AREA GRID ROUNDUP: Updates on exciting Week 7 for local preps

Bartlesville battles valiantly in loss to No. 1; WCS, Copan, Dewey, Caney Valley (Kan.) and Pawhuska grab 'W's; more

Most of the first half on Thursday was an ugly slugfest between upstart Bartlesville Bruins and the unbeaten but vulnerable-looking Stillwater Pioneers.

The Herculean-like Bruin defense shut down Stillwater’s attack like a pimple on a model’s face — but the Stillwater defense took the ball away from the Bruin offense like a dad taking away a handful of matches from a toddler.

It was a comedy of errors — or sort. But, no one was laughing.

The bottom line was that the mighty Pioneers — the No. 1 ranked Class 6A-II team in the state, the favorite to win the Gold Ball — led Bartlesville by only six points, 13-7, with 35 seconds left in the first half.

But, then the stars fell down on the Bruins’ heads.

Stillwater scored two touchdowns in 21 seconds in the final minute of the first half to burst into halftime with a 28-7 lead.

The Pioneers (7-0, 4-0) then dominated the second half, 29-0, to record the 55-7 victory in District 6A-II-1 action.

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Bartlesville (3-4, 2-2).

The Bruins, who had already clinched the sixth playoff seed in the district, are trying to grab a few more district wins to improve their postseason pecking order. It just didn’t work out for them Friday in Stillwater.

They gave it a heck of a try, making two goal line stands and stopping Stillwater on downs on another drive.

The Bruin offense just couldn’t overcome four interceptions and a lost fumble, a turnover nightmare whose effect was cumulative.

But, for the first 23 minutes and 25 seconds Bartlesville battled Stillwater toe-to-toe, and almost appeared to be the better team.

The game began on a rugged not for the Bruins — an interception coming off a big pass gain the play before from Nate Neal to Damien Niko.

After Niko advanced the ball to the Bruin 38, Stillwater grabbed the pick on the next play. However, the Bruin defense — sparked by a big play by Ashton Lydon — stopped Stillwater cold to prevent the Pioneers from cashing in on the turnover.

The Pioneers turned the ball over on downs inside the Bruin 30.

Bartlesville picked up one first down on its next possession but had to punt away. Kaden Brown launched a massive boot that was downed at the Pioneer 28-yard line. Stillwater then took the ball 72 yards in six plays to score its first touchdown, at the 4:17 mark of the first quarter. The PAT was no good.

When the Bruin offense got the ball back, it moved the ball well again, going 36 yards on a combination of P.J. Wallace runs and receptions by Niko or Zink. However, the drive ended with more bad news — a second interception.

The indomitable Bruin defense rose up again like an acid tidal wave, stopping Stillwater on downs in the red zone.

However, the next time Stillwater got it hands on the ball, quarterback Gage Gundy — the son of Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy — directed a 73-yard scoring push, fueled by a long run by Noah Roberts. The drive ended on a 19-yard scoring aerial and Stillwater increased its lead to 13-0 with 4:55 left until halftime.

Bartlesville answered with a ripping bite as Neal engineered an 80-yard journey to paydirt.

The key plays included an 11-yard run by Wallace, a 25-yard completion from Neal to Kaden Brown and a 34-yard aerial pickup from Neal to Niko. The drive was capped off by Neal’s touchdown strike to Brown, with 2:57 left in the first half. Aman Gordon-Bernstein’s extra point cut Stillwater’s lead to 13-7.

It appeared the upset dogs began howling in the distance. Bartlesville appeared to have the positive momentum on both sides of the ball. The big question was, how would Stillwater react in the pressure of an underdog holding its own?

The answer would not be to Bartlesville’s liking.

Stillwater drove 69 yards in about two minutes — ending a two-yard touchdown pass from Gundy to Thompson — to score with 35 seconds left and extend its lead to 20-7.

Still, not bad for the Bruins to go into halftime down by only two touchdowns. But, that’s not what happened.

The Bruins got the ball back with 30 seconds left in the first half, at their own 25-yard line. They decided to try to move the ball down for a score.

But, Stillwater then grabbed its third interception of the first half, setting up a short porch for a touchdown (on a pass to Thompson) and a 28-7 Pioneer lead at the break.

That flurry of scoring by Stillwater made life a lot tougher for the Bruins. But, Bartlesville kept waging a valiant effort.

Bartlesville’s defense stopped Stillwater inside the Bartlesville 10-yard line on the first possession of the second half.

On fourth-and-goal, Bruin linebacker Chase Eaves tipped away a pass.

But, then the bad news multiplied for Bartlesville — a bad snap that led to a scoop-and-score for the Pioneers, two drives end on downs and another fumble.

Stillwater took advantage to keep adding to its lead, even though late in the third period or during the fourth it inserted several subs.

Next up, the Bruins play host on Oct. 21 to Sand Springs.

Wesleyan Christian School, Dewey, Copan and Pawhuska each enjoyed a Thunderous Thursday in high school football action.

Each of the four area teams stormed to key victories — three of them with heavy playoff implications — during the spring week contests.

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Last weekend’s scores were:

Thursday

Stillwater 55, Bartlesville 7

Dewey 27, Inola 14

Adair 28, Caney Valley 7

Copan 52, South Coffeyville 6

Pawhuska 56, Salina 6

Wesleyan Christian School 69, Wilson 20

Regent Prep 75, Barnsdall 38

Claremore-Sequoyah 51, Nowata 6

Woodland 46, Oklahoma Union 0

Friday

Caney Valley (Kan.) 24, Fredonia (Kan.) 6

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Friday. Oct. 21

Sand Springs (4-3, 2-2) at Bartlesville (3-4, 2-2)

Tulsa Central (4-3, 1-3) at Dewey (2-5, 1-3)

Wesleyan Christian (6-1, 4-0) at South Coffeyville (0-7, 0-4)

Olive (0-5, 0-2) at Barnsdall (4-3, 0-2)

Salina (3-4, 1-3) at Caney Valley (1-6, 0-4)

Copan (3-4, 2-2) at Watts (4-3, 2-2)

Rejoice Christian (7-0, 4-0) at Nowata (2-5, 1-3)

Claremore-Sequoyah (6-1, 3-1) at Pawhuska (5-2, 3-1)

Chouteau (0-7, 0-4) at Oklahoma Union (0-7, 0-4)

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Following are summaries of some of the contests. A separate report on the Bartlesville High game appears elsewhere in the sports section.

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WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN 69, WILSON 20

The Mustangs (6-1, 4-0) clinched a playoff spot — but more importantly set themselves up as the district championship favorite by knocking off previously unbeaten Wilson (5-1, 3-1).

More than a knock off it was just a plain knockout.

Mustangs quarterback Tyrel Cloud racked up nearly 450 yards of total offense — and several other weapons contributed mightily to the assault.

But, it was Cloud who earned the lion’s share of the spotlight.

He completed 19-of-27 passes for 357 yards and seven touchdowns; he added 89 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Receiving heroes included Kael Siemers with six catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns; Carson Tennison with five grad for 87 yards and two scored; and Mason Jenson with six receptions for 79 yards and three scores.

Archer Swisher added six carries for 94 yards and two scores.

It all added up to 554 total yards.

WCS led by just two points early in the third period before pulling away.

“It was close at halftime,” WCS head coach Curt Cloud said. “They were huge and they have some talent. They took the lead and we came back at took the lead.”

A safety helped propel the Mustangs to a 10-point lead, 22-12, at halfitme.

Wilson started the second half by recovering an onside pick. But, WCS’ Siemers intercepted the ball a few plays later, setting up WCS’ touchdown drive that led to a 30-12 advantage and helped break the game open.

WCS passing

Cloud 19-27-0-356

WCS rushing leaders

Swisher 6-94, Clout 11-89

WCS receiving leaders

Kael Siemers 6-177, Carson Tennison 5-87, Mason Jenson 6-79.

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DEWEY 27, INOLA 14

Dewey Bulldogger head coach Ryan Richardson — who has never lost faith in his team’s potential to overcome hard times had just one word to summarize Thursday’s happy outcome.

“Fantastic.”

The win had been a long time coming in a campaign journey landscape twisted and gnarled by convulsing bad luck, tangling injuries, throbbing growing pains and other varying genre of affliction.

But, the Doggers’ four-game losing streak crumbled thanks to a multi-faceted attack that witnessed four different players score a touchdown and a senior stick of TNT named Dixon Adams help the defense blow up the Inola Longhorns. (0-7, 0-4), in a battle of winless District 3A-4 teams.

Dewey (2-5, 1-3) looked to senior quarterback Trenton Muninger to ignite the offense.

Muninger made a high-voltage response — a 14-yard touchdown run and scoring aerials to Colby Miler (30 yards), Hayden Catlin (67 yards) and Landon Finton (30 yards). He also found brother Ryder Muninger for a two-point connection.

Dewey scored on four of its first five possessions and then put the game’s fate in the hands of its defense. Inola didn’t earn a first down in the first half, other than on penalties.

Adams wasn’t exactly a one-man wrecking crew — other players made plenty of great contributions — but one man couldn’t have done much more wrecking.

He racked up three sacks to force the Inola quarterback and blockers play with a swivel on their necks.

Catlin also played like twins-plus-a-bulldog on defense. amassed two sacks and forced and recovered a fumble.

Inola scored its final touchdown with seven seconds left.

“Our guys dominated play,” Richardson noted.

The Doggers have an opportunity to record back-to-back wins for the first time since 2019 when they host Tulsa Central next Friday.

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ADAIR 28, CANEY VALLEY TROJANS 7

In place of preseason expectation, the CV Trojans are relying on the toughness of character to keep battling through a season laden with adversity.

Last weekend’s loss all but closed the door on the Trojans’ playoff chances — but the window for a gritty, strong finish is still open.

“It’s an up-and-down year,” said veteran Caney Valley skipper Stephen Mitchell. “It’s been a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde season. … I’m really proud of the way our kids played, especially on defense in the second half.”

Adair (1-6, 1-3) entered the game winless — although barely losing to Salina — but surged to an early 12-0 lead after cashing in on a Caney Valley turnover.

Senior Trojan quarterback Zak Wallis burst on a 10-yard touchdown drive — finishing off a 70-yard offensive drive — to keep the Trojans in striking distance. Cooper Fogle booted the extra point.

As the half wound down, it appeared Adair would take a two-touchdown lead into halftime, 21-7.

“It was back-and-forth,” said Mitchell.”

But, Adair dialed up a long aerial touchdown just before the break to stretch its lead to 28-7.

Caney Valley found its Dr. Jekyll side, at least on defense, to shut out Adair the final two quarters.

“I honestly think we woke up,” said Mitchell. “We found out we could play with these guys.”

He credited his defensive coordinator Ryan Malone for sharpening his weapons.

Caney Valley forced multiple turnovers in the second second, recorded by Jaydin Allen, Lane Arthurs and Kenji Young.

NOTE: Wallis finished with approximately 250 yards of total offense for the game.

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COPAN 52, SOUTH COFFEYVILLE 6

Copan’s path to earn its first football playoff spot since 2009 is still uphill.

But, the Hornets took a much-needed big stride in this mercy-rule win at home, which ended by halftime.

Copan scored the game’s deciding points on a pick six by Logan Guess, with a two-point run by Weston O’Rourke, with 24 seconds left until halftime.

Copan burst out to a 20-0 lead and never looked back.

O’Rourke scored two touchdowns on runs of 78 and 51 yards.

Shooter Brewington and Teegan Caron each galloped for one score, and Kane Foreman connected with Karson Woodworth on a 28-yard aerial score for another Copan tally.

Caron also scored on a punt block.

O’Rourke broke shredded the South Coffeyville defense on 211 yards rushing on just six attempts. Woodworth caught two passes for 49 yards.

Jarrett Shambles ranked among Copan’s leading tacklers with 6.5.

South Coffeyville recovered an onside kick to start the game, but the Copan defense held.

“We knew if went in and got after them that we could go home at halftime (mercy rule),” Copan head coach Marshall Foreman said. “They onside kicked it but our defense was able to hold. … We were able to run the ball tonight. We only had to pass six times.”

Copan 52, South Coffeyville 6

SC 0-6—6

Copan 12-40—52

Copan scoring

Shooter Brewington 13 run (pass fail)

Teegan Caron 12 run (run fail)

Weston O’Rourke 78 run (Caron pass from Kane Foreman)

O’Rourke 51 run (Brewington run)

Caron block punt recovered (Brewington pass from Foreman)

Karson Woodworth 28 pass from Foreman (O’Rourke pass from Foreman)

Logan Guess interception return (O’Rourke run).

Copan rushing leaders

O’Rourke 6-221, Brewington 4-48

Copan passing

Foreman 4-6-0-65

Copan receiving leaders

Woodworth 2-49, Caron 1-17.

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CANEY VALLEY (Kan.) PUPS 24, FREDONIA (Kan.) 6

Caney Valley (5-2, 3-0) clinched the No. 1 seed in its AAA district and kept its season points allowed total under 100.

In other words — a chest-pounding, exploding-cheers, pad-smashing kind of an evening.

Fredonia struck for the first points — and then quickly disappeared from view in the jaws of the fiery tsunami of the Pups’ onslaught.

After a scoreless first quarter, Fredonia scored on a 33-yard touchdown pass to go up, 6-0.

But, Caney Valley answered just 107 seconds later when Astin King zipped 34 yards for a rushing touchdown, followed by Jackson Griffin’s two-point run.

Griffin burst five yards for a score, and added the two-point carry, to put the Pups ahead, 16-6.

In the fourth quarter, King made a one-yard touchdown run, and also tallied the two-pointer, to fashion the final score at 24-8.

King finished with 144 yards rushing on 27 carriers, followed by 98 on the ground on 20 carries by Griffin.

Caney Valley head coach Criss Davis saw his team clinch homefield advantage for the playoff opener in two weeks.

This coming Friday, the Pups end the regular season with a trip to Riverton (Kan.) High.

In looking back at last Friday’s victory, he noted how a couple of blown assignments aided Fredonia for its early touchdown.

Other than that, “We made some great defensive stands,” Davis said. “I was pleased with the way we played defensive.Offensively, we took over the line of scrimmage in the second half.”

A special teams turnover caused by Griffin, “I felt took all the wind out of their sails,” Davis said.

Ben Matthews recovered the fumble. Griffin also came up with an interception.

Three Pups recorded one sack each — Seth Hedges, Drake Stapleton and Matthews.

One of the offensive highlights featured Gavin Stimson taking the ball to the one-foot line on a reception.

SEASON TOTALS: Astin 144-765 rushing, with 8 touchdowns and 4 2-pters; Stimson 9-196 receiving, with 3 touchdowns.

Caney Valley 24, Fredonia 6

Fredonia 0–6-0-0—6

CVHS 0-8-8-8—24

Fre — Jadin Archeval 33 pass from Joel Dutton (pass fail), 8:51.

CV — Astin King 34 run (Jackson Griffin run), 7:04.

CV — Griffin 5 run (Griffin run), 11:05.

CV — King 1 run (King run), 7:33.

CV—Fred

First downs: 15—10

Rushing: 41-266—15-62

Passing: 2-4-0-45—13-30-1-250

Total yards: 311—312

Punting: 4-150 (37.5)—1-40

Penalties: 5-50—5-35

Fumbles-lost: 1-0—1-1

CV rushing leaders

Astin King 27-144, Jackson Griffin 20-98, Ben Matthews 2-10, Garrett Watson 2-10.

CV passing

Garrett Watson 2-4-0-45.

CV receiving

Gavin Stimson 1-36, Cunningham 1-9.

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PAWHUSKA 56, SALINA 6

The Huskies (5-2, 3-1) officially qualified for the playoffs, but more importantly gathered some momentum going into the final brutal third of their schedule.

Next week’s meeting with Claremore-Sequoyah will provide an accurate measuring stick as to where Pawhuska stands against the district’s elite teams.

But, there was some not-so good news Thursday for Pawhuska. Tahnahkek Supernaw, who caught a couple of touchdown passes, was apparently lost for the season with a collar bone injury, coach Matt Hennesy said.

Hennesy also praised the rushing prowess of Tyrel Richardson.

“Our defense played lights out,” Hennesy added. “They didn’t have a first down until the second half. They scored their only touchdown on a long screen pass late in the game.”

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REGENT PREP 75, BARNSDALL 38

Barnsdall led in the first half, 24-22, and trailed by only two touchdowns at half, 46-32.

“We battled very well,” said Barnsdall head coach Kylee Sweeney. “Especially in the first half.”

The second half could hardly have started out worse for the Panthers — Regent scored, recovered an onside kick and scored and added another touchdown on a pick six in a quick frenzy of scoring.

Barnsdall players went from just two touchdowns down to five in barely time to catch their breath coming out of halftime.

Barnsdall quarterback Maverick Lanphear completed 30 passes for 175 yards and multiple scores.

Easton Malone rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

Barnsdall had driven the ball well several times, but squandered some opportunities, including turning the ball over on the 12-yard line on its first drive.

“I was definitely pleased by the effort,” Sweeney said. “Our execution has got to be better on both sides of the ball.”

Barnsdall (4-3, 0-2) now needs to win three straight to earn the No. 3 playoff seed from the district.

Barnsdall has been here before during the Sweeney era. During his first two seasons (2016 and 2017), the Panthers won their final three regular season games both years in order to get into the postseason.

In 2019, Barnsdall made the playoffs as a No. 3 seed and advanced all the way to the state quarterfinals.

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WOODLAND 46, OKLAHOMA UNION 0

First, a basic concept in English — the word progress is not a synonym for the word victory.

Progress sharpens the elements that could become the integral ingredients of success. But, that is a process of indeterminable metamorphosis and subtle gains.

Oklahoma Union is somewhere on that trail right now.

Knowing improvement is inevitable but having the grit to keep pushing through the tough times is the measurement of true warriors.

That’s where the OUHS Cougars find themselves right now — an 0-7 record and trying to to effect that undeniable turnaround as a momentum-builder for next season.

“I think we’re getting better in places,” veteran Cougars head coach Steve Trammell said. “We’re getting better, but we’re not tackling really well. We have kids wrapped up in the backfield,” but too often don’t complete the takedown.

Plus, the Cougars went into Thursday’s test with only 16 players suited up. They tried the hardest the could in tough circumstances.

However, Trammell — who is experiencing a rare losing season in his lifelong football experience — expressed gratitude for his players’ resilience and commitment.

“I’m proud of them,” he said. “I think they’ve fought hard every game. They are staying competitive and still fighting, which is all you can ask.”

Oklahoma Union eyes a competitive opportunity for its first victory when it plays host next Friday to Chouteau (0-7, 0-4).

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: A look at area prep football action last weekend