Walnut Grove Survives Late Scare to Stay Perfect
MELISSA — Walnut Grove’s perfect season nearly came crashing down Friday night, but when the final whistle blew, the Wildcats were still unbeaten. In a thriller that went down to the wire, Walnut Grove edged Melissa 38-35, surviving the Cardinals’ furious late push to move to 9-0 on the year.
Running back Cameron Newton once again stole the show, pounding out 172 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. His consistency has been nothing short of remarkable, as he has now recorded multiple rushing scores in ten straight games dating back to last season. Quarterback Nolon Buckels added balance through the air, connecting on several big plays and finishing with 101 receiving yards.
The Wildcats’ victory marked their second consecutive win decided by exactly three points, showing they can grind out close contests as well as blowouts.
Melissa refused to go quietly. The Cardinals traded punches all night and nearly pulled off the upset before running out of time, snapping their six-game win streak in the process to fall to 6-2.
Next up, Walnut Grove looks to keep its unbeaten run alive when it meets Independence on Friday at 7 p.m., a matchup that could produce fireworks against a defense giving up over 53 points per game. Melissa will aim to bounce back at home against Denison at 7:30 p.m., with both teams hungry for a statement win.
