Bartlesville Knows Broken Arrow Looms

Originally Published: Oct 28, 2009 6:44 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

BARTLESVILLE, Oklahoma – The Bruins’ 63-40 loss to the Jenks Trojans last Friday ended Bartlesville’s bid for a perfect season after seven games.

“It’s very disappointing but you have to look at the facts,” Bartlesville head coach Ron Smith said on Tuesday. “They’re the best team in the state and they whooped us bad. All you can do is reload and realize that you still have a chance for a home playoff game.”

The road to that all-important home playoff game isn’t guaranteed. The Bruins must handle a feisty 2-6 Tulsa Memorial team on the road this Friday before wrapping up the regular season against Broken Arrow, the team that’s trying to knock the Bruins out of the second seed in 6A District 3.

“You want to have a home playoff game. Our town supports us if we’re winning or losing,” explained Smith. “We want a home playoff game. We want it bad, and it will be hard because we know Broken Arrow is very good.”

Broken Arrow lost to Jenks in Week 6. That loss means neither the Tigers nor the Bruins have enough leverage to bump the Trojans from atop their district perch, barring any kind of meltdown by Jenks. That means that the winner of the season finale between Bartlesville and Broken Arrow plays at home in round one of the playoffs.

“I think right now in high school football in Oklahoma you have to get at least the first round game at home,” said Tigers head coach Ron Lancaster. “It’s just too hard to go every week to somebody else’s house and play.

Bartlesville’s undefeated Cinderella season may be out the window but wins in the next two weeks would help hide the scuffs Jenks left on the Bruins’ glass slipper. Coach Smith said it all starts Friday night against the Chargers.

“Everybody knows that Memorial is 2-6, but Memorial’s got four or five guys on their team that can score from anywhere. If they were to have four of those 60-yard runs against us, they’re right there. They’re good enough to beat us if we don’t play well. We’re not looking past Memorial.”

Kickoff between Bartlesville and Memorial is set for 7:30 Friday night at LaFortune Stadium in Tulsa.