BARTLESVILLE BRUINS DOMINATE SKIATOOK 45-14 TO OPEN COACH HENNESY ERA
Bartlesville Bruin Wyatt Mathis (10) picks up some yards against Skiatook last Friday at Custer Stadium in Bartlesville. The Bruins defeated Skiatook 45-14.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville Bruin Eman George (0) watches a fellow Bruin make a tackle against Skiatook last Friday at Custer Stadium in Bartlesville. The Bruins defeated Skiatook 45-14.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Becky Burch
August 30, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
The Matt Hennesy era needed only a lightning-fast opening drive to pick up its first touchdown Friday night at Custer Stadium. The Bartlesville Bruins snapped a four-year opening-game losing streak with a 45-14 victory over Skiatook, treating a crowd of 5,000 to a brand-new brand of Bruin football.
Prior to the game, Hennesy admitted he was eager to see his new system tested.
"Anxious to see how we perform when the lights come on," Hennesy said. "Skiatook has a really good team that is coached very well. We will have to bring our A game for all 48 minutes."
Bartlesville set the tone on its opening possession, engineering a quick 62-yard touchdown drive capped by a Michael Kent touchdown pass to Price Lusk and a successful 2-point conversion to put the Bruins up 8-0.
Moments later, the Bruins struck again after recovering a Skiatook fumble on the Bulldogs' 9-yard line; Kent ran it in himself on a quarterback keeper to push the lead to 14-0 following a failed 2-point conversion.
Skiatook answered immediately with a kickoff return for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 14-7 after the extra point
The Bulldogs then recovered an onside kick, but turned the ball right back over on a fumble. The Bruins took over on the Skiatook 45-yard line, setting up Maci Alleman for a 27-yard field goal to give Bartlesville a 17-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. The kick was the first of three impressive field goals for Alleman that night.
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Bartlesville Bruin kicker Maci Alleman (25) is congratulated by Michael Kent (14) following her field goal against Skiatook last Friday at Custer Stadium in Bartlesville. Alleman hit three field goals during the Bruins’ 45-14 win.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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In the second quarter, Alleman tacked on a 16-yard field goal. Bartlesville followed shortly after with a safety to push the lead to 22-7.
Eman George extended the lead further with a 13-yard rushing touchdown. A successful 2-point conversion pushed the Bartlesville advantage to 30-7.
With 2 minutes to go in the half, Bartlesville took over on its own 37-yard line. The Bruins marched down to the Skiatook 45-yard line before Kent hit EJ Belisle near the 25-yard line. Kent threw a touchdown pass on the next play, sending the Bruins into halftime with a 36-7 lead.
Alleman’s third field goal of the night came in the third quarter, this one from 16 yards out to extend the Bruins' lead to 39-7.
The Bruins’ final score came on a Kent touchdown pass to Davin Carter from inside the 20-yard line, though the 2-point conversion failed, leaving Bartlesville up 45-7.
Skiatook scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Bruins' reserves under a running clock to set the final score at 45-14.
Following the game, Hennesy reflected on his debut victory and the energetic atmosphere surrounding the stadium.
“It felt great to get that first win under our belt," Hennesy said, "but it felt even better to see all of the smiles on everyone’s faces at Custer.”
Looking ahead, the coach noted that the Bruins have plenty of adjustments to make before Friday.
“There are many things we need to fix, but that is to be expected in the first game,” Hennesy said. “We’ll get back to work this week, clean up our mistakes and continue to trust the process.”
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Bartlesville Bruins Cartter Hainline (6) and Kandon Benjamin tackle a Skiatook runner last Friday at Custer Stadium in Bartlesville. The Bruins won 45-14.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
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Kent finished 23-of-34 passing for 332 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 23 rushing yards and a score on five carries. Quarterback Ethan Espe took over in the fourth quarter as Bruin reserves took the field.
Lusk led the receivers with 210 yards and three touchdowns on eight catches. Matthew Sears added 73 yards on six receptions, while Belisle contributed 29 yards on three catches. George also made an impact through the air, gaining 16 yards on a lone reception.
Boden Roberts anchored the defensive effort with five solo tackles and three sacks, while also joining Kandon Benjamin with an interception each. Christian Ketiku Jr. racked up nine tackles, including six solo stops, and George added six tackles. Carter contributed five tackles, while Carter Hainline and Carter Sauer logged four tackles apiece. Landen Shaw also finished with four tackles, and Dakaraii Stewart rounded out the defensive effort with three.
Next up, the Bruins travel to Claremore on Friday.
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Skiatook 7 0 0 7 — 14
Bartlesville 17 19 9 0 — 45
Bartlesville Bruin Landry Holmes (52) signals for a touchdown against Skiatook last Friday at Custer Stadium in Bartlesville. The Bruins defeated Skiatook 45-14.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville Bruin Price Lusk (11) catches a Michael Kent pass against Skiatook on Friday at Custer Stadium in Bartlesville. The Bruins defeated Skiatook 45-14.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
A Bartlesville Bruin makes a tackle against Skiatook last Friday at Custer Stadium in Bartlesville. The Bruins defeated Skiatook 45-14.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
The Bartlesville pom squad performs during halftime of the Bruins vs Skiatook football game at Custer Stadium in Bartlesville last Friday. The Bruins won 45-14.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
A Bruin Brigade member performs during halftime of the Bruins vs Skiatook football game at Custer Stadium in Bartlesville last Friday. The Bruins won 45-14.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports Report