Thursday night, the 8-1 Walnut Grove Wildcats took on the 2-7 Independence Knights in a 5A matchup that could give Walnut Grove their first district championship in just the second season as a football program.
Walnut Grove delivered an explosive performance in their 64-34 victory over Independence, putting on a show in what turned into a dominant district championship clincher. The game started with a bang as Walnut Grove went on a scoring tear in the first quarter, putting up a staggering 43 points while leaving Independence reeling with a 43-0 deficit. The sheer offensive firepower from Walnut Grove was on full display, and Independence had no answer in the opening period.
As the second quarter began, Independence managed to find some rhythm, scoring a touchdown to cut the lead to 43-7. However, Walnut Grove quickly answered with another touchdown, pushing their lead back to 50-7. Independence wasn’t ready to roll over and scored 13 additional points by halftime, but Walnut Grove still led 57-20.
The second half saw a shift as Walnut Grove struggled to maintain momentum, going scoreless in the third quarter while Independence cut the lead to 57-27. However, Walnut Grove regained composure in the fourth quarter, adding one more touchdown to seal the 64-34 victory.
This win secured Walnut Grove’s first-ever district title, an incredible achievement for such a young program. Despite the slow third quarter, their early dominance ensured the game was never in doubt.
Next week, Walnut Grove will face a strong Arlington Seguin team looking to make a playoff run of their own.
