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Bartlesville High football kicked off the season at Newcastle on Thursday night.

The Bruins battled back after an early deficit, but faltered in the second half, as the Racers won the contest 49-24.

It was 14-0 Newcastle almost as soon as the game began, but Bartlesville made it a contest early. The Bruins scored 16 unanswered, spurred on by a Damien Niko interception.

Niko would score on the ensuing drive to get Bartlesville within a score. 

After another stop on defense, Jarek Edwards would score his first touchdown as a Bruin. 

BHS would stop Newcastle again, tacking on a field goal before the end of the second quarter to take a 16-14 lead into halftime.

But the highlights would mostly end there.

Newcastle took the lead for good on its first drive of the third quarter. The Racers outscored Bartlesville 35-8 in the second half.

The Bruin offense, which accounted for 190 yards in the first half, gained only 25 yards until later in the fourth quarter.

Bartlesville drops to 0-1 to begin the year. The Bruins next go to Claremore next week.