It’s that time once again as the Mustang Broncos and Yukon Millers renew their Canadian County Bedlam rivalry on Friday night at Bronco Stadium.
This year’s game marks the 50th anniversary of the annual matchup. The Broncos lead the series with a 31-20 all-time record over the Millers, including a 17-7 run in the 2000s. MHS has won nine of the last 10 meetings.
- WHO: Mustang Broncos (3-0, 0-0) vs Yukon Millers (1-2, 0-0)
- WHEN: Tonight at 7:30 p.m.
- WHERE: Bronco Stadium in Mustang
- LAST MATCHUP: Mustang 52, Yukon 13 (2022)
- 2022 RECORDS: Mustang (8-3), Mustang (1-9)
- WATCH LIVE: Watch live at www.MHSBroncoSports.TV
- LISTEN LIVE: 99.7 The Wolf
The Broncos have escaped with wins the last two weeks, defeating Class 6A-II Deer Creek 26-23 in Week 2 before leaving Springdale, Ark. with a 49-47 victory over the Har-Ber Wildcats last Friday. They beat Southmoore 44-13 in the season opener.
Coach Brent Barnes leads the Millers into the matchup for the first time as head coach.
Barnes was an assistant at YHS from 2006-07 before moving to Tulsa Union and eventually taking the head coach position at Norman North. He helped lead the Timberwolves to the Class 6A-I state championship game in 2016 before moving to Arizona to be closer to family. Barnes won a state title with Scottsdale Chaparral while in the Grand Canyon State.
With a highly successful new coach, can the Millers get things turned around? They won 20 games from 2018-2021 but came away with just one victory in 2022 – a mark already matched in 2023 after a 37-34 win over Class 6A-II Stillwater.
Let’s dive into the matchup:
ESCAPE ARTISTS
The Broncos have had to come from behind in both of their last two wins, including last week’s thriller in Arkansas. Every game is even more important from this point forward as the two teams open the district slate.
Watch for the Broncos to come out on fire, using the momentum from the home crowd to build an early lead. Coach Lee Blankenship’s squad got off to a slow start in each of its non-district games. This is the perfect week to kick that habit.
YUKON OFFENSE
The Millers seem to have some firepower – averaging 30 points per game against Westmoore, Stillwater, and Norman North.
Quarterback Holden Lee has passed for 795 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. The senior signal caller has completed 64-percent of his attempts and has also racked up 181 yards and three scores on the ground.
Mustang’s student section cheers on the Broncos during the 2022 Canadian County Bedlam game at Miller Stadium in Yukon. The Broncos won 52-13. (Photo by Ron Lane / Lane Images)
Lee’s favorite targets have been receivers Lucas Jones (Jr.) and Kenison Rogers (Jr.).
Jones has 26 receptions for 320 yards with one touchdown while Rogers has caught 28 balls for 274 yards and one score. Baylor Weaver (Jr.) has just five receptions, however three are touchdowns.
Logan Day (Sr.) is second on the team with 141 rushing yards on 27 attempts. He also has three touchdowns.
YUKON DEFENSE
Three players are averaging double-digit tackles per game for the Millers, including Destry Lujan (So.), Carter Creach (Jr.), and Lucas Reyes (Jr.).
Yukon is giving up 48 points per game, including 57 to Norman North and 54 to Westmoore.
MUSTANG NOTES
Mustang’s rushing attack is averaging over 6.6 yards per carry so far this season. The Broncos have rushed 122 times for 809 yards and nine touchdowns. They rushed for 367 yards on 51 carries last week at Springdale Har-Ber.
Quarterback Trajan Williamson (Jr.) has racked up 798 total yards through three games, including 307 yards on the ground. He has 10 total touchdowns – five rushing and five passing.
Running back Bryance Sanders (Sr.) has rushed for 303 yards on 42 carries. He has two touchdowns.
Jaden Johnson (So.) leads the team with 308 receiving yards on 19 receptions. He has three touchdowns while L.B. Hayes (Sr.) has two.
Linebacker Caston “Bear” Meadows (Sr.) leads Mustang with 54 total tackles. Safety Zach Warren (Sr.) has tallied 37 so far. Kaden Bachus (So.), Michael Johnson (Sr.), and Alan Lopez (Sr.) have all racked up 22.
PREDICTION
Although Yukon may have the right coach to get the program heading back in the right direction, the Millers won’t get their first signature win in his tenure.
The Broncos won’t need a late comeback this week. They will build an early lead and won’t look back, extending Lee Blankenship’s record vs YHS to 6-0.
MUSTANG 49, YUKON 31
