barnsdall 20
2007 — Caney Valley 21, Barnsdall 7
2006 — Caney Valley 16, Barnsdall 8
2005 — Caney Valley 21, Barnsdall 14
2004 — Caney Valley 48, Barnsdall 12
2003 — Barnsdall 18, Caney Valley 6
2002 — Barnsdall 12, Caney Valley 6 (ot)
2001 — Barnsdall 24, Caney Valley 0
2000 — Barnsdall 34, Caney Valley 22
1999 — Barnsdall 69, Caney Valley 0
1998 — Barnsdall 12, Caney Valley 7
1997 — Caney Valley 24, Barnsdall 21
1996 — Barnsdall 44, Caney Valley 0
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NOWATA (3-8) at PAWHUSKA (9-3)
LAST YEAR: Pawhuska 50, Nowata 6
Nowata comes to the fray with a new starting quarterback but some impact veterans spread throughout its mix.
Pawhuska also will unveil a new starting field engineer in Kane Foreman, a transfer from Copan. Foreman plays in the mode of a classic pocket passer, which means the Huskies will rely heavily on its running backs — likely led by Vann Wildcat — to carry the run game.
As long as Pawhuska’s front-line players remain healthy, the Huskies are a preseason favorite in Class A-I to make a deep playoff run.
KEYS TO GAME:
1 — How Foreman performs in his debut in 11-man football.
2 — Whether Nowata’s best athletes can rise to their best and someone unexpected becomes an ‘X’ factor.
3 — Whether Pawhuska’s defense dominates up front and at linebacker.
4 — If Nowata can move the chains with regularity and shorten Pawhuska’s possessions.
Nowata vs. Pawhuska series since 1992
(Nowata leads series, 13-12)
2024 — Pawhuska 50, Nowata 6
2023 — Pawhuska 50, Nowata 8
2022 — Pawhuska 62, Nowata 8
2021 — DNP
2020 — DNP
2019 — DNP
2018 — DNP
2017 — DNP
2016 — DNP
2015 — Nowata 18, Pawhuska 14
2014 — Nowata 47, Pawhuska 20
2013 — Nowata 31, Pawhuska 23
2012 — Nowata 42, Pawhuska 7
2011 — Pawhuska 35, Nowata 7
2010 — Nowata 29, Pawhuska 0
2009 — Pawhuska 34, Nowata 24
2008 — Nowata 34, Pawhuska 22
2007 — Pawhuska 23, Nowata 16
2006 — Nowata 11, Pawhuska 8
2005 — Pawhuska 31, Nowata 7
2004 — Nowata 7, Pawhuska 0
2003 — Nowata 12, Pawhuska 8
2002 — Pawhuska 25, Nowata 13
2001 — DNP
2000 — DNP
1999 — Nowata 26, Pawhuska 6
1998 — Pawhuska 37, Nowata 0
1997 — Nowata 39, Pawhuska 12
1996 — Nowata 28, Pawhuska 8
1995 — Nowata 20, Pawhuska 6
1994 — Pawhuska 15, Nowata 13
1993 — Pawhuska 32, Nowata 7
1992 — Pawhuska 49, Nowata 0
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OKLAHOMA UNION (3-7) AT COLCORD (11-2)
LAST YEAR: Colcord 40, Oklahoma Union 6
Oklahoma Union could become one of the surprise teams in Class A-I.
The Cougars boast several good athletes and new head coach Bruce Munden could put it all together this season.
Oklahoma Union vs. Colcord series since 2018
(Colcord leads series, 3-2)
2004 — Colcord 40, Oklahoma Union 6
2023 — Colcord 50, Oklahoma Union 7
2022 — Colcord 48, Oklahoma Union 0
2021— DNP
2020 — DNP
2019 — Oklahoma Union 32, Colcord 7
2018 — Oklahoma Union 20, Colcord 16
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Copan High School’s Teegan Caron looks to the sidelines prior to a play last year. The Hornets host Midway Friday during Zero Week.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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MIDWAY (0-10) AT COPAN (8-3)
LAST YEAR: Copan 62, Midway 6
Coming off an 8-3 mark last season, Copan returns most of its personnel with a few notable exceptions — the graduation of Karson Woodworth, the transfer of quarterback Kane Foreman and hiring Trenton Kallenberger as the new head coach.
But Copan still returns the main nucleus of its talent from last season, Kallenberger has changed up the offense to provide a different look at quarterback, which could utilize the talent skills still on board to high effectiveness.
Friday’s game should help set the tone coming out of the starting gate.
Copan vs. Midway series since 2024
(Copan leads series, 1-0)
2024 — Copan 62, Midway 6