It was a battle of the states. Predictably, Texas came out on top.
First-year program Walnut Grove defeated Class 4A champions Malvern from Arkansas, with both teams accounting for 111 total points. The duration of the game was a nail-biter, with Walnut Grove taking the lead with 3:01 seconds left behind a rushing touchdown from Cameron Newton and a two-point conversion by Ryan Kuhn, inevitably leading to the 57-54 win.
It didn’t start easy. Walnut Grove trailed 14-0 and 21-6, before the Wildcats made it a one-point game at halftime.
Quarterback Braden Butler finished 15 of 27 for 213 yards and three touchdowns, including rushing for 87 yards and two additional scores.
“Braden was special tonight,” said coach Tommy Allison to Sports Illustrated. “We didn’t make a quarterback decision until two days ago. We had been hard on him and he responded like a champion.”
Walnut Grove returns to the Lone Star State this Thursday, hosting Gunter in a non-district contest.
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