MAKING HOME SWEET AGAIN: BHS and Dewey look to break home losing streaks
For the past couple of years, homefield advantage for Bartlesville and Dewey high school football teams hasn’t been what it’s cracked up to be.
The Bruins — who are scheduled to play host Friday to U.S. Grant — have dropped seven-straight home contests, dating back to October 2020, when the Bruins dropped Putnam City West, 52-8.
Bartlesville — which is 4-13 at Custer Stadium since 2019 — hopes this Friday might be a catalyst to bringing back the “sweet” in home.
It’s also been a rough go at home the past few years for Dewey.
The Doggers are 2-9 since 2020 in what should be their friendly confines.
Dewey is riding a six-game home losing streak as it plays host to Bristow this Friday.
Both Bartlesville and Dewey have followed a similar pattern through their first four games this season — a 1-3 record and a wide-margin-of-loss in their only home games.
Friday offers the opportunity to restore a winning home tradition for each — albeit it likely will be a more difficult take for Dewey.
Bartlesville (3-1, 0-1) is set to play U.S. Grant (0-4, 0-1), in District 6A-II-1 action. U.S. Grant — which reportedly has a low number of players on its roster —is coming off an 85-0 loss to Stillwater.
Bartlesville dropped a 41-7 decision to Booker T. Washington, in a came far more competitive than the final result. Washington led by only a touchdown, 14-7, at half, thanks to a monstrous pass play.
The Hornets took advantage of two Bruin turnovers in the second half to pull away.
Dewey (1-3, 0-1) faces a Bristow Pirates team that is 2-2, 1-0. Dewey dropped a 68-20 decision last week against Jay (2-2, 1-0) and Bristow dropped Inola (0-4, 0-1), 64-14.
U.S. Grant (0-4, 0-1) at Bartlesville (1-3, 0-1)
Bristow (2-2, 1-0) at Dewey (1-3, 0-1)
Nowata (2-2, 1-0) at Vinita (4-0, 1-0)
Oklahoma Union (0-4, 0-1) at Hominy (4-0, 1-0)
Wesleyan Christian (3-1, 1-0) at Copan (2-2, 1-0)
Caney Valley (Kan.) Bullpups) (3-1, 1-0) at Neodesha (Kan.) (1-3, 0-1).
Caney Valley (Okla.) Trojans (1-4, 0-2), bye
Barnsdall (4-1, 0-0), bye
Following is a complete list of Friday’s area varsity football games. Start times are set at 7 p.m.
Following is a more detailed analysis of the Bartlesville and Dewey games.
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BARTLESVILLE
For first year head coach Harry Wright, every week is a new experience in terms of understanding Bartlesville’s traditional competitive landscape.
But, the Bruins have no recent history against U.S. Grant — scheduled game sin 2016 and 2017 between the squads never took place.
Bartlesville’s emphasis in this week’s came will be consistency — not only from play-to-play but from quarter-to-quarter.
Pawhuska (3-2, 1-1), bye
“The biggest thing so far this year is offensively and defensively we have had some really good moments and some really bad moments,” Wright said. “We need to be more consistent on both sides of the ball.”
During last week’s fierce, physical, emotional battle against Washington, Bartlesville’s offense displayed a greater emphasis on the run game, with a growing diversified look.
During the first three games, Bartlesville averaged 22 passes and about 35 rushing attempts per game.
Against Washington, Bartlesville attempted only nine passes and recorded 40 rushing attempts for the first time in a game this season.
Wright point to the strength of run blocking by the offensive line and qualify of ballcarriers — primarily P.J. Wallace — as factors in the offensive game plan.
Wallace has been a rugged dynamo. Unofficially, he has carried the ball 100 times for 439 yards and three touchdowns. What’s especially impressive is his endurance. The vast majority of his runs have been for less than five yards or fewer.
His longest scamper was 55 yards — on his very first carry of the season — but since then he hasn’t peeled off a gain for more than 22 yards. In one contest, his longest play went for seven yards.
“P.J. is one of those kids that more carries he gets, the more stronger he gets,” Wright said.
The last game-and-a-half, Bartlesville has mixed last year’s leading rusher Austin Zink more into the running game. The Bruins played quite a bit of two-back against Washington, with promising success.
Not that the Bruins lack a potential explosive passing game, which they’ve proven in spurts this season.
Right now, Wright and his staff are focused on the best mix of plays to create the offensive consistency needed to take the next step.
The Bruin defense has been exceptional at times, it’s only major Achilles Heel being giving up the big pass play.
Bartlesville has made a successful goal-line stand, or more than one, in all four games and also halted another Washington drive deep into Bruin territory.
As mentioned above, turnovers have hampered the Bruins’ efforts to.
Overall, tuning into Bartlesville;s best competitive self has been a work in progress. Perhaps homefield support this week will provide an important ingredient in the process.
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DEWEY
The Doggers displayed some glimpses of strong play at Jay.
But, as with Bartlesville, their also trying to lock into the consistency that will showcase their talent at the skill positions and give the defense more confidence.
Quarterback Trent Muninger has been an exception to the struggle for consistency. He has brought a strong, productive performance each week. He threw for 202 yards, one touchdown and didn’t get picked in last week’s game. He also ran for 30 yards and a score.
Colby Miller hauled in five receptions for 100 yards and Dixon Adams made four grabs for 61 yards.
Dewey trailed by only a touchdown at half, 28-20.
“But, in the second half, things slid away from us,” said first-year Dewey head coach Ryan Richardson, who inherited a team that finished 4-16 the previous two seasons.
“We just need to focus on finishing,” he said. “We’re not playing two good quarters in game. We need to play a full game. We’ve had flashes of being pretty good.”
In addition to putting together that persistent effort, the Doggers need to remain physical for the entire game he said.
Part of the challenge is Dewey’s advancement to Class 3A from 2A, Richardson added.
“These are bigger schools and bigger schools usually have more depth,” he said. “You’ve got to by physical for the full game.”
With a little home magic Friday, Dewey could put itself in its best position to make the playoffs since 2019.
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AROUND THE AREA
The Wesleyan Christian at Copan showdown definitely will be the area’s game of the week. Both are off to strong starts in Class C (eight-man) competition, and each thrives on explosive young talent. … Nowata will have to cut some tall timber in order to upset unbeaten Vinita. But, Nowata is one of the area’s teams that has seemed to make some big forward strides so far this season. With a little bit of luck, the Ironmen might have a chance at its longtime rival. Vinita, a bigger school, leads the series, 20-5, since 1982. … Caney Valley (Kan.) takes on Neodesha (Kan.) in a district clash. With only four district games, each one is critical in terms of playoff scenarios.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Dewey and Bartlesville football teams anxious to win at home
