PREVIEW: WEEK ONE OF FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Bartlesville High School’s Drake Ford (8) brings down a Newcastle runner during last weeks’s game. The Bruins travel to Claremore on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Sept. 4, 2024
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
It’s the second week for most area football teams — which, generally speaking, is when teams display their greatest spurt of progress after the learning experience of the first contest.
However, there is a bit of tough news — due to an insufficient number of healthy players, the Caney Valley Trojans announced they will be forfeiting this week’s scheduled showdown against Hulbert.
An official announcement on Facebook by the Caney Valley administration said the team hopes to be in action in two weeks. The Trojans don’t have a game scheduled for next week.
Caney Valley is one of two area teams that have been bitten by not enough players. Wesleyan Christian School already has cancelled its varsity season but plans to be back on the field next season.
Hopefully the Trojans will welcome back some players from the injury list and jump back into action on September 18 at Cleveland.
Following is a look at other area previews for Friday.
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SEPT. 5
Claremore (0-0) at BARTLESVILLE (0-1)
2024: Claremore 35, Bartlesville 33
2023: Claremore 28, Bartlesville 27
2022: Bartlesville 20, Claremore 9
Bartlesville is emerging from a topsy-turvy exploit last week, squandering a 28-13 lead to lose to visiting Newcastle, 51-34.
Starting with about three minutes left in the first half, Newcastle outscored the Bruins, 38-6, the rest of the way.
Three touchdowns given up as a result of special teams errors and four offensive turnovers spoiled what otherwise was an explosive season opener for the Bruins.
“You saw flashes of how good this team potentially can be and how close they are if we can clean up a few mistakes,” said fourth-year Bruin head coach Harry Wright. “In the first half offensively we were able to control the pace of the game and keep them on their heels. We were able to spread the ball around to a lot of players and Michael was able to extend plays with his athleticism.”
Wright also praised the performance of his offensive line against a physically-bigger Newcastle defensive front.
That blocking effort helped sophomore quarterback Michael Kent accumulate more than 400 yards of total offense, including 305 passing, 103 rushing and 14 receiving.
Kent involved more than a dozen receivers in the passing game and threw for three touchdowns, one each to Evan Goad, Ivan Griffiths, Daeton Stevens.
Tailback Sutton Williams ran for 45 yards and two touchdowns but due to injury didn’t have any second half carries, which might have been part of Bartlesville’s failure to maintain the sizzling offensive momentum it had owned in the first half.
On the defensive side it was difficult to grade the Bruins due to two kickoff returns for touchdowns and the short fields of which Newcastle took advantage.
One of the unsung Bruin heroes was Cale Granger, who blocked an extra point and recovered an onside kick — he also picked off a pass but it was nullified due to a penalty. Dillon Burson also was perfect on extra points.
Thanks to his long touchdown catch in the second half Stevens finished with 74 yards receiving, followed by Gavin Thomas with 65 and Harrison Ketchum with 48.
Sonji Ketiku produced a team high seven tackles, followed by Adrian Jones with 6.5 and Wyatt Mathis with five. Shaun Thrasher caused Newcastle’s fumble recovered by Williams, which set up the Bruins’ first touchdown.
Kent’s final numbers included 65-percent completion and a 99.5 quarterback rating.
Claremore comes in fresh having — or untested — after not playing a zero week game.
The Zebras have won the last two against the Bruins but Bartlesville leads the series, 8-3, since the teams first met in 2008.
Claremore is coached by Jarrett Hurt, the son of former Dewey High head coach and Pawhuska High product Jay Hurt.
Jarrett Hurt also is a former All-State football player and 110m high hurdles state champion.
One of the key weapons for Claremore could be senior defensive lineman/running back Landon King (6-3, 230). He is credited with 15 tackles for loss last season.
But the Zebras will be breaking in a new starting quarterback. Last year’s quarterback who also led the team in rushing.
Last year’s top tackler also has graduated, as well as some of the other prolific tacklers.
Last year Bartlesville and Claremore fought to a two-point decision with Claremore winning, 35-33.
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Copan High School’s Zane Stricklin looks to hand off the ball during last week’s win over Midway. Copan travels to Foyil on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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COPAN (1-0) at Foyil (1-0)
2024: Copan 44, Foyil 7
2023: Copan 42, Foyil 9
2022: Copan 44, Foyil 32
Copan had little difficulty in downing Midway, 52-0, in last week’s season opener.
Foyil is officially playing its second game, but apparently didn’t get on the field last week with a forfeit win against Porum.
Teegan Caron and Zane Stricklin handled most of the quarterback duties for Copan.
Caron and Weston O’Rourke each rushed for two touchdowns and Shooter Brewington rumbled for one.
O’Rourke and Payten Call also each returned a punt for touchdown.
The Copan defense held Midway to minus-62 yards of offense.
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Humboldt (Kan.) (0-0) at CANEY VALLEY (Kan.) (0-0)
2024: Humboldt 28, Caney Valley 12
2023: Humboldt 28, Caney Valley 8
2022: Humboldt 24, Caney Valley 0
If one goes back 25 years, Caney Valley might have a solid series lead against Humboldt.
But Humboldt has gotten the better of the Bullpups the last three seasons, outscoring them 80-20.
No doubt that will be on the Bullpups minds when they clash Friday in Caney, Kan.
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Dewey High School’s defense swarms a ball carrier during last week’s win over Locust Grove. The Bulldoggers travel to Perkins on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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DEWEY (1-0) at Perkins-Tryon (0-0)
2024: Perkins-Tryon 49, Dewey 0
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
Coming off its most-significant season opening win since 2025, the Bulldoggers will face a grueling test against Perkins-Tryon.
Dewey last week stunned Locust Grove, 53-43.
New starting quarterback Braxton Braden delivered four touchdown passes — two to Caydn Artherton and one each to Easton Davis and Layne Gastel.
Jayden Vallen and Eddie Rice fueled the running game.
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BARNSDALL (1-0) at OKLAHOMA UNION (0-1)
2024: Oklahoma Union 48, Barnsdall 20
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
Barnsdall has plenty of motivation going into this one.
Last year the Oklahoma Union Cougars pulled off an eye-rising upset, 48-20, against the Panthers.
Barnsdall last week powered past Caney Valley, 36-8, and Oklahoma Union fell hard to Colcord.
New Barnsdall starting quarterback Lincoln Gott is a threat with both his arm and his legs.
Another interesting twist of this matchup: Current Oklahoma Union head coach is a former Barnsdall head coach.
Defensive lineman Hayden Collins turned in a monster game last week for Barnsdall — 11 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks and a safety.
On the offensive end, Gott amassed 250 yards of total offense, including finding Tripp Barbee for two passes that went for touchdowns (17 and 28 yards). Chance Jackson recorded a 49-yard scoring reception.
Oklahoma Union introduced Aiden Talbott as its new quarterback. He connected on nine passes for 187 yards and two long touchdowns — one for 70 yards to Joseph Lindner and 81 yards to Kane Nash.
Bryor Heidenreich and Brody Shufeldt led the Cougars in tackles.
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Warner (0-0) at NOWATA (0-1)
2024: Warner 32, Nowata 28
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
Nowata should be tougher following a lesson in hard knocks in last week’s lopsided loss at Pawhuska.
Warner will be playing its season opener.
Nowata’s Asiah Saxton amassed approximately 130 yards in receiving and caught two touchdowns from new starting quarterback Adrian O’Dell. O’Dell also rushed for 70 yards.
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PAWHUSKA (1-0) at Meeker (0-0)
2024: Pawhuska 60, Meeker 13
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
Following a successful debut last week by new starting quarterback Kane Foreman and a tremendous defensive effort against Nowata, Pawhuska will be battling to start the season at 2-0.
Foreman completed 16-of-22 passes, including six touchdowns.
Jarek Edwards, Tripp Walker and Logan Cass pulled in two touchdowns apiece. Jenson Snodgrass rushed for 87 yards.