Walnut Grove wasted no time against Denison’s defense. Senior running back Cameron Newton broke loose repeatedly, finding the end zone three times in the game’s first eight minutes. By the close of the first quarter, the Wildcats led 28–0, with the lead extending to 42–0 by halftime.

Quarterback Hayes Hackney added balance to the offensive assault, finishing 10-of-20 for 183 passing yards and two touchdowns. In the ground game, Walnut Grove piled up 201 rushing yards as a team, with Newton contributing significantly (149 yards, 4 rushing TDs) and Jackson Correll, Cam King, and others chipping in.

Receiver Zaiden Crain stepped up with three catches for 55 yards and a touchdown, helping stretch Denison’s defense horizontally.

While the outcome was never seriously in doubt, the Wildcats continued methodically in the second half. Denison avoided a shutout with a 72-yard touchdown run by Rashaun Dehorney late in the third quarter. But the momentum was all Walnut Grove’s.

Defensively, the Wildcats were relentless. They recorded 11.5 sacks, with Keller Pittenger and Brock Hatcher each notching three sacks. Alex Omet also made his presence felt, logging 12 tackles (including tackles for loss). Late in the game, the Wildcats added a few more scores — including a defensive touchdown off a fumble recovery by Brock Hatcher and another by Mike Harris — to put the final margin at 56–7.

Photos courtesy of Freddie Beckwith Photography