Class and clash: Copan to battle WCS in area grid game of the week Friday

It’s not been that many years since Wesleyan Christian School and Copan High School fought under the same banners as co-op eight-man football partners.

The year was 2018. Both programs feared they didn’t have enough players to make it through the season.

Therefore, the WCS Mustangs and Copen Hornets linked up and put together a 3-7 record.

In 2019, WCS went back to fully staffing a football team, while Copan found a new co-op partner in South Coffeyville.

Copan went back on its own in 2020.

On Friday, WCS will be on the same field together again — this time as highly-motivated rivals.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Sheets Field.

WCS (3-1) enters the fray as the definitive favorite. The Mustangs returned most of their firepower from last year’s 8-4 team that advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Copan (2-2) is off to its best start in perhaps 12 seasons — not only in terms of wins but based on competitive equity.

To add a little spice to the showdown, this will be a district game. WCS is a contender for the district title — and a deep playoff run is not out of the question.

“The other day I told somebody that I consider them one of the top three or four teams in the state in our class,” said third-year Copan head coach Marshall Foreman. “I think if we compete with them like we can, it will be a good game. If not, it could be ugly. We want to see how much better we’ve gotten since the Welch game.”

Copan also is battling to earn the program’s first playoff spot since 2009. The Hornets could lose Friday night and still be in the chase for the playoffs.

But, a respectable showing — if not, obviously an upset — would boost their momentum.

The Mustangs bring a heavy, heavy load to every district game.

The Thunderous Threesome of juniors Tyrel Cloud (quarterback) and game-breaking receivers Kael Siemers and Carson Tennison create the turbulence behind the Mustangs’ offensive storm.

But, they’re not only highly-sharpened weapon’s in the Mustangs’ arsenal. Freshman Archer Swisher and first-year standout Mason Jenson both have sliced up opposing defenses in selected spots.

WCS has scored more than 50 points in all four of its games — and those numbers would have been more astronomical if not for the eight-man football 45-point mercy rule.

“We need to go out and try to slow the game down and keep their offense off the field,” Foreman said about Copan’s strategy. “I think their offense is going to be one of the top in the state.”

“I think the key is we have speed,” WCS head coach Curt Cloud said. “So far, we haven’t played anybody that can keep up with Kael Siemers. When you have that ability — that one play other teams have to be aware of and on every play and usually double team — that opens the field for the rest of the guys. We can do some different things with the speed we have.”

But, the Mustangs are not just simply a scoring machine.

“I think their defense is under-rated,” Foreman said. “They’ve played good defense when they’ve needed to. They’re well-coached.”

“We’re not very big, but we’re very aggressive,” coach Cloud said. “We swarm to the football.”

Zander Week and Brock Timmons gave mighty performances last week, including seven tackles each, for the Mustangs.

WSC’ defense could experience one of its most daunting tests of the season against a Copan offense that, in some ways, resembles the WCS pattern.

Like the Mustangs, Copan’s attack rests on the shoulders of multiple skill players and not just one superstar.

The Hornets rely heavily on a few freshmen — Kane Foreman (quarterback), Weston O’Rourke (rusher/receiver), Shooter Brewington (runner), and Teegan Caron (receiver) — to provide a multi-faceted attack.

In addition, sophomore receiver Karson Woodworth came into his own in last Friday’s 66- 50 win against Bluejacket. He hauled in five touchdown throws from Foreman, as well as a couple of two-point conversions.

Copan boasts only one senior on its roster, Noah Cobb, who recorded a team-high 9.5 tackles last week.

Jarrett Shambles, Logan Guess and Franco Sharp also made notable contributions last week for Copan.

“I would say their passing game and big play potential are their strengths,” Cloud said about the Hornets.

But, the Mustangs’ experience, gridiron savvy, stable of extraordinary battle-tested athletes, winning momentum, feisty intensity and sense of purpose and overall game package execution might be the deciding factors Friday.

“I think they (Copan players) know that it’s a tough one,” coach Foreman said. “But, I think they’re ready to go and see where we stack up. They’re not taking anything lightly this week. They’ve been pretty focused in practice. … There’s an excitement about this game. They’ll play the best they can and go out and try to do what we do.”

“We’ve played pretty well,” Cloud said. “I tell the boys there is room for improvement every week … Every week we’re working on new stuff. … The kids (from Copan and Wesleyan Christian) live close together. They play each other in every sport. I think for our kids, it doesn’t matter whether Copan is 0-10 or 10-0, we want to beat Copan just as much as they want to beat us.”

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Wesleyan Christian vs. Copan serie

As close as can be determined, the Wesleyan Christian vs. Copan series began in 2008, in the early years after Cloud opened up the varsity football program at WCS.

According to the available information, WCS leads the series, 8-3, and has won the last eight meetings, including 2019, when WCS was co-opted with South Coffeyville.

Copan had won the first three games in the series. Following is the game-by-game look:

WCS vs. Copan history

2021: WCS wins, 68-14

2020: WCS wins, 50-0

2019: WCS wins, 57-12

2018: WCS/Copan Co-op

2017: DNP

2016: DNP

2015: WCS wins, 22-0

2014: WCS wins, 53-8

2013: WCS wins, 45-0

2012: WCS wins, 45-0

2011: WCS wins, 42-40

2010: Copan wins, 14-7

2009: Copan wins, 49-0

2008: Copan wins, 34-16

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Copan and Wesleyan Christian football teams to collide Friday in Copan