Grid Countdown, No. 9: E-E's list of top area high school football games in 2023
There are some vital showdowns throughout the high school football season for all area teams, and the E-E has attempted to identify the 16 most significant or competitive matchups. Follow along as we examine them.
No. 16: Neodesha at Caney Valley (Kan.), Sept. 29
No. 15: Wyandotte at Oklahoma Union, Sept. 1
No. 14: Copan at Foyil, Sept. 8
No. 13: Caney Valley at Nowata, Sept. 22
No. 12: Barnsdall at Copan, Aug. 25
No. 11: Miami at Dewey, Aug. 25
No. 10: Haskell at Caney Valley, Sept. 1
Up next...
No. 9: Bartlesville at Tahlequah, Nov. 4
Had there not been a Tahlequah, there might not have been a Lawton for Bartlesville High's football team last year.
And, without a Lawton, the Bruins would have had a whole different kind of boost into the offseason.
Translation: Had Bartlesville not beaten Tahlequah in Week 10 (28-16), the Bruins might not have faced the Lawton Wolverines in the first round of the playoffs. And, it was Bartlesville's 36-30 stunning overtime upset at Lawton that defined its turnaround season.
This year's showdown places Bartlesville at Tahlequah, and it might have even steeper implications. If the Bruins mostly take care of business in the first nine weeks, by the time they travel to Tahlequah they could be battling for homefield advantage in the playoff opener, a first-round playoff bye or even a District 6A-2-I championship.
In other words, the showdown at Tahlequah could be a monumental moment for Bartlesville.
"I anticipate it being a good game," second-year Bruin head coach Harry Wright said. "The long road trip could factor into it plus it will be their Senior Night."
As mentioned, a lot could be on the line for both the Bruins and the Tahlequah Tigers.
"I could see that playing into it right now," Wright said. "Depending on the way our district shakes out, that game could have playoff-seeding implications."
In looking back at last year's game, Wright said the Tahlequah quarterback impressed him with his athleticism.
"They had a really good receiver that was a junior. He was pretty athletic. We saw him this summer at Bixby in the 7-on-7 tournament. They have some good athletes."
Just like Bartlesville, Tahlequah earned a low playoff seed last season. The Tigers finished 3-8, compared to Bartlesville's 5-7. It was the win against Tahlequah that clinched the No. 5 playoff seed for the Bruins and set in motion their historic win against Lawton — only the third time in 41 seasons Bartlesville won a first-round playoff game.
The Bruins certainly received a powerful tune-up against Tahlequah.
"They were so worried about stopping our run, it allowed us to pass more," coaching staff member Bobby Holmes recalled. "By doing that, that allowed us to open up the offense a little more and throw it (Quarterback) Nate (Neal) had been through a full season and had kind of grown up a little bit."
Conversely, Tahlequah tried to control the game offensively with its run, Holmes said.
The bottom line? Bartlesville 28, Tahlequah 16.
One Tiger player to possibly keep an eye on in this year's encounter could be senior quarterback Brody Younger (6-4, 180 pounds), who appeared in 11 games last season and passed for 1,607 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
The 2023 Bruins also boast a stable full of exceptional grid talents, including returning starters at quarterback (Nate Neal), feature running back (P.J. Wallace), receiving threat (Damien Niko), versatile weapons Austin Zink, Chase Eaves, Brett Eaves, hard-hitting Colton Hainzinger and several others who also are second or third-year starters.
Wallace gained nearly 300 yards of total offense in the overtime playoff win at Lawton; in the same game, Zink tossed a touchdown pass to Neal on a trick play. For the 2022 season, Neal threw for 15 touchdowns, but had a higher number of interceptions, although eight of those occurred in just two games, against state 6A-2 champion Stillwater and state 6A-2 state power Muskogee.
As Wright pointed out, there is no way to ascertain now what might be on the line in next season's Week 10 battle at Tahlequah. But, on paper, this could be a crucial game and definitely one of the top 10 games on the area calendar.
Last 10 meetings
2022: Bartlesville 28, Tahlequah 16
2007: Tahlequah 35, Bartlesville 14
2006: Bartlesville 41, Tahlequah 28
2005: Tahlequah 34, Bartlesville 7
2004: Bartlesville 28, Tahlequah 25
2003: Bartlesville 24, Tahlequah 7
2002: Bartlesville 47, Tahlequah 12
2001: Tahlequah 21, Bartlesville 20
2000: Tahlequah 35, Bartlesville 7
1999: Tahlequah 58, Bartlesville 33
Tahlequah leads series, 6-5
BHS summer update
Bartlesville's youth camp attracted a turnout nearly one-third bigger than in 2022.
This year's tally of youngsters numbered 145, compared to 100 the previous year.
The Bruins also held their Night of Champions public weight-lifting event this week. The indoor competition drew approximately 250 spectators in special seating put up for the crowd.
The goal for the players was to heft more than 225 pounds on the power clean lift, Wright said. Twenty-five players achieved the objective, about twice as many as in 2022.
"They've been working really hard," Wright said. "My goal was to get 20 players to do it. But, they hit it out of the park with 25."
A cook-out is planned after the final Summer Pride event this week, Wright said.
The Bruins also participated in community service on Friday, splitting their forces between the Lighthouse Outreach Center, the K-Life Building and Madison Middle School.
Captains' interviews are planned for next week.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville's football postseason fate could be decided by Week 10
