Dewey’s Marshal McDaniel (14) breaks a tackle against Chisholm during last Thursday’s game. The Bulldoggers fell 56-14 but look ahead to Friday’s home district matchup against Perry for senior night. The Bulldoggers remain in Class 2A-I playoff contention.
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The Nowata Ironmen defense swarms a Colcord runner during last Thursday’s game. Nowata won 26-20 and hosts Commerce on Friday for a crucial district matchup.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
By Becky Burch
Oct. 22, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Following is a look at Dewey and Nowata’s crucial district games this Friday, along with recaps of last week’s action.
DEWEY
The Dewey Bulldoggers will host Perry on Friday for Senior Night with a chance to put themselves in prime position for a Class 2A-1 District 1 playoff spot.
Both teams enter the contest with identical 2-2 district records, locking them in a three-way tie with Bethel for the final postseason berth. With a road trip to Bethel looming next week, this two-game stretch gives the Bulldoggers (4-3 overall) a direct shot at their playoff rivals, where maximizing victories and point differentials will dictate who moves further into November.
Statistically, the matchup features a clash of offensive styles, highlighted by Dewey's massive advantage in the passing game. The Bulldoggers are averaging 25 points per game compared to just 10.7 for Perry, outgaining the Maroons in total offense with 244 yards per game to Perry's 181.9.
The biggest discrepancy comes through the air, where Dewey throws for 113.5 yards per game while Perry averages just 26.9. Dewey quarterback Braxton Braden spearheads that aerial attack, averaging 126.5 passing yards per game, while Perry counter Jaxon Miner averages 21.7.
That passing efficiency has allowed Bulldoggers receiver Marshal McDaniel to anchor the perimeter, averaging 62.2 receiving yards a contest as part of a receiving corps that nets 126.8 yards per game to Perry's 26.6.
Perry holds the upper hand on the ground, averaging 155 rushing yards per game to Dewey's 130.5. However, the Bulldoggers feature a dynamic individual threat in Fenix Bolding, who paces the ground game with 91.7 rushing yards per contest.
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Dewey’s Mason Spears (8) reacts after catching a pass along the sideline in the red zone during last Thursday’s game against Chisholm in Dewey. The Bulldoggers fell 56-14 but look ahead to Friday’s home district matchup against Perry for senior night. The Bulldoggers remain in Class 2A-I playoff contention.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
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Defensively, Dewey brings a more productive unit into the matchup, averaging 66.5 tackles per game compared to 50.3 for Perry. The Bulldoggers defense is anchored by Donovan Espana, who is averaging a team-high 11.7 tackles a game to slow down opposing offenses.
The Bulldoggers will look to get back on track after suffering a tough 56-14 loss at home against Chisholm last Thursday. The defeat dropped Dewey's overall record to 4-3, but Friday’s Senior Night matchup provides an immediate opportunity to wash away that performance and reclaim momentum in the tight district race
Dewey Bulldoggers Tucker Williams (51) and Tres Henry III (33) chase down Chisholm quarterback Jonah Miller (5) during last Thursday’s game in Dewey. The Bulldoggers fell 56-14 but look ahead to Friday’s home district matchup against Perry for senior night. The Bulldoggers remain in Class 2A-I playoff contention.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
Nowata Ironmen Asiah Saxton’s (5) jersey is covered in mud last Thursday in their home win over Colcord, 26-20. Nowata hosts Commerce Friday in a crucial district matchup.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
NOWATA
Asiah Saxton delivered a dominant all-purpose performance, capping it with a dramatic walk-off touchdown reception as time expired to propel the Nowata Ironmen past Colcord 26-20.
The victory improves Nowata's record to 2-1 in Class A-1 District 3 play, securing a pivotal head-to-head tiebreaker over a key postseason contender.
With the game on the line in the final seconds of regulation, a bad snap backed the Ironmen inside their own 15-yard line. Head coach Scott Martin called a timeout with seconds remaining to set up the final play.
The snap went over the head of quarterback Adrian Odell, who retreated 3 yards into his own end zone before launching a pass downfield to a wide-open Saxton at the 40-yard line. Saxton sprinted the remaining 60 yards to seal the victory as the clock struck zero.
Saxton anchored the Ironmen offense throughout the contest, engineering a massive day on the ground with 192 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. He added to his total with the game-winning 87-yard touchdown reception, finishing the night with 279 all-purpose yards and three total scores.
Odell balanced the offense by adding 33 rushing yards on 14 carries while going 2-for-3 through the air for 97 yards and a touchdown. Running back Bode Smith contributed to the ground game, gaining 35 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries. Maeson Jones forced a fumble and ran for 11 yards. Caleb Woolman broke up a pass that led to a Conor Gagan interception, which Gagan returned 6 yards before being tackled.
Nowata continues its push for the playoffs Friday when it hosts Commerce (4-3, 1-2) for another crucial district matchup. The Ironmen finish out the regular season with road games to Pawhuska and Pawnee.
Nowata Ironmen Caleb Woolman (3) covers a Colcord receiver during last Thursday’s 26-20 home win. Nowata hosts Commerce on Friday for a crucial district matchup.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report