AREA FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Copan and Pawhuska wrap up eight-win regular season records; playoffs next for 5 local teams
Several area football games were played in pouring rain and mud on Friday (Nov. 8).
A Tonkawa runner loses the ball during the rain as Nowata High School’s Tyler Flower (22) and Maliki Ornder (66) close in on the tackle. The Ironmen fell, 6-2, and will travel to Rejoice Christian for playoffs on Friday (Nov. 15).
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Copan High School’s Kane Foreman (12) breaks a tackle during an earlier season game. The Hornets shut out Arkoma, 62-0, on Friday (Nov. 8) and will host Cherokee Friday (Nov. 15) in the first round of playoffs.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Bartlesville Area Sports Report
Copan High School celebrated Friday night like it was 2008 — the last time a Hornet team won at least eight games in the regular season.
When Copan lines up for kickoff next Friday (Nov. 15) to open the Class B-II playoffs at home, it will end a drought of 5,845 days since the last time the Hornets hosted a postseason game.
To put it simply, Hornetland is abuzz with excitement.
Along with Pawhuska and Barnsdall (and Bartlesville), Copan was the lone area team to win its regular season finale last weekend.
(An article about Bartlesville’s win appears separately.)
Meanwhile, Nowata dropped a 6-2 decision in a rain-soaked grueler, but still clinched a playoff spot.
Wesleyan Christian School also lost last weekend but will still be moving on to the playoffs.
To summarize, Bartlesville (3-7), Pawhuska (8-2), Nowata (3-7), Barnsdall (6-4), Copan (8-2) and Wesleyan Christian School (2-8) are all postseason bound in the OSSAA.
The Caney Valley (Kan.) Bullpups (6-3) also qualified for the Kansas playoffs but has been eliminated.
Area teams that came up shy of playoff action include: Dewey (2-8), Oklahoma Union (3-7) and Caney Valley (1-9).
Following are summaries of last weekend’s regular season area enders (except for Bartlesville).
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COPAN HORNETS 46, Arkoma Mustangs 0
At Arkoma
“Everybody played pretty good considering the conditions,” said Copan head coach Marshall Foreman about his Hornets. “The field was full of standing water. Everything was splashing around.”
Teegan Caron played like a human tidal wave.
The junior dynamo scored five touchdowns — three rushing, one receiving and a fumble scoop and score.
Weston O’Rourke “had some good carries in him,” Foreman said.
Quarterback Kane Foreman connected with Caron on the 50-to-60-yard touchdown pass and also scored three two-point conversions.
Senior Jakob Powell also tallied a two-pointer and lineman Gavin Scott burst for a 15-yard gain on his chance to carry the ball.
“We got to have a little fun with our seniors there,” coach Foreman said.
On defense, “Shooter Brewington was all over the place and Teegan was good on defense. Jaxon White had one of his better games on both sides of the ball.”
White lined up at center and didn’t make any bad snaps and switched from defensive end to noseguard on defense.
“We didn’t have any turnovers until the last minute of the game. … We did a really good job I thought of handling the conditions and still being able to play efficiently and cleanly,” coach Foreman said.
Next on the Hornet Horizon is the home showdown next Friday (Nov. 15) at Sheets Field to take on invading Cherokee High School.
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PAWHUSKA HUSKIES 42, Morrison Wildcats 12
At Pawhuska
This game had an area repercussion as well. By defeating Morrison, the Huskies guaranteed the Nowata Ironmen a playoff spot.
Most importantly for the Huskies, they finished 8-2 and added to their momentum going into next Friday’s home playoff game against Hartshorne.
“I was proud of our kids,” said Pawhuska head coach Matt Hennesy. “they came out and played hard and didn’t let the weather conditions get the better of them.”
Pawhuska pounded out to a 42-0 lead prior to surrendering a couple of late scores.
Jimmy Wildcat and Chase Eaves piled up 13 and 11 tackles, respectively.
Vann Wildcat added a fumble scoop and score on defense.
Tripp Walker set up a short field on special teams.
“Our kickoff team did a great job of pinning them deep,” Hennesy added.
On offense, Pawhuska relied more than usual on the run game and tried to exploit the weaknesses of Morrison defensive formations.
For the first time this season, quarterback Canyon Hindman threw for less than 100 yards (84) and also connected with Lane Kyler for a touchdown.
Hindman also ran for 36 yards and a score. Eaves surged for 36 yards and three touchdowns while Vann Wildcat ran in two two-pointers.
Trenton Reece and Corlin Cass each rushed for more than 20 yards and Peyton Hunt recorded 18 yards receiving.
“Overall, I was just happy with how the kids came out and played hard,” said Hennesy, adding that when Morrison possessed the ball his Huskies “looked like a big-time defense.”
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BARNSDALL PANTHERS 35, Porter Pirates 14
At Barnsdall
Euphoric Panther fans celebrated the return of Easton.
On the injured list since prior to the opening of practice, Running back/linebacker Easton Malone made a return Thursday (Nov. 7) night to help fire up Pantherland.
His presence on the field was more symbolic than impactful — he’s still working his way back to 100 percent.
But, it definitely added a boost to the Panther psyche as the team prepares to open the playoffs next week at Talihina High School.
As for the rest of Thursday’s contest, Barnsdall took control early. After that, it was just foot on the gas pedal until the Panthers did their victory lap.
“They started a running clock in the second quarter,” said Barnsdall head coach Kylee Sweeney. “We went up 35-0. Our two’s (substitutes) played almost the entire second half and Porter scored a couple of touchdowns.”
The Pirates were aided by two Barnsdall turnovers.
Panther senior quarterback Maverick Lanphear flirted with 300 yards of total offense. Again.
He passed for close to 200 and rushed for 90 and accounted for all five touchdowns (two throwing, three rushing).
Lanphear opened the scoring with a 55-yard burst to paydirt on his first carry.
James Johnson caught both scoring aerials and accumulated 140 yards receiving.
Blaine Landers rushed for 40 yards and Braden Byers hauled in a 20-yard catch.
Defensively, Hayden Collins made three tackles for lost, Brohk Townley was a force and Malone recorded a sack in limited action.
Offensively, Sweeney utilized Malone as a blocking back on about 19 plays.
Barnsdall enjoyed the best health as a team it has all season. This was the first time in four weeks the original starting offensive line played together.
Pawhuska High School’s football team storms onto the field during an earlier season game. The Huskies defeated Morrison, 42-12 on Friday and hosts playoffs on Friday (Nov. 15).
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Chandler Lions 35, DEWEY BULLDOGGERS 6
At Chandler
Despite the miserable weather conditions the Bulldoggers put forth a shining effort in their Friday night spectacle of the season.
Kavery Weathers tallied the lone touchdown, picking up a loose ball on a blocked punt by Lloyd Goad and rumbling 30 yards to the end zone.
"It was miserable conditions. ... The guys played hard," said Dewey head coach Ryan Richardson.
He also praised the defensive efforts of Nate Sloan and Cole Ketcher.
Among the departing Dewey seniors that played a significant amount Richardson said were Haydn Taylor, Goad, Ketcher, Joe Magness, Evan Propper, Brayden Ringer and Cooper Wood.
“They had an interesting journey,” he added. “Like all these kids graduating this year, during their education careers they had to deal with difficult challenges. … They were just a resilient group. They always showed up with good attitudes, they enjoyed being with each other and they enjoyed the game. It was not always easy but they stayed the course. I think that’s important in life.”
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Tonkawa Buccaneers 6, NOWATA IRONMEN 2
At Nowata
No, this contest didn’t break out into a baseball game.
In fact, the score was only 2-0 going into the final two-and-a-half minutes.
Played in brutal rain-saturated conditions, both passing games sputtered.
But Tonkawa connected on a long late pass inside the Nowata five-yard line and then scored on the ground to post the winning points with 2:02 left.
Nowata got the ball back and made a valiant effort to move the ball most the length of the field. But being one dimensional due to the difficulty in the aerial game, the Ironmen just didn’t couldn’t get into traction.
“This was a defensive game,” said Nowata head coach Chance Juby. “It was really hard to throw the ball. They loaded the box and stopped our run. Both teams struggled moving the ball.”
It appeared a Nowata safety in the first half might be the only scoring. It happened when the Nowata defense had the Bucs backed up against their own end zone and a bad snap went out of the back of the end zone.
After that, “It was a dogfight all the way to the fire,” Juby said.
There were probably 15 fumbled snaps, he added.
Throughout the second half, Nowata made multiple red zone stops to keep Tonkawa out of the end zone. In fact, with just under 10 minutes left Nowata made a goal line stand at the three-yard line.
With about four minutes left, Nowata had the ball and powered it forward several yards, but turned it over on downs inside its 40-yard line.
Tonkawa then made the huge pass play that made the difference, hitting on a 30-plus yard pass to set up the score.
However, Nowata still lives to play another day.
The Ironmen will open the Class 2A-II playoffs next Friday (Nov. 15) at Rejoice Christian.
Dewey High School’s Cadyn Artherton (6) finds running room during an earlier season game. The Bulldoggers fell to Chandler, 35-6 on Friday (Nov. 8).
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Barnsdall High School’s Maverick Lanphear (14) and Andrew Cole (7) look down field during an earlier season game. Barnsdall defeated Porter, 35-24 on Friday and head to the playoffs this Friday (Nov. 15).
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Quapaw Wildcats 28, CANEY VALLEY TROJANS 0
At Quapaw
No, this wasn’t a season to write home about. Their front doors were less than a stamp away.
But despite the low-voltage success, their loved ones still had plenty about which to beam — notably their athletes displayed a mountain of grit, spit, determination, loyalty and toughness that defines winners of character.
Despite missing some key players — including starting quarterback Noah Mitchell, who has been out three weeks — the Trojans (1-9) didn’t shrink from the scrap with the Wildcats.
The weather didn’t help.
“It was raining and a nasty game but we played well defensively,” said veteran Trojan head coach Stephen Mitchell.
Ryker Langley delivered two sacks and multiple tackles for loss and Connor Banther added more tackles for loss.
“Those two (underclassmen inside linebackers) played their tails off,” said coach Mitchell.
“Offensively, it felt like we had our feet stuck in the mud,” said the coach.
He praised the scrappy effort of Bryor Bonde at quarterback.
Among the seniors suiting up for the final time included: Sam Pitts, Ethan Brown, Seth Perkins, Logan Whitehead, Levi Moody, Wyatt Hollenbeck, Carson Kinney, Cash Reece, Kohl Shepherd, Stephen Bonner and Bradshaw Jones.
The Trojans look to return several experienced players in 2025 to lead the way.
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Pawnee Black Bears 36, OKLAHOMA UNION COUGARS 6
At Oklahoma Union
Aaarrghhh!
Let’s roll out a really old cliche here: You can’t judge a book by its cover.
There, I said it. Whew!
But truth is one can’t judge Oklahoma Union’s team quality by its 3-7 record.
Once again, the Cougars displayed a steel backbone of competitiveness against a strong team.
Going into this game, Pawnee (7-3, 7-0) had averaged scoring 55 points a game in district play — and had only given up 28 points in six previous contests.
Late in the first half, the Black Bears led by only a touchdown, 6-0.
“We did a great job defensively hanging in the game,” said Cougar head coach Steve Trammell. “We could not do anything offensively. Their defense is difficult and he has the kids who can run it. In the second half he did some things that put our game plan in jeopardy.”
Still, the Cougars found a way to get into the end zone, on a 47-yard pass connection from Conner Pierce to Bodee West.
On the play, “they didn’t see him,” Trammell said. “He made a couple of great moves and we got the ball to him.”
The biggest obstacle — even more looming than Pawnee’s defense — was the weather conditions.
“It was a fun game in the mud,” Trammell said. “My field looked like a bunch of buffalo ran through it.”
Several Cougar seniors suited up or stood on the sideline for the final time.
They included Kaden Miller, Jaxon Baker, Grant Reeves, Pierce, Jake Harris, Waylon Minor, West, Baylor Murray, Trapper Stoltenberg and Tanner Dickson.
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Wilson (Henryetta) Tigers 70, WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN MUSTANGS 20
At Wilson
(We'll have more information on this game if it becomes available to us.)
Caney Valley High School’s Sam Pitts blocks during an earlier season game. The Trojans ended their season with a 28-0 loss to Quapaw on Friday (Nov. 8).
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Wesleyan Christian’s Forest Cook lines up during an earlier season football game. The Mustangs fell to Wilson Henryetta, 70-20 but are heading to playoffs on Friday (Nov. 15).
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise