Two dominant backs in Chamayne Johnson Jr and Cameron Newton are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Lubbock-Cooper Pirates will challenge the Walnut Grove Wildcats at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Lubbock-Cooper is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They skirted past Del Valle 45-42. Winning may never get old, but the Pirates sure are getting used to it with their third in a row.
Ryan Rodriguez Jr
| 11/13/25 @ Del Valle | 279 |
| 10/31/25 vs Wylie | 227 |
| 10/23/25 @ Memorial | 197 |
| 10/17/25 vs Palo Duro | 178 |
| 10/10/25 @ Cooper | 231 |
| + 2 more games |
Ryan Rodriguez Jr had another great game (as he tends to do), throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 41 yards. That's the most passing yards he has posted since back in September.
Meanwhile, Walnut Grove's game on Friday was all tied up 7-7 at the half, but luckily for them it didn't stay that way. They strolled past Seguin with points to spare, taking the game 35-21. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Wildcats' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 42nd, while the Cougars are ranked 222nd).
A big part of Walnut Grove's win came down to the chemistry between Hayes Hackney and his top target Zaiden Crain. Hackney threw for 263 yards and three TDs while Crain picked up 181 receiving yards and three scores. Crain didn't just play on offense: he also made two total tackles and defended two passes.
Walnut Grove was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 262 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 189 rushing yards in four consecutive contests.
One reason for the win was Walnut Grove's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for six sacks. That dominant display was truly a team effort as six different players picked up one apiece. They got some further help from Parker Olson: he picked up a sack and made seven total tackles (3.0 for loss).
Lubbock-Cooper's record is now 7-4. As for Walnut Grove, their record now sits at 11-0.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Lubbock-Cooper has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 177.9 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Walnut Grove struggles in that department as they've been averaging 260.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Lubbock-Cooper came up short against Walnut Grove when the teams last played back in November of 2024, falling 34-28. Can the Pirates avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
