FRIDAY FOOTBALL PREVIEW: CANEY, KS., COPAN, DEWEY, NOWATA, OKU, PAWHUSKA
Copan High School’s Teegan Caron (5) takes the snap during an earlier season game. Copan is 2-0 and faces Depew on the road on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike. Tupa
Sept. 12, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
There’s no doubt about what likely will be the area high school football game of the week — Pawhuska (2-0) at Hominy (1-0).
With only about 15 miles separating the two cities, a fierce rivalry for bragging rights, based on geography, is a no-brainer. But the intensity of the annual collision is heightened by the status of both programs as being among the elite in Class A.
The second-best game could be the Chelsea (0-2) at Nowata (0-2) showdown.
Each team has started the season with brutal tests and has a terrific hunger for victory. This matchup also has developed into a true rivalry.
Meanwhile, Bartlesville, Barnsdall and the Caney Valley Trojans each will have a bye on Friday. Bartlesville is looking to heal up and sharpen some aspects of its game after starting out at 0-2. Barnsdall, on the other hand, is 2-0 and will take a deep breather before hurtling back into action in pursuit of a return to the playoffs and a meaningful postseason run. The Caney Valley Trojans are coming off a forfeit loss last week, due to a low number of players. The squad is hoping its two-week break will allow some players to heal up to be ready to resume the season next week.
Following are summaries of this Friday’s area games.
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COPAN (2-0) at DEPEW (1-1)
LAST WEEK: Copan 48, Foyil 0; Depew 28, Strother 14
2024: Copan 50, Depew 6
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
Copan is poised on the launching pad to blast off to a 3-0 start for the second year in a row and for only the third time since 2008.
First-year head coach Trenton Kallenberger has assembled a strong mix while finding a new starting quarterback. The Hornets have won their first two games by back-to-back mercy-rule shutouts by a combined score of 100-0.
Zane Stricklin and Teegan Caron have taken the majority of snaps at quarterback for Copan.
Caron rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win. In one of the most memorable plays, Strickin hit shooter Brewington on a 4th-and-8 play.
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Dewey High School’s Parker Garrison (44) makes a tackle during an earlier season game. Dewey takes on Checotah on the road on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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DEWEY (1-1) at CHECOTAH (1-1)
LAST WEEK: Perkins-Tryon 70, Dewey 6; Seminole 37, Checotah 24
2024: Checotah 53, Dewey 13
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
Dewey opened the season with a rousing win against Locust Grove, but fell hard last week at Perkins-Tryon.
So, how good are the Bulldoggers?
Friday’s showdown at Checotah will go a long way to answering that question.
The Doggers are guided by first-year head coach Scott Sapulpa, who didn’t take over the job until late in the off-season.
Braxton Brayden connected with Jayden Vallen for Dewey’s only score last week.
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CHELSEA (0-2) at NOWATA (0-2)
LAST WEEK: Warner 29, Nowata 8; Ketchum 18, Chelsea 7
2024: Chelsea 24, Nowata 14
2023: Nowata 20, Chelsea 16
2022: Chelsea 50, Nowata 20
As mentioned, both the Nowata Ironmen and Chelsea Green Dragons are eager to collect their first season win.
No doubt each believes this could be that magic week. Nowata — led by veteran head coach Chance Juby — has endured a couple of brutal tests so far, including playing Pawhuska, which is a Class A-II state championship contender.
Like several other area teams, Nowata is breaking in a new starting quarterback (Adrian O’Dell) and a few other skill players. Asaiah Saxton has been the most explosive weapon with the ball in his hands.
Brent Malone made 14 tackles last week.
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Oklahoma Union’s Aiden Talbott (3) hands off the ball to Joseph Lindner (4) during an earlier season game. OKU hosts Commerce on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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COMMERCE (0-1) at OKLAHOMA UNION (0-2)
LAST WEEK: Barnsdall 54, Oklahoma Union 18; Fairland 47, Commerce 6
2024: Commerce 28, Oklahoma Union 24
2023: Commerce 21, Oklahoma Union 13
2022: Commerce 28, Oklahoma Union 0
Oklahoma Union is probably one of the best 0-2 teams in Class A — at least in terms of talent and potential.
The Cougars opened up with tough matchups against Colcord and Barnsdall.
Aiden Talbott has made his quarterback debut the past two weeks with Oklahoma Union.
Brody Shufeldt sparkled on defense.
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PAWHUSKA (2-0) at HOMINY (1-0)
LAST WEEK: Pawhuska 66, Meeker 13; Hominy 41, Cleveland 16
2024: Pawhuska 46, Hominy 24
2023: Hominy 38, Pawhuska 16
2022: Hominy 27, Pawhuska 22
As mentioned, this is a super-charged rivalry.
Hominy got the best of Pawhuska in 2022 and 2023, but the Huskies clawed to a 22-point win last season.
Pawhuska also features a new quarterback in Kane Foreman, a transfer from Copan High. Vann Wildcat is a force in both the backfield and on defense/special teams.
Matt Hennesy is back for his eighth season as Pawhuska’s head coach.
Despite the big points Pawhuska’s offense has put up, the defense has also attracted a place in the spotlight.
Last week Pawhuska held Meeker to minus-93 yards!
Dane Jensen helped lead with a couple of sacks and fumble recovery. Wildcat recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
Foreman threw for four touchdowns, including two to Jenson Snodgrass.
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CANEY VALLEY (Kan.) (1-0) at ERIE (Kan.) (0-1)
LAST WEEK: Caney Valley 38, Humboldt (Kan.) 0; Eureka (Kan.) 36, Erie 0
2024: Caney Valley 48, Erie 6
2023: Caney Valley 50, Erie 6
2022: Caney Valley 28, Erie 0
The Caney Bullpups are coming off one of their most impressive wins in four seasons.
They’ll be focused on starting the season at 2-0.
Traxcyn Garton rushed for two scores and Layne Denny completed 6-of-13 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Caney Valley offense.
Head coach Criss Davis heaped major praise on his team’s defensive performance.