Bartlesville Bruin quarterback Michael Kent (14) reacts during an earlier season game. The Bruins defeated Muskogee 52-26 last week and head to Stillwater Friday for the district championship
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesvillle Area Sports Report
Bartlesville Bruin Price Lusk (13) catches a ball against Ponca City last month. The Bruins defeated Muskogee 52-26 last week and head to Stillwater on Friday for the district championship
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesvillle Area Sports Report
By Becky Burch
Nov. 6, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
The Bartlesville Bruins are preparing for a district title game following a 52-26 road win over Muskogee last week. The victory keeps the Bruins (7-2, 4-0) undefeated in district action and sets up a matchup Friday night at Stillwater to determine the top seed out of Class 6A-II District 2.
“Muskogee was a great win for our program,” first-year head coach Matt Hennesy said. “It secured a first-round bye and quarterfinals at home, and it showed how far we have come with the culture of our program. We won because of our effort and discipline, but also our mental toughness. There were several times in that game that we could have folded, but our kids kept fighting.”
Bartlesville controlled the matchup early, building a 36-7 lead by halftime. Muskogee mounted a fourth-quarter push, but the Bruins kept the game out of reach. Quarterback Michael Kent led the offense, completing 19 of 40 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns while adding 92 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. Boden Roberts was his top target, catching seven passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns.
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The Bruins displayed balanced production across the entire roster for the win. On the ground, Wyatt Mathis rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown, while Logan Goins added 17 yards to the rushing total. Mathis also completed a 10-yard pass. Through the air, Price Lusk caught five passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. EJ Belisle had two receptions for 45 yards, and Eman George added two catches for 38 yards and a score.
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Bartlesville Bruins lineman Landry Holmes (52) blocks during a home game against Ponca City last month. The Bruins defeated Muskogee 52-26 last week and head to Stillwater Friday for the district championship
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesvillle Area Sports Report
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Defensively, the Bruins relied on a collective tackling effort to hold back the Muskogee offense. Mathis led the unit with 12 tackles, followed by Landen Shaw with nine and Davin Carter with six. Belisle, George, Roberts, Drake Ford, Dakaraii Stewart, and Sonji Ketiku each recorded five tackles on the night. Evan Goad contributed four tackles, while Kyler Godinez and Kandon Benjamin each made three stops. Carter Hainline, Carter Sauer, and Brodie Coslett each added two tackles, and Caiden Chambers and Deandre Russell rounded out the defensive effort with one tackle apiece.
The win officially guarantees Bartlesville home-field advantage for the opening round of the state playoffs, which will give a depleted roster some much-needed rest.
“The bye week will do us good as we are pretty beat up,” Hennesy said. “Our kids have been pushing so hard, and playing above their head for so long. It's like we are a pickup truck racing in the Indy 500... we have had to have our foot to the floor with no pit stops and we are wearing out. We have to fight through the Stillwater game, and then be smart about how we attack the bye week and preparation for the quarterfinals.”
Friday's game against Stillwater (6-2, 4-0) will decide the district championship. The matchup serves as a significant test for the program against one of the state's premier rosters.
“Stillwater is the best team in the state with multiple D1 athletes, so it will be a good test of where we are and how far we have to go,” Hennesy said. “The opportunity to win the first district title in school history is a huge opportunity and we are excited and looking forward to having this opportunity.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Pioneer Stadium in Stillwater.
Bartlesville Bruins head football coach Matt Hennesy talks to his players following the Bruins' 52-26 win over Muskogee last week. The Bruins travel to Stillwater Friday for the district championship
Staff photo