Walnut’s challenge is to rediscover the production that carried it through opening night.
The Wildcats beat First Assembly Christian of Tennessee 31-18 on Aug. 28, then were shut out 29-0 at Belmont last Friday. This week, the Class 2A Wildcats face a Class 3A Holly Springs team that has won both of its first two games.
Walnut won the most recent meeting between the schools, defeating Holly Springs 34-20 on Sept. 12, 2025. That gives the Wildcats a chance for a second consecutive victory in the matchup, although the Hawks arrive with a stronger opening record this time.
Under coach Clifford Brown, Holly Springs opened with a 28-25 victory over Mantachie, then beat Byers 38-12 on Thursday, Sept. 3. The Hawks have scored 66 points and allowed 37 through two games. Their results include both a close finish and a more decisive victory.
Senior Kyson Isom is one player to watch in the Holly Springs running game. His coach-entered MaxPreps statistics show 179 rushing yards on 17 carries through two games, an average of 10.5 yards per attempt.
Isom rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries against Mantachie, then gained 76 yards on six attempts against Byers. Those performances make containing his production an important part of Walnut’s defensive assignment.
The Wildcats have already shown that their own offense can produce yardage in several ways. Against First Assembly Christian, Walnut recorded 215 rushing yards and 97 passing yards in the posted MaxPreps statistics. Getting back toward that level of production would be a substantial improvement after the Belmont shutout.
Freshman Jaylen Cox provided two of the opener’s biggest scoring contributions. He caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown and returned a kickoff 75 yards for another score. Senior Dylan Rider rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown on only five carries, while senior Jarvis Poplar added 61 rushing yards.
That opening-game distribution gives Walnut several possible sources of a rebound. Cox has demonstrated that he can contribute as both a receiver and a returner, while Rider and Poplar have supplied production on the ground. The question Friday is whether those contributions can translate into sustained scoring opportunities against an unbeaten opponent.
A victory would also carry another milestone for coach John Meeks.
The season-opening win was Meeks’ 89th career victory, all at Walnut. TippahSports reported that the result made him the winningest high school football coach in Tippah County history. Meeks, who has led the Wildcats since 2012, now has an opportunity to reach 90 wins at Holly Springs.
Friday falls in the middle of a three-game road stretch for the Wildcats. Following trips to Belmont and Holly Springs, Walnut is scheduled to visit Alcorn Central on Sept. 18 before returning home against Myrtle on Sept. 25.
For Walnut, the immediate stakes are straightforward: regain offensive traction, prevent Holly Springs from extending its unbeaten start and return to a winning record before the next road assignment. The Wildcats have an opening-night performance to build from and a victory in last year’s matchup to reference. Friday will determine whether they can turn those encouraging precedents into another win.
