FOOTBALL PREVIEW: BARTLESVILLE HOSTS SAND SPRINGS; NOWATA AND CANEY VALLEY TO CLASH
Bartlesville High School’s Boden Roberts (2) lines up for the Bruins during an earlier season game. The Bruins host Sand Springs on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Sept. 25, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Following is a round-up preview of Friday’s area football games.
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DISTRICT 6A-II-2
Sand Springs (1-2) at BARTLESVILLE (0-3)
Last week’s scores: Collinsville 47, BARTLESVILLE 27; SAND SPRINGS 35, Bishop Kelley 0
2024: Sand Springs 41, Bartlesville 20
2023: Sand Springs 20, Bartlesville 17 (ot)
2022: Sand Springs 36, Bartlesville 29 (ot)
OUTLOOK: The key.
No one might be able to define it, but the Bruins appear to be so close to unlocking the frustration that led to an 0-3 non-district record for the third-straight year.
Whatever the turning point is, Bartlesville hopes to find it in this week’s combustible clash against Sand Springs — one of their two longest-standing rivals along with Ponca City.
Sand Springs has won the last five meetings — but two of those went into overtime.
Sophomore quarterback Michael Kent continues to impress. He is on pace to throw for more than 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. Kent has thrown only one pick the past eight quarters.
He’s also hitting nearly 70 percent of his passes (80-of-116) and averaging 311.7 passing yards per game.
In addition, Kent is the leading rusher — somewhat by default because of the injury absence of starting tailback Sutton Williams. Kent has sliced through opposing defenses for 264 yards on 59 carries.
As one might surmise, Bartlesville boasts several receivers that have been major contributors — Boden Roberts (18-251, 3 TDs), Harrison Ketchum (21-230, 1 TD), Matt Sears (14-144, 1 TD) and Gavin Thomas (12-144).
Senior E. Webb has lined up at quarterback for Sand Springs and thrown for more than 600 yards.
Junior D. Forbes is the team’s top receiver at more than 250 yards.
Bartlesville has strung together some lengthy drives under the generalship of Kent and his bevy of clutch receivers.
The Bruins’ biggest challenge on defense has been shutting down opposing teams’ running attack and giving up too many first downs on third-and-long or fourth-down plays. On the other hand, Bartlesville has affected some impressive defensive stands.
Special teams have been a mixed bag for the Bruins.
The defining point — perhaps The Key — might be the Bruins have yet to put together consistent performances in all three phases (offense, defense and special teams) at the same time.
They have another chance this Friday — especially if some of their injured personnel are back at good strength.
Series (since 1982): Sand Springs lead, 20-19
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DISTRICT 2A-I-4
DEWEY (1-2) at Metro Christian (3-0)
District
Last week’s scores: DEWEY, bye; METRO CHRISTIAN 46, Tulsa NOAH 0
2024: Metro Christian 48, Dewey 7
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Dewey Bulldogger players surge back into action after coming off an ultra-competitive loss two weeks ago at Checotah.
The Doggers are 5-35 in district play since 2020 and will be looking to record their first district opening win since 2019.
But that will be a king-sized challenge against an unbeaten Metro Christian team that has compiled an incredible 53-11 record (.828) record the past five seasons, appeared in the state championship game twice and won one gold ball.
Win or lose, Dewey has an opportunity to make a strong statement against the top team in the district.
Series (since 2009): Metro Christian leads, 4-1
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Copan High School’s Zane Stricklin runs the ball during an earlier season game. The Hornets travel to South Coffeyville on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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DISTRICT B-II-4
South Coffeyville (1-1) at COPAN (3-1)
Last week’s scores: COPAN 56, Bluejacket 6; Foyil 14, SOUTH COFFEYVILLE 8
2024: DNP
2023: Copan 68, South Coffeyville 22
2022: Copan 52, South Coffeyville 6
OUTLOOK: Copan has blitzed to a 3-1 record, including a 1-0 start in district play.
Copan and South Coffeyville are located only about 25 miles apart so this qualifies as a fierce geographical rivalry.
In 2019, the schools co-opted to form a unified football team because of insufficient numbers in each program.
Copan comes in with a host of fiery weapons, led by seniors Weston O’Rourke, Shooter Brewington and Teegan Caron.
Several other players have stepped up big and Copan appears to be a prime candidate to earn a home playoff game for the second-straight season.
But South Coffeyville will be out to try to swat the Hornets out of their winning flight path.
Series (since 2009): Copan leads, 8-3
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Nowata High School’s Davionn Downing (22) catches a kickoff during an earlier season game. The Ironmen hosts Caney Valley on Friday
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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DISTRICT A-I-3
CANEY VALLEY (0-3) at NOWATA (0-4)
Last week’s scores: Caney Valley, NA; Barnsdall 37, NOWATA 36
2024: Nowata 44, Caney Valley 6
2023: Nowata 44, Caney Valley 8
2022: Nowata 15, Caney Valley 0 (fft.)
OUTLOOK: Caney Valley has had a rough go of it the first three games, including having to forfeit one game due to an insufficient number of available players and falling last week to the Cleveland jayvee, 10-0.
But the Trojans’ roster size is back up to 22 and practices have gone well this week, first-year head coach Derrick Hammer said.
His Trojans had been out of action for two full weeks prior to playing the Cleveland team, in what amounted really to a tune-up exercise.
“It went better than I thought for the most part,” Hammer said. “He got reps and we got to compete. … We just want to keep building that confidence as we’re going along.”
The Trojans have been working hard on cleaning up their ball snaps, particularly in the shotgun, he added.
Defensively, the Trojans shut out the Cleveland team, which scored its points on a pick six and on a safety.
The Trojans seem locked in this week, Hammer added.
Bryor Bonde is a strong leader at quarterback while Cash Williams lines up mostly at tailback.
Trevor Morgan is an important contributor as the ‘Z’ receiver and Ivan Roman Rivera lines up at receiver in the wing or slot.
Cayton Wiedbrauk is a valuable weapon at ‘X.’
“That’s a guy we’ve got to keep healthy,” Hammer said.
Unfortunately, the Trojans face a Nowata Ironmen team that is winless and hungry.
The Ironmen just missed out on winning last week when Barnsdall scored a late touchdown and held on, 37-36.
Asiah Saxton made a dramatic long touchdown run that put Nowata temporarily ahead in the final three minutes.
Adrian O’Dell has been developing into an effective weapon at quarterback and Brett Malone is both a threat on offense and defense.
Series (since 1996): Nowata leads, 22-1
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DISTRICT A-I-3
PAWHUSKA (4-0) at OKLAHOMA UNION (0-3)
Last week’s scores: PAWHUSKA 44, Woodland 12; OKLAHOMA UNION, bye
2024: Pawhuska 52, Oklahoma Union 20
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Pawhuska is coming off a chest-banging win against Woodland — the first loss suffered by the Cougars since the 2023 season.
Notably, Pawhuska did it on the ground.
For the first time — or at least one of the rare times — in the past seven-and-a-half years the Huskies failed to pass for triple-digit yards.
Woodland focused on taking away the Huskies’ aerial attack — led by quarterback Kane Foreman. Pawhuska threw for only 87 yards.
But the Huskies ran the ball 32 times for 300-plus yards, led by Vann Wildcat with 114 yards — the first 100-yard rushing game this season by a Huskie.
“Our offensive line did a great job,” said Pawhuska coach Matt Hennesy. “We’re always a team that will take what the other team gives us.”
In fact, Pawhuska had just two possessions in the second half after bolting to a 36-0 halftime lead.
Several Woodland drives were extended by penalties, Hennesy observed.
On the defensive side, Wildcat and Jimmie Wildcat combined for twin Herculean efforts — 21 and 20 tackles, respectively, and two tackles for loss apiece. Logan Cass added 10 unassisted tackles and six assists.
Jayden Henley contributed three tackles for loss, followed by Dane Jensen and Jaxon Arnett with two each.
Jack Grooms scored a defensive touchdown off a fumble recovery.
Foreman helped fuel the offense on 9-of-11 passing for 84 yards, including a 17-yard scoring toss to Jensen.
Wildcat, Foreman and Jenson Snodgrass each rushed for touchdowns, with Foreman recording two of them. Snodgrass ran for 73 yards. Wildcat also scored two two-point conversions.
Tripp Walker recorded 29 receiving yards and Jarek Edwards racked up a receiving two-pointer.
The Huskies take on a winless Oklahoma Union team that is blessed with several talented assets but is still in the process of putting it all together.
Series (since 2015): Pawhuska leads, 6-0.
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DISTRICT A-II-4
Fairland (2-1) at BARNSDALL (3-0)
Last week’s scores: BARNSDALL 37, Nowata 36; Wyandotte 27, FAIRLAND 7
2024: Barnsdall 36, Fairland 30
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: Barnsdall sharpened its claws during an impressive surge through non-district games and is now prowling and growling going into its district opener.
Head coach Kylee Sweeney seems to be a kind of quarterback whisperer. After he graduates one super field engineer talent another one arrives on the scene.
That’s the case this season with imposing senior Lincoln Gott (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), whose shadow with the sun at his shoulder could blot out the Empire State Building.
Talk about your king-sized stats. Through three games he has thrown for 452 yards and 7 touchdowns (just 1 interception) and ran for 504 yards and 8 scores.
That adds up to 956 offensive yards — on pace for approximately 3,000 for the season — and 15 accounted-for touchdowns, an average of 5 per game.
A few other offensive standouts include Tripp Barbee (131 yards rushing, 198 receiving, six touchdowns), Gavin Wood (127 yards rushing), and Andrew Cole (91 yards receiving).
On the defensive side, Haydon Collins has amassed 30 tackles — 11 of them for loss and 4 sacks. Gott owns 20 tackles, followed by Bond with 18 (4 tackles for loss) and Wood with 14 (4 tackles with loss).
Barnsdall takes on a Fairland Owls’ squad with a couple of impressive wins to its credit — 49-6 against Chelsea and 47-6 against Commerce.
Series (since 2014): Barnsdall leads, 4-1
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NON-DISTRICT
Christ Prep Academy (Kan.) (4-0) at CANEY VALLEY (Kan.) BULLPUPS (3-0)
Last week’s scores: CANEY VALLEY 22, Neodesha (Kan.) 6; CHRIST PREP ACADEMY 52, Parsons (Kan.) 6
2024: Christ Prep Academy 43, Caney Valley 8
2023: DNP
2022: DNP
OUTLOOK: This could be Caney Valley’s toughest test of the season — including the playoffs.
The Pups looked extremely impressive in their first games, including holding a previously unbeaten Neodesha team to just six points last week.
But Christ Prep is a private school that draws students from throughout the Kansas City area, including scores of homeschoolers.
Jayden Buckley ran for more than 200 yards — and three touchdowns — last week in Caney Valley’s 22-6 win and Traxcyn Garton went for 100-plus.
Caney Valley quarterback Layne Denny is capable of an air-ripping aerial display when given the green light and time.
Drake Roberds has developed into his primary receiving threat.
Caney Valley will definitely need a major effort and faultless performance to win this one. But the Pups certainly have multiple weapons that can wreak devastating damage on opposing defenses if allowed to get going.