10/03/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ddjfcs61B/
🦅 HOMECOMING VICTORY! 🦅
🏈 FINAL: Big Walnut 35 | Worthington Kilbourne 28
Under an incredible sunset, the Golden Eagles win the battle of unbeatens and move to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the OCC Capital!
🏆 Now No. 1 in Division II, Region 7 in Joe Eitel’s unofficial rankings!
🔥 Nolan Buirley: 288 rushing yards & 3 TDs
🔥 Eli Stumpf: 116 passing yards, 99 rushing yards & 2 total TDs
💪 503 yards of offense — powered by 387 yards on the ground!
👑 Congratulations to Homecoming King Cole Hysell and Homecoming Queen Sophia Hamilton!
Next: Friday, October 9, at Westerville North — 7 p.m.
One Town. One Team. One Family.
Buirley's 288 Yards, Three TDs Power Big Walnut to 35-28 Homecoming Victory
SUNBURY — Under a brilliant sunset and in front of a packed homecoming crowd, Big Walnut kept its perfect season rolling Friday night, defeating previously unbeaten Worthington Kilbourne 35-28 in an OCC Capital showdown.
Nolan Buirley rushed for 288 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries, leading an offense that produced 503 total yards. The Golden Eagles improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play, while the Wolves fell to 6-1.
Big Walnut established control early. Buirley opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run at 6:35 of the first quarter. Eli Stumpf added a 20-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds remaining, giving the Eagles a 14-0 lead.
Stumpf then connected with Jackson Bowers for a 14-yard touchdown with 2:51 left in the second quarter. Kilbourne quarterback Jackson Szabo answered with a 2-yard touchdown run before halftime, sending Big Walnut into the break ahead 21-7.
Buirley struck again midway through the third quarter, breaking loose for a 44-yard touchdown to take a 28-7 lead. Kilbourne refused to fade. Szabo found Shawn Rice for a touchdown in the third quarter, then scored on a 6-yard run with 8:14 remaining to cut the deficit to 28-21.
Big Walnut answered when it mattered. Buirley's third touchdown, a 2-yard run with 3:24 left, restored the two-score cushion at 35-21. Szabo's 4-yard touchdown pass to Alex Meek with 1:51 remaining tightened the finish, but the Eagles emerged with their seventh consecutive victory.
Stumpf delivered through the air and on the ground, completing 13 of 19 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 99 yards and another score. Gavin Harrington led Big Walnut's receivers with six catches for 62 yards. Fen Stumpf added three receptions for 32 yards, and Bowers caught two passes for 15 yards and a touchdown.
The offensive line and blocking unit helped Big Walnut pile up 387 rushing yards and average 10.2 yards per carry. Owen Pyles was perfect on all five extra-point attempts.
Defensively, Cole Swonguer recorded five solo tackles and two assists. Cole Hysell added four solo stops, two assists, and a sack credited for a 20-yard loss. Buirley also recorded a sack for a 13-yard loss, and TJ Minor was credited with a sack. Drew Harris, Tanner Harkness and Bowers each broke up a pass.
Szabo kept Kilbourne in contention with 222 passing yards and two touchdown passes, plus 99 rushing yards and two scores. Rice caught eight passes for 106 yards, while Meek had seven receptions for 88 yards.
The celebration extended beyond football as Big Walnut recognized Homecoming King Cole Hysell and Homecoming Queen Sophia Hamilton, adding a special moment to a memorable evening for the school community.
Big Walnut now stands No. 1 in Division II, Region 7 in Joe Eitel's unofficial Harbin rankings. The October 2 update lists the 7-0 Eagles with a 21.2143 average, ahead of Bishop Watterson and Massillon Washington. Week 7 results were still in progress at that update.
Next up, Big Walnut travels to Westerville North on Friday, October 9, for a 7 p.m. OCC Capital kickoff.
