E-E high school football power rankings: Barnsdall takes top spot as lone unbeaten

Barnsdall High School’s football team is on the verge of history — the program is just one win shy of a 5-0 start, the best in 30 years since the 1993 team finished 9-2.

With last week’s surprising 54-7 shakedown of Wesleyan Christian School, Barnsdall improved to 4-0, tying the squad’s most successful spurt out of the gate during the Kylee Sweeney coaching era with 2019, 2017 and 2016. Sweeney also collected his 50th career win, recorded in about seven-and-a-half seasons.

Barnsdall, Nowata (2-1) and the Caney Valley (Kan.) Bullpups (2-1) are the only area teams off to impressive season embarkations.

The Caney Valley Trojans (0-4), Bartlesville (0-3) and Oklahoma Union (0-3) are area teams seeking their first wins.

But, of course, a raw record doesn’t tell the whole story.

With that in mind, here’s the E-E’s look at the best showings of area teams through the first four weeks, regardless of record or school size. Pound for pound, to use a boxing term.

1 — Barnsdall (4-0)

Season results: Barnsdall 74, Copan 46; Barnsdall 52, Foyil 7; Barnsdall 52, Summit Christian 6; Barnsdall 54, Wesleyan Christian School 7.

The Panthers have outscored their four opponents, 232-66. Only Copan has forced Barnsdall to play all four quarters. (In Oklahoma eight-man football, there is a 45-point mercy rule.) Barnsdall outlasted Copan, 74-46.

Interesting facts: WSC had finished 10-2 in 2022, including a 53-52 win against Barnsdall. Barnsdall has been to the playoffs five times during Sweeney’s first seven seasons.

2 — Pawhuska (2-2)

Season results: Pawhuska 82, Caney Valley 0; Pawhuska 54, Cashion 6; Hominy 38, Pawhuska 16; Woodland 38, Pawhuska 22

Even though they’ve played only .500 ball, the Huskies have battled through a mostly grueling schedule. Cashion was the back-to-back state champion in Class A in 2020 and 2021. Woodland and Hominy are both 3-0.

Interesting fact: Woodland had allowed only seven points in the first two games prior to giving up 22 to Pawhuska.

3 — Bartlesville (0-3)

Season results: Claremore 28, Bartlesville 27; Sapulpa 44, Bartlesville 36; Collinsville 27, Bartlesville 14.

It might seem odd to rank a winless team this high, but Bartlesville is only about four or five plays away from being 3-0 against three Class 5A powerhouses — Claremore (3-0, outscored its opponents 153-81), Sapulpa (2-1, all against Class 6A competition) and (Collinsville (3-0, outscored its opponents, 144-42). Claremore rode a pick-six and missed Bruin extra point to victory. Bartlesville went on a 22-0 against Sapulpa, but more than 150 yards in penalties doomed the Bruins. A touchdown kickoff return and a 42-yard scoring run in the final three minutes elevated Collinsville. Bruin running back P.J. Wallace is averaging more than 150 yards rushing per game.

Interesting facts: Wallace has scored seven touchdowns. Bartlesville has scored more points (79) in its first three games than the second-most since 2015. (The Bruins scored 85 in non-district games in 2020). Damien Niko has hauled in two touchdown passes.

4 — Nowata (2-1)

Season results: Nowata 20, Chelsea 16; Dewey 15, Nowata 12; Nowata 48, Hulbert 28.

Nowata is off to its start since 2015. The Ironmen are only four points away from being 3-0 since 2014. The Ironmen powered to a 12-0 lead against Dewey, but Dewey rallied with 15 unanswered points. Peyton Trotter has established himself as one of the area’s most dangerous offensive weapons.

Interesting fact: Nowata head coach Chance Juby was on the coaching staff of Nowata’s great run in the 2010s, culminating by playing for the state title in 2014.

5 — Copan (1-2)

Season results: Barnsdall 74, Copan 46; Welch 28, Copan 26; Copan 42, Foyil 9

Copan’s record is very deceptive as to adjuring the quality of the team. The Hornets played Barnsdall extremely tough — especially considering Barnsdall has outscored its other three opponents, 158-20. Against Welch, Copan had a receiver about to walk into the end zone with the winning touchdown in the final second — but he slipped and fell on the three-yard line as the buzzer blew.

Interesting fact: Copan scored 114 points in the first three games compared to 64 in 2022, 22 in 2021 and 28 in 2020.

Bartlesville-area football, Copan Copan flourished with high turnout to open football practice

6 — Caney Valley (Kan.) Pups (2-1)

Season results: CV 50, Erie 6; Humboldt 28, CV 8; CV 58, Eureka 16.

The Pups’ schedule hasn’t been a gauntlet — although Humboldt is a powerhouse at 3-0 while outscoring its foes, 148-8. Caney Valley has been very impressive in its two wins, blowing away an Eureka team that had allowed only 18 points total in the previous two games. Tailback Jackson Griffin, experienced receiver Ben Matthews and veteran quarterback Garrett Watson provide the nuts, pistons and bolts that keep the offensive machine running in high gear.

Interesting fact: Caney Valley has scored 50 points twice in the regular season for the first time since 2013.

7 — Oklahoma Union (0-3)

Season results: Wyandotte 32, Oklahoma Union 29; Commerce 21, Oklahoma Union 13, Colcord 50, Oklahoma Union 7

Just as Bartlesville, Oklahoma Union is better than its winless mark. The Cougars’ foes boast a cumulative 6-3 record, including an unbeaten Wyandotte squad (3-0). Oklahoma Union scored 29 on Wyandotte, which gave up only 18 in its other two non-district games. Oklahoma Union also played Commerce closer than anyone has.

Interesting facts: Oklahoma Union has dropped 14-straight losses. The Cougars scored 49 points in the first three games — compared to 86 scored in 10 contests last season.

8 — Dewey (1-2)

Season results: Dewey 15, Nowata 12; Vinita 34, Dewey 0; Miami 34, Dewey 0.

Dewey’s season started on a disruptive note and the Bulldoggers are still seeking to find their stride. Their scheduled season opener (Aug. 25) against Miami was postponed, due to weather, interrupting the Doggers’ focus. They mounted an impressive winning rally against Nowata, but haven’t scored in their other two games.

Interesting facts: Dewey trailed Miami by only a touchdown, 6-0, at halftime. In 2011 Dewey started at 0-3 and rallied to make the playoffs.

9 — Wesleyan Christian (1-2)

Season results: Webbers Falls 56, WCS 27; WCS 47, Claremore Christian 0; Barnsdall 54, WCS 7.

WCS has suffered more than its share of misfortune. Its top returning running back transferred to another school, its three-year starting quarterback has been sidelined by a preseason injury, and one of its other prime-time veterans was injured in the loss at Barnsdall.

Interesting fact: Since resuming its own program in 2019, WCS has accumulated a 27-20 record.

10 — Caney Valley Trojans (0-4)

Season results: Pawhuska 82, CV 0; Haskell 20, CV 12; Wyandotte 49, CV 0; Chelsea 52, CV 15

Inexperience, injuries, illness and ineligibility have all taken their toll on a Trojan team trying to bounce back from a 1-9 mark in 2022 while starting a new quarterback and filling other positions. Cooper Fogle has been one of the Trojans’ brightest spots.

Interesting fact: Just two seasons ago, Caney Valley started at 3-1 and finished at 6-4.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: E-E high school football power rankings: Barnsdall sits at No. 1