There was a huge changeup in high school football scheduling for most high schools in the state of Oklahoma after reclassifications and re-districting about a month ago. This was in addition to already scheduled splitting of several classifications.

At Nowata High School, they are going to see the ending of rivalry that has been played every year since 1963, as the Ironmen do not have Dewey on the 2024 football schedule.

Nowata will also not see Vinita on the schedule for the first time since 1998.

The Ironmen reclassified down from Class 2A to Class A-1 this fall. There will be some familiar faces with Pawhuska and Northeast Valley conference foes in Chelsea, Caney Valley and Oklahoma Union still on the schedule.

Head Coach Chance Juby talks about why Nowata will not be playing Dewey on the gridiron this season.

Dewey will play football in Class 2A-I this fall.

Since the early death of Adam Hooper in 2017, KRIG 104.9 FM sports announcer and voice of both teams, the two schools have played in the football game since named "The Adam Hooper Bowl."

The choice to not play in 2024 will mean, unless there are changes to each schools non-District schedule, the two will also not play in 2025. 

With the subtraction of some familiar faces, also brings the addition of some new teams the table. The Ironmen will now face Warner, Barnsdall, Quapaw, Morrison, Pawnee, and Tonkawa this season. All teams that have not been on the schedule for Nowata recently.

We will have more on Ironmen football as the spring and summer progress, and some more features on new schedules for different area football teams later this week.