Bartlesville spoils Zebras' party

LARRY LARKIN

Sports Sunday Correspondent



Being held in check with their running game, the Bartlesville Bruins decided to air out the ball with the arm of sophomore quarterback Kirby Schoenthaler.

The game plan worked as the Bruins spoiled Claremore's Homecoming football game Friday night by winning, 27-6, at Lantow Field.

The District 6A-3 game saw the Bruins add up 288 passing yards as Schoenthaler connected with seven different receivers on 13 of 26 attempts.

The killing blow, however, was delivered by wide receiver Bobby Dean early in the fourth quarter.

Starting from his normal left end spot, Dean took a pitch from Schoenthaler in the backfield and appeared to be racing toward a three-man blocking wall on the opposite side. Instead, he stopped short and threw to Richard Thompson.

The play produced an 80-yard touchdown. It came with 8:23 left in the game.

Up 21-6, Bartlesville wasn't finished. The Bruins added another touchdown, but only after a stubborn and gallant bid by Claremore's defensive unit.

The Zebras failed to get a first down on the next possession and Bartlesville's next pass, by the quarterback this time, picked up 67 yards. Receiver Clay Jenkins caught the ball at about the 50. He appeared to be caught at the Zebra 30, but a nifty spinning step allowed him to break free.

Only a diving tackle by Zebra linebacker James Tolson prevented another long scoring pass catch. Jenkins came up four yards short.

Even with the game's outcome decided, the Zebra defense forced their foe some woe. It took the Bruins some doing before crossing the goal line.

Tyler Butcher and Cache Monoco stopped the quarterback cold the first two downs as he hit the middle of the line. Then Monoco did it again on the third try.

It looked as if Claremore had stopped the Bruins as a pass was batted down in the end zone. However, it was ruled that the defender had run into the Bartlesville player, causing interference

This give the Bruins a new set of downs, the ball now at the one.

First and second downs didn't gain an inch. Finally, on the seventh try from inside the 4-yard line, Schoenthaler scored.

Claremore almost doubled Bartlesville in the rushing department, 199-105.

Workhorse Brandon Baker carried the ball 28 times for the Zebras and picked up 181 yards. Airon Durant had 50 yards on nine carries.

Zebra quarterback Gavin Little threw the ball 16 times and hit receivers six times for 78 yards. Jenkins and Chandler Bennett each intercepted a pass for the Bruins.

Claremore's lone touchdown came with 1:19 left in the first half. On the Zebras' fourth possession, they covered 58 yards in seven plays. The major play was a 42-yard gallop by Baker.

A chance to tie the score at 7 ended when the conversion snap was mishandled.

Bartlesville's points came on a 29-yard run by Durant. Pass catches of 5, 28 and 11 yards helped during the 89-yard march that took nine snaps.

Schoenthaler spotted Jenkins open for a 19-yard pass in the third quarter.

Ryan Garrett led Claremore’s defense with nine tackles and Tyler Butcher added eight.

Both teams evened their season records at 3-3 and 1-2 in district.



BARTLESVILLE 27, CLAREMORE 6

Bartlesville 7 0 7 13 — 27

Claremore 0 6 0 0 — 6

Bartlesville — Durant 29 run (Merciez kick)

Claremore — Little 1 run (kick blocked)

Bartlesville — Jenkins 19 pass from Schoenthaler (Merciez kick)

Bartlesville — Thompson 80 pass from Dean (Merciez kick)

Bartlesville — Schoenthaler 1 run (kick blocked)





Individual Statistics



Bartlesville

Rushing — Gaut 9-50; Schoenthaler 10-29-TD; Dean 5-20; M.Thompson 2-4; Costello 1-1; Jenkins 1-1.

Passing — Schoenthaler 13-26-208-TD; Dean 1-80-TD.

Receiving — Jenkins 5-128-TD; R.Thompson 2-83-TD; Schmitt 1-28; Mitchell 2-21; M.Thompson 2-20; Costello 2-8; Durant 1-5.



CLAREMORE

Rushing — Baker 28-181; Little 5-11-TD; Varnell 2-4; Garrett 2-3.

Passing — Little 6-16-78-2.

Receiving — D.Basks 2-32; Butcher 1-18; Garrett 1-6; J.Basks 1-6; Heimdale 1-6.

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