Football Game Preview: Lovejoy Leopards vs. Walnut Grove Wildcats

The Lovejoy Leopards will face off against the Walnut Grove Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.

While Lovejoy's win against Emerson wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. In a tight game that could have gone either way, the Leopards made off with a 39-38 victory over the Mavericks. The score was all tied up 17-17 at the break, but the Leopards were the better team in the second half.

Lovejoy had a senior duo take command as Zach Jones rushed for 168 yards and a pair of TDs on only 12 carries and Jacob Janecek rushed for 90 yards and one touchdown on only 11 carries. Jones really tore up the turf during one magnificent 70-yard run. Another player making a difference was Travis Shegog, who picked up 60 receiving yards and two scores.

Meanwhile, Walnut Grove put another one in the bag on Friday to keep their perfect season alive. They came out on top against Anna by a score of 45-38. The win almost wasn't to be: the Wildcats were down 38-24 in the third quarter.

Lovejoy better keep an eye on Cameron Newton. He was instrumental in Walnut Grove's win, rushing for 141 yards and four TDs, while also picking up 105 receiving yards. Newton has been hot, having posted two or more rushing touchdowns the last eight times he's played. Hayes Hackney was another key player, throwing for 360 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Walnut Grove's victory bumped their record up to 7-0. As for Lovejoy, they now have a winning record of 4-3.

Lovejoy came up short against Walnut Grove in their previous meeting back in October of 2024, falling 41-37. Will the Leopards have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more football content.