One of the longest high school football rivalries in the state of Oklahoma is coming to an end this year.

 

The Nowata Ironmen and Dewey Bulldoggers have squared off every football season since 1963, but that will not be the case in 2024. The Ironmen reclassified down from Class 2A to Class A-1 for the upcoming year.

 

Nowata head coach Chance Juby says the gap in roster size makes it difficult to play larger schools.

 

With the decision to not play this season, the teams also won't match up in 2025, pending changes to the non-District schedule. Nowata also will play a schedule without Vinita for the first time since 1998. 

 

The Ironmen will face Warner, Barnsdall, Quapaw, Morrison, Pawnee, and Tonkawa this season. Both Nowata and Dewey football can be heard throughout the season on our sister station, KRIG 104.9 FM.