Walnut Grove Upsets Monroe Area in Fox 5 Game of the Week

(photo by Brett Fowler)

On Friday, September 12th, 2025, the Walnut Grove Warriors and the Monroe Area Hurricanes faced off in the Fox 5 Atlanta Game of the Week on national television. The Warriors toppled the Hurricanes, 24-14, at Monroe Area High School. 
by Drew Caraway, Gracie Edwards, and Jaxson Folds

(image from Hudl)

The Warriors defeated the Hurricanes for the first time since 2016, winning 34-7. In this year’s edition of the cross-town rivalry, the Warriors won and ultimately declared the Walton County Champs. The Warriors defeated the Loganville Red Devils, 7-0, and the Monroe Area Hurricanes, 24-14, in a sweep of their rivals and Walton County teams, hence the title, “Walton County Champs.”

Game Recap
Early in the first quarter, #6 Jake Moss, senior and linebacker, blocked a Monroe Area punt, picked it up, and returned it for a 30-yard touchdown to put the Warriors on top early. Later in the first quarter, Monroe Area ran for a 10-yard touchdown to tie the game, 7-7. 

In the second quarter, Monroe Area forced a turnover on downs and capitalized with a 30-yard touchdown run to put the Hurricanes on top, 14-7. The Warriors entered the half down 14-7. 

At the start of the third quarter, #10 Billy Hendrix, junior and quarterback, completed a 45-yard pass for a touchdown and tied the game, 14-14. After a Monroe Area punt, Mike Eck drilled a 45-yard field goal and put the Warriors on top, 17-14. 

With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, #4 Brody Conley, junior and running back, gave the Warriors a 30-yard insurance touchdown to put the Warriors on top, 24-14. 
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A minute later, #20 Chris Labowicz, sophomore and cornerback, sealed the game, intercepting Monroe Area quarterback Ezra Harrison. The Warriors ran out the rest of the clock and finished the job against Monroe Area to win 24-14. 

In the game, Desmond Parker, senior and #0 at running back, was the “swiss army knife” for the Green and Black. He contributed in multiple ways and ran the ball proficiently. 

Bradin “Sully” Gouge, senior, said the crowd was “absolutely electric.” He says the Walnut Grove fans, from what he could tell, were “pretty terrified. Everyone thought we were going to lose.”

Tilman Mull, freshman and #75 on the offensive line, said the win “felt good. It was nice to beat them.” Tilman is the brother of Gatlin Mull, senior, and #66 on the offensive line. 
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Mike Eck, sophomore and #89, started for the first time for the injured Zach McDaniel and drilled a 45-yard kick. He said it felt “pretty natural. I practice it every week.” Eck talked about the rivalry win and said, “It felt amazing because we worked on it for 2 weeks,” after finally beating them for the first time in nine years.

The Warriors are 4-0 heading into Friday’s matchup against the Cedar Shoals Jaguars. The Warriors will host the Jaguars at home in the Homecoming game! Come out on Friday and support your Warriors, and come back on Saturday to enjoy Homecoming!

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