AREA FOOTBALL TEAMS SHIFT FOCUS TO WEEK 1 AFTER EARLY OPENERS
A Barnsdall Panther tries to slip through the Caney Valley (OK) defense last Friday. The Panthers won 27-6. Barnsdall travel to
Allen Friday night.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
A Caney Valley Trojan finds some running room against Barnsdall last Friday in Ramona. Barnsdall won 27-6. The Trojans are at Chouteau-Mazie on Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
By Becky Burch
Sept. 3, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS
Several area schools started their football season last week during Week 0—an optional opening week designed to give programs early scheduling flexibility and a built-in bye week down the road. While those early squads got a head start, the rest of the region officially joins the fray for Week 1 this Friday. However, because of extreme heat forecast across Oklahoma, kickoff times for the Caney Valley (Kansas), Dewey, and Pawhuska games have been pushed back to 7:30 p.m. We suggest you check with your school to confirm game times.
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BARNSDALL 27, Caney Valley (OK) 6
Barnsdall earned its first victory of the season last Friday, defeating host Caney Valley 27-6. The game drew hundreds of fans, many of whom were still lined up outside the stadium gates after the 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Panthers jumped out to a 14-0 lead by halftime. Caney Valley avoided a shutout late in the game when Ivan Roman Rivera scored on a touchdown run. Trojans' Kody Cox successfully blocked a Barnsdall extra-point kick, while Kaden Ford and Conner Banther paired up to record a sack.
The Trojans, under the leadership of second-year coach Derrick Hammer, are playing their first season of independent football, which team officials hope will help the struggling squad build a foundation for the future. The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association approved the Trojans’ petition to transfer out of traditional district play for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. This allows them to schedule matchups that align with the program’s current skill level, but it also means they will be ineligible for the postseason playoffs regardless of their regular-season record. The Trojans finished 0-10 last season
Caney Valley hits the road Friday at Chouteau-Mazie for the Wildcats' season opener. The Wildcats compete in Class 2A and finished with a 1-9 record last season.
Barnsdall coach Kylee Sweeney is entering his 11th season leading the Panthers. He guided the team to a 6-4 overall record and a 3-4 mark in district play last year.
The Panthers travel to Allen on Friday for a 7 p.m. matchup. The Mustangs advanced deep into the postseason playoffs last winter before falling in the state semifinals to Hominy.
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Copan Hornet football leaders pose with head coach Trent Kallenberger, center. From left are Ashton Jeffers, Zane Stricklin, Kallenberger, Eli Evans and Keeghan Smith. The Hornets open their season at home Friday against Crossover Prep.
Courtesy photo
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COPAN 56, New Heights Christian 6
Zane Stricklin threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Edan Thompson to highlight a dominant performance as Copan defeated New Heights Christian Academy 56-6 on the road last Friday in their season opener.
The Hornets took control of the game early, storming out to a 36-0 halftime lead to secure their first victory of the season.
The season-opening blowout follows a productive preseason for Copan.
On Aug. 21, the Hornets hosted a four-team scrimmage featuring Bluejacket, Foyil, and Destiny.
With a 20-player roster, second-year coach Trenton Kallenberger noted that this year's squad boasts excellent depth. The Hornets are leaning heavily on a veteran core of seniors, including Eli Evans, Stricklin, Ashton Jeffers, Raydn Martin, Keeghan Smith, Rocky Greenfield, and Jayden Shaffer. Kallenberger also highlighted Marcus Bryan as another key leader for the team.
Stricklin will serve as the team's primary quarterback this season, with Thompson stepping in as the backup signal-caller.
The team's depth is also getting a boost from its younger players. During the August scrimmage, Kallenberger noted that several freshmen caught his attention, including Cael Taglialatelia, Pressley Zimmerman, and Lane Willig.
“They are freshmen to watch for as we expect them to contribute early,” Kallenberger said.
The Hornets are trying to carry over momentum from last year's campaign, aiming to host a playoff game for the third consecutive season.
Copan will look to move to 2-0 this Friday at 7 p.m. during its home opener against Crossover Prep, a team that won two games last season.
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Dewey Bulldogger center Shelton Dobbs (73) lines up under the ball during a half-game scrimmage against Nowata last month. The Bulldoggers fell to Vinita last Thursday and host their home opener against Newkirk Friday night.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
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Vinita 26, DEWEY 6
The Dewey Bulldoggers fell to Vinita on the road Thursday, dropping their Week 0 season opener 26-6.
Vinita broke a scoreless tie late in the first quarter with a touchdown pass to take an early 6-0 lead.
Dewey’s Braxton Braden answered in the second quarter to tie things up, throwing a 47-yard touchdown pass to Marshal McDaniel. A clutch interception by Kavery Weathers in the final seconds of the first half kept the matchup deadlocked 6-6 heading into the locker room.
Despite recovering numerous Vinita turnovers, however, the Bulldoggers were unable to capitalize on the Hornets’ miscues.
Braden finished the night completing 12 of 31 passes for 148 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. McDaniel served as his primary target, hauling in seven receptions for 118 yards and a score. On the ground, Fenix Bolding rushed for 37 yards on eight carries, while Case Rodgers added 11 yards rushing and contributed 34 yards on special teams. Austin Eastman grabbed 29 yards receiving, and Mason Spears tallied 14 yards through the air.
Defensively, Donovan Espana led the Bulldoggers' effort with six total tackles. Bolding recorded a sack, while Eastman, Kaidyn Gardner, and Weathers each finished the night with two tackles.
Dewey, under the leadership of second-year coach Scott Sapulpa, hosts Newkirk (1-0) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. for its official home opener. The time was moved due to the extreme heat. Local fans can catch the live broadcast on 104.9-KRIG and stream online at KRIGTV.com.
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A Nowata Ironmen defensive player, left, looks to tackle a Dewey runner during last month’s half-game scrimmage. The Ironmen open their season at Warner Friday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
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NOWATA at Warner
Nowata officially steps onto the gridiron Friday looking to build a clean slate under a new regime. First-year head coach Scott Martin leads the Ironmen into their season opener at Warner for a 7 p.m. matchup. It will also serve as the season opener for the Eagles, who finished 1-9 overall and 0-7 in district play last season.
Last season, Nowata finished 2-8 overall and 2-5 in district play, securing victories over Caney Valley and Oklahoma Union.
Senior Adrian O’Dell saw significant action during a scrimmage at Dewey on Aug. 21, and the Ironmen competed in another multi-team scrimmage at Catoosa along with Wyandotte on Aug. 27. Other seniors expected to make a major impact this season include running back and outside linebacker Asiah Saxton, wide receiver and free safety Draven Swalley, tackle and defensive tackle Kade Panther, tight end and defensive end Connor Gagan and, and junior running back and linebacker Daeton Stevens.
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Drumright at OKLAHOMA UNION
Oklahoma Union kicks off its regular season at home Friday, hosting Drumright for a 7 p.m. matchup. It will serve as the opening game for the Cougars under first-year head coach Josh Middleton, who is leaning on veteran seniors like Jay Depler to anchor the squad as it implements a fresh system.
The Cougars are looking to completely turn things around following a 1-8 record last season, with their lone victory coming against Washington County rival the Caney Valley Trojans.
OKU spent the early calendar tuning up its game plan, which included a home scrimmage against Chouteau-Mazie on Aug. 21 and a multi-team travel scrimmage at Mounds on Aug. 27.
They face a Drumright squad trying to bounce back from a 47-6 loss to Wewoka last Friday. Despite dropping their season opener, the Tornadoes are coming off a strong 2025 campaign where they finished 6-5 overall and 4-1 in district play before falling to Quinton in the postseason playoffs last November.
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PAWHUSKA 40, Fairland 7
The Pawhuska Huskies ushered in a new chapter with a victory, defeating Fairland 40-7 in their Week 0 season opener Friday night. The win marked a dominant debut for new head coach Mark Frye, taking over a program that spent the last eight years under Matt Hennesy. Hennesy, who accepted the head coaching job at Class 6A Bartlesville last December, also found immediate success in his new home by leading the Bruins to a 45-14 win over Skiatook.
Back on the field in Pawhuska, the Huskies had to work through some early, yet short-lived adversity. Fairland struck early in the first quarter with a touchdown, which was the Owls' only score of the night. Pawhuska answered in the second quarter with a Dane Jensen 6-yard pass to Jensen Snodgrass to get the Huskies within one point. Jason Spicer caught a 20-yard pass for a touchdown, followed by a Tripp Barbee 40-yard completion for a TD to put the Huskies up 18-7 at halftime. The Huskies scored 22 points in the second half.
Pawhuska travels Friday to take on Stroud for a 7:30 p.m. Week 1 matchup. Due to extreme heat, the game has been pushed back by 30 minutes. Fans can catch live audio and video coverage on 99.1 FM KPGM and streaming online at KPGMTV.com.
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CANEY VALLEY (KANSAS) at Eureka
The Caney Valley (Kansas) Bullpups open their season on the road Friday at Eureka at 7:30 p.m. Kickoff has been pushed back 30 minutes due to extreme heat.
The Bullpups scrimmaged against Field Kindley and Independence last Friday. In addition to Layne Kenny, Bradley Vargas had some time at the quarterback position.
The Bullpups, led by veteran head coach Criss Davis, went deep into playoffs last year, hosting three playoff games.