Friday night, the Lovejoy Leopards clashed with the Walnut Grove Wildcats in a 5A Division 1 showdown. Walnut Grove entered seeking redemption after their first loss, while Lovejoy aimed to extend their win streak.
Walnut Grove struck first, taking an early 7-0 lead, but Lovejoy quickly tied it 7-7. Walnut Grove added another touchdown, with Lovejoy kicking a field goal to end the first quarter trailing 14-10. The second quarter saw back-and-forth scoring, with Walnut Grove holding a slim 21-20 halftime lead.
After the break, Lovejoy surged ahead 27-21, but Walnut Grove fought back to reclaim the lead. Lovejoy responded with a field goal entering the fourth quarter, turning the game into a fierce battle. Lovejoy seemed poised for victory with a 37-28 lead, but Walnut Grove scored early in the fourth, trimming the deficit to 37-35.
Lovejoy’s next drive stalled, giving Walnut Grove six minutes to mount one final push. They capitalized with a game-winning touchdown drive, leaving Lovejoy less than a minute to respond. Walnut Grove held on to secure a thrilling 41-37 victory.
Next week, Lovejoy will try to regroup against Denison, who also suffered a loss to defending state champion Anna. Meanwhile, Walnut Grove aims to carry their momentum into a matchup against Melissa, fresh off a tough loss to Emerson.
