Bartlesville and WCS share top spot in final E-E High School Football Power Rankings
By midnight last Friday, the offseason began officially for four area high school football teams shunned from this year’s OSSAA football playoffs — Dewey, Caney Valley (Okla.), Nowata and Oklahoma Union.
Meanwhile, five other local programs are set to go dancing next week in the postseason party — Bartlesville (6A-II), Pawhuska (2A), Barnsdall (B), Wesleyan Christian School (C) and Copan (C).
A 10th area team, the Caney Valley (Kan.) Bullpups, already had been eliminated a week earlier from the KSHSAA playoffs in Kansas.
Listed below is the final Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise Area High School Football Rankings, based on how teams have competed in their classes:
1 (1) — Wesleyan Christian School (7-3) (Class C)
1 (2) — Bartlesville (4-6) (Class 6A-II)
(3) — Pawhuska (6-4) (Class 2A)
4 (4) — Copan (5-5) (Class C)
5 (6) — Barnsdall (7-3) (Class B)
6 (5) — Caney Valley (Kan.) 5-4) (AAA)
7 (7) — Nowata (4-6) (Class 2A)
8 (10) — Oklahoma Union (1-9) (Class A)
9 (8) — Dewey (1-9) (Class 3A)
10 (9) — Caney Valley (0-10) (Class 2A)
Strength of schedule
Oklahoma Union played the toughest slate in terms of opponents’ cumulative winning records (.650), followed by Bartlesville (.590) and Pawhuska (.560).
Bartlesville — which thrashed Tahlequah, 51-20, last Friday and clinched a home playoff game — moved up to a first-place tie with Wesleyan Christian School in the power rankings.
Pawhuska was on their footsteps at the No. 3 spot, followed by the up-and-rising Copan program.
Following is a closer look at the ranking details for each team and the playoff schedules.
Ranking details
1 (2) — Bartlesville (4-6) (Class 6A-II)
OPPONENTS CUMULATIVE RECORD: 59-41 (.590)
Last week: Bartlesville 51, Tahlequah 20
Previous two games: Sand Springs 20, Bartlesville 17; Muskogee 30, Bartlesville 27
This week (playoffs): Host Putnam City North (4-6)
TAKE: Bartlesville’s record is deceptive. Five of its losses have been by a touchdown or less. The Bruins were just one play away from beating the state’s No. 1 team, the defending state champion and another playoff-bound team. They seemed to put it all together last Friday against Tahlequah. They hope to ride that momentum into the playoffs. This will be Bartlesville’s first home postseason game since 2015 and only its second in 35 years.
1 (1) — Wesleyan Christian School (7-3) (Class C)
OPPONENTS CUMULATIVE RECORD: 44-45 (.494)
Last week: WCS 42, Coyle 8
Previous two games: WCS 72, South Coffeyville 0; WCS 49, Watts 0.
This week (playoffs): Host Graham-Dustin (7-3)
TAKE: WCS stormed to a a 6-1 record in its final seven regular season games, outscoring opponents, 318-64. This is WCS’ third-straight season in the playoffs. The Mustangs advanced last season to the second round before being eliminated in a competitive battle. Nearly all their key components are back from last season, plus a crop of new stars.
3 (3) — Pawhuska (6-4) (Class 2A)
OPPONENTS CUMULATIVE RECORD: 56-44 (.560)
Last week: Pawhuska 30, Rejoice Christian 15
Previous two games: Claremore-Sequoyah 49, Pawhuska 16; Adair 65, Pawhuska 62
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This week (playoffs): Host Kansas (8-2)
TAKE: Pawhuska is headed to the postseason for the sixth-straight season since Matt Hennesy became head coach in 2018. The Huskies clinched a No. 2 district seed with last Friday’s win. Pawhuska advanced to the Class A semifinals in 2020 and 2021.
4 (4) — Copan (5-5) (Class C)
OPPONENTS CUMULATIVE RECORD: 51-48 (.515)
Last week: Copan 72, Oaks Mission 42
Previous two games: Copan 74, Watts 24; Coyle 66, Copan 16
This week (playoffs): At Thackerville (8-2)
TAKE: Copan’s football odyssey has been well document by local media — the Hornet program never earned a playoff spot or won more than three games from 2010-2021. Last season, Copan finished 4-6 and barely missed the postseason party. This season, Copan scrapped to a top four finish in district and nailed down a road playoff game this coming Friday.
5 (6) — Barnsdall (7-3) (Class B)
OPPONENTS CUMULATIVE RECORD: 54-44 (.551)
Last week: Yale 16, Barnsdall 14
Previous two games: Barnsdall 52, Olive 6; Drumright 46, Barnsdall 0
This week (playoffs): At Weleetka (9-1)
TAKE: The Barnsdall Panthers’ has followed the storyline of Robert Louis Stevenson’s legendary story known colloquially as “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” The Panthers were all Dr. Jekyll (the good, stable guy) in romping to a 6-0 record to start the season and brushing aside almost every foe like leaves in front of a super-charged blower. But, then the Hyde part of their team personality came out in the final four games (1-3), including a couple of unexpected routs. So which of Barnsdall’s personalities will take charge in Friday’s playoff game? The Panthers seem to thrive or struggle on their run game. That could be the key.
6 (5) — Caney Valley (Kan.) 5-4) (AAA)
OPPONENTS CUMULATIVE RECORD: 45-40 (.529)
Last week: None
Final two games: Riverton 30, CVHS 11; Council Grove 32, CVHS 14 (playoffs)
This week: None.
TAKE: Once again, marvelous mentor Criss Davis guided the Pups to a winning season and playoff appearance.
7 (7) — Nowata (4-6) (Class 2A)
OPPONENTS CUMULATIVE RECORD: 38-62 (.380)
Last week: Adair 52, Nowata 0
Previous two games: Rejoice Christian 49, Nowata 0; Nowata 20, Salina 16
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This week: None
TAKE: After starting out at 3-1, Nowata rolled into the meat-grinder part of its schedule, dropping four-straight district games. But, Nowata returns big talent next year to build on the successes of this season.
8 (10) — Oklahoma Union (1-9) (Class A)
OPPONENTS CUMULATIVE RECORD: 65-35 (.650)
Last week: OUHS 54, Chelsea 20
Previous two games: Chouteau 46, OUHS 14; Pawnee 62, OUHS 7
This week: None
TAKE: Oklahoma Union coach Steve Trammell felt his team was capable during the season of the way it played in its explosive closer. He graduates only two seniors. The Cougars should be bolstered by experience and hardened by the lumps from this season.
9 (8) — Dewey (1-9) (Class 3A)
OPPONENTS CUMULATIVE RECORD: 50-49 (.505)
Last week: Cascia Hall 47, Dewey 6
Previous two games: Tulsa Central 40, Dewey 7; Verdigris 30, Dewey 6.
This week: None.
TAKE: Dewey also had to turn to several young players this season. Despite their struggles, the Doggers scored double-digit points in four games and displayed a lot of competitiveness in their victory and losses.
10 (9) — Caney Valley (0-10) (Class 2A)
OPPONENTS CUMULATIVE RECORD: 51-49 (.510)
Last week: Claremore-Sequoyah 44, CVHS 15
Previous two games: Salina 60, CVHS 6; Rejoice Christian 48, CVHS 0
This week: None.
TAKE: Caney Valley loses some a major contributor in Cooper Fogle and other seniors, but also eyes the return of some young, battle-tested talent and the infusion of potential from the younger ranks.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville, WCS tie for top: Final E-E Prep Football Power Rankings
