Dewey Bulldogger Braxton Braden (1) tries to avoid a tackle during an earlier season game. The Bulldoggers, who defeated Bethel last week, are in the playoffs for the first time since 2019 and travel to Cascia Hall for their last regular-season game.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
Copan Hornet Raydn Martin (10) upends a Pond Creek-Hunter ballcarrier last week. The Hornets have secured a playoff berth and travel to Welch Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
By Becky Burch
Nov. 6, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
The high school football regular season concludes this Friday night with several local teams already preparing for the postseason. Dewey, Copan, South Coffeyville, Nowata and Pawhuska have all officially secured berths in the upcoming state playoffs. The achievement carries historic weight for both Dewey and Nowata, as both programs have traditionally qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2019. While some area teams are competing for critical home-field advantage or higher seeding in the final week, others enter their regular-season finales with their postseason destinations fully guaranteed.
Following is a look at last week’s games and Friday’s matchups.
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DEWEY
The Dewey Bulldoggers have officially ended a multiyear postseason drought, securing their first playoff appearance since 2019 following a dramatic 36-30 victory over Bethel last week on the road.
The contest began as a shootout, with both offenses answering each other easily throughout the first half. Dewey held a slim 13-12 edge after the opening quarter, and after briefly falling behind 18-13 in the second period, the Bulldoggers rallied to reclaim a 21-18 advantage going into the locker room.
Dewey then broke the game open immediately following the intermission. The Bulldogger offense struck for two quick touchdowns within the first three minutes of the third quarter to push the lead to 18 points.
The Wildcats countered with a late-game comeback, scoring two unanswered touchdowns to trim the deficit to six. Bethel drove all the way to the Dewey 6-yard line with just five seconds remaining on the clock, but the Bulldogger defense held on the game's final play, turning away a pass attempt to preserve the win and lock up their postseason spot.
“I’m just proud of them, just the passion that they’ve got in them now; it's at a different level… .you can see it in their eyes,” head coach Scott Sapulpa told BartlesvilleRadio after the win.
Led by Sapulpa in his second year, the achievement is a significant step forward for the Bulldoggers, who finished just one game away from a playoff berth last season
Dewey (6-3 overall, 4-2 in district play) will wrap up the regular season Friday on the road against a high-powered opponent. The Bulldoggers travel to Tulsa for a Class 2A-I District 1 finale against undefeated Cascia Hall.
The matchup features striking similarities across individual offensive statistical categories, even as the team scoring averages favor the home team.
Cascia Hall enters the contest scoring 40 points per game, while Dewey averages 25 points per contest on 250 total yards per game.
Fenix Bolding leads the Dewey running game with 70 rushing yards per game, matching up closely with Cascia Hall's Dason McBride, who averages 72 yards. Through the air, Bulldogger quarterback Braxton Braden averages 172 total yards per game, accounting for 137 yards passing and 35 yards on the ground. His Cascia Hall counterpart, Logan Hickerson, generates a nearly identical 176 total yards a contest. In the passing game, Dewey’s Marshal McDaniel and Cascia Hall’s Fisher Lai both average 51 receiving yards per game.
Defensively, Bolding also leads the Bulldoggers with 11 tackles per game.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Cascia Hall.
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Dewey Bulldoggers junior wide receiver Kavery Weathers (18) finds running room while Chase Miller (6) and Maverick Sharp (72) look to block during a game earlier this season. The Bulldoggers have clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2019.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
Copan Hornets senior quarterback Zane Stricklin (1) reacts on the sidelines last week. Stricklin was injured several weeks ago during a home game. The Hornets have secured a playoff berth and travel to Welch on Friday for their final regular-season game.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
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COPAN
The Copan Hornets have locked up a spot in the Class B eight-man football playoffs, though they will have to travel for the opening round. Following a 40-6 loss last Friday to No. 1 Pond Creek-Hunter — a matchup plagued by several Hornet penalties — Copan will play at Welch Friday for either third or fourth place in the district. Unlike last year's postseason opener at home, a first-round road trip is already guaranteed.
Despite the margin of defeat, second-year coach Trenton Kallenberger said the score did not reflect the competitive nature of the game. The contest remained scoreless until late in the second quarter, when a critical sequence swung the momentum away from the Hornets. After having a pair of touchdowns called back due to penalties, a roughing-the-passer call allowed Pond Creek-Hunter to score with four seconds left before halftime, sending Copan into the locker room down 14-0.
"I thought our kids played hard the entire night," Kallenberger said. "I still believe the game on the field was closer than the score would portray."
Copan trailed 20-0 late in the third quarter before depth issues at key positions led to a pair of quick scores for Pond Creek-Hunter. The Hornets finally answered when Raydn Martin connected with Ruger Virden on a 45-yard pass, setting up a 20-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback Presley "Bunt" Zimmerman.
"Penalties played a big factor in the game and we just couldn't overcome the deficit," Kallenberger said.
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The focus now turns entirely to the regular-season finale against the Wildcats, a matchup steeped in history between the two programs. A victory on Friday night secures the No. 3 seed in the district for Copan (7-2), while a loss drops them to the fourth line.
The matchup promises plenty of offense, as Copan enters the game averaging 40 points a contest compared to Welch's 35
Welch enters the contest at 4-5 overall following a 64-28 loss of its own to Pond Creek-Hunter. The Wildcats feature a potent ground game by Emery Schaper, who is coming off a 123-yard rushing performance. Copan will look to cleaner execution and defensive discipline to slow down the Wildcat attack and enter the postseason on a high note.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Welch.
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Nowata Ironmen senior linebacker Asiah Saxton (5) tackles a ball carrier during a game earlier this season as Daeson Voss (54) closes in on the play. The Ironmen secured a playoff berth for the first time since 2019 and host Pawnee on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
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NOWATA
The Nowata Ironmen are headed back to the postseason, snapping a multiyear playoff drought by officially locking up a spot in the Class A-I bracket.
Regardless of Friday night's outcome, the Ironmen (5-4, 3-2) are guaranteed to finish no lower than fourth place in the Class A-I District 3 standings. The final regular-season contest at home against the high-powered Pawnee Black Bears will simply determine whether Nowata enters the state tournament as the No. 3 or No. 4 seed.
Following a 42-12 loss to Pawhuska last week, the Ironmen will return home to host Pawnee Friday night with the pressure of qualifying completely off their shoulders.
Despite the defensive struggles against Pawhuska, the Nowata offense flashed its explosive potential last week with two massive plays. Running back Asiah Saxton broke loose for a 79-yard rushing touchdown to anchor the ground game. Saxton finished the night with 137 rushing yards on 34 carries. Through the air, quarterback Adrian O'Dell connected with Caleb Woolman on a 50-yard touchdown pass to provide the rest of the Ironmen scoring. Woolman finished the contest with two receptions for 54 yards.
Slowing down the upcoming opponent will present a major challenge for the Ironmen defense as they fine-tune execution before the postseason begins. Pawnee enters the regular-season finale with a 7-2 overall record and sits atop the district standings with a flawless 5-0 mark in league play. The Black Bears feature a ground attack that generates 376 rushing yards per game and fuels a scoring unit averaging 43 points a contest. That backfield is spearheaded by Aiden Marquez, who is averaging 152 rushing yards per game.
With their postseason destination already secure, a victory over the league-leading Black Bears would give Nowata a major momentum boost heading into the opening round.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Ironmen Memorial Stadium.
South Coffeyville Lion Nolan Gilpin (55) is tackled last week by a Bluejacket defender. The Lions fell 80-30, but have secured a playoff berth. The Lions host Watts Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
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SOUTH COFFEYVILLE
The South Coffeyville Lions have officially locked up a spot in the Class C eight-man football playoffs for the second consecutive season. Following an 80-30 loss last Friday to Bluejacket — a high-scoring District 3 matchup — the Lions are set to return home Friday to host Watts for their regular-season finale. Unlike the program's recent multiyear postseason drought, South Coffeyville's position in the upcoming bracket remains fully secured regardless of this week's outcome.
The loss to the Chieftains drops South Coffeyville to 4-5 overall and 2-2 in district play, but the Lions remain safely inside the top four spots of the Class C District 3 standings. Thanks to a critical 46-12 victory over Oaks-Mission earlier in October, South Coffeyville holds the head-to-head tiebreaker, ensuring they cannot fall below the postseason line.
The regular-season finale shifts the focus back to the Lions' home field against a winless Watts team. The game offers South Coffeyville a final chance to work on execution and defensive discipline before the state playoffs begin.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at South Coffeyville.
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South Coffeyville Lion Langston Akers (9) tackles a Bluejacket ballcarrier last week in South Coffeyville. The Lions fell 80-30, but have secured a playoff berth. The Lions host Watts Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
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PAWHUSKA
The Pawhuska Huskies are rolling into the final week of the regular season with their eyes locked on a high playoff seeding. Following a commanding 42-12 victory over Nowata last week, Pawhuska (8-1,4-1) will return home Friday night to host the Commerce Tigers for their final Class A-I District 3 clash before the postseason begins.
The Huskies have relied heavily on a balanced game plan to control their opponents all year. Running back Jenson Snodgrass carries the load for the ground game, entering the regular-season finale averaging 81 rushing yards per game to go with his team-high 19 touchdowns. Through the air, receiver Tripp Walker stretches the field effectively, pacing the passing game with an average of 60 receiving yards per contest.
Defensively, the Huskies have been disruptive up front. Defensive lineman Dane Jensen has anchored opposing backfields by racking up 11 sacks on the year, while linebacker Jimmie Wildcat averages 10.9 tackles per game to stifle opposing run lanes.
The regular-season finale against Commerce (4-5) gives Pawhuska an ideal opportunity to secure the district's No. 2 seed and guarantee home-field advantage for the opening round of the state playoffs.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Pawhuska.
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Barnsdall Panthers senior quarterback Gavin Wood (9) runs the ball while senior running back Jaxson Vickery (8) looks to block during a game earlier this season. The Panthers are out of playoff contention and host Oklahoma Union on Friday for senior night.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
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OKLAHOMA UNION AT BARNSDALL
The Barnsdall Panthers are looking to finish their season on a high note as they return home for a senior night clash against a familiar foe. Following a 46-8 road loss to Hominy last week, the Panthers (4-5, 1-4) will host Oklahoma Union Friday to close out the regular season. Barnsdall started the year strong by winning its first four games, but a subsequent five-game skid has left the Panthers in seventh place in Class A-II District 4, officially eliminating them from postseason contention.
The matchup brings together a pair of neighboring county rivals, bridging Osage County's Barnsdall and Nowata County's Oklahoma Union in a series where the two schools meet frequently across multiple sports. While the Panthers look to bounce back, the visiting Cougars travel to Barnsdall still searching for their first victory of the season.
Despite the winless record, the Cougars have shown continuous growth and resilience under first-year head coach Josh Middleton. Competing in a highly demanding district, Middleton’s squad has focused on foundational development and execution. Facing a familiar rival gives Oklahoma Union a chance to build on that progress as they close out the season.
Led by veteran coach Kylee Sweeney, the Panthers enter the contest averaging 282 total yards per game. Quarterback Gavin Wood guides the offensive attack, pacing the team in rushing with 68 yards per game while adding 72 passing yards per contest. His go-to receiver, Tripp Barbee, averages 32 yards a game. Defensively, Hayden Collins leads the unit with nine tackles and one sack per game, while also recording 27 pancake blocks on the offensive line.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Barnsdall.