Prosper vs. Walnut Grove for the First Time Ever: Two 7-1 Teams, One Stadium, and Bragging Rights Across Prosper ISD

By Coach Terrence Booker, RF Sports Radio DFW high school football voice

Friday night folks, I have been around this game a long time, and there's nothing like a brand-new rivalry between kids who grew up playing on the same youth teams. That is what we get in Prosper on Friday night.

The facts

No. 6 Prosper and Walnut Grove, two Prosper ISD schools, both 7-1 and 4-1 in district play, meet for the first time on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. at Children's Health Stadium, per the Prosper-Celina Journal, citing MaxPreps. Walnut Grove is the home team. Prosper is second in the district, and Walnut Grove is third.

Prosper has won four straight, including a 64-7 rout of McKinney Boyd on Oct. 22, and has outscored opponents 420-247. Its only loss was 51-21 to Allen on Sept. 17. Walnut Grove beat Princeton 49-14 on Oct. 23, and its only loss was a 50-49 overtime game against Dallas Jesuit on Oct. 8. The Wildcats have outscored opponents 361-165.

Walnut Grove moved up to Class 6A this fall after back-to-back district titles in 5A Division II. Its athletic director, Tommy Allison, has been there since the school opened in 2023 and went 23-3 in the first two varsity seasons, per Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Walnut Grove receiver Chase Jolley, whose brother Mason played linebacker at Prosper, told DCTF in August: "Hopefully we beat them so I can talk to my brother about how we're better than Prosper." Prosper fans are pushing a "Ghost the Grove" blackout.

After Friday, Prosper hosts Princeton on Nov. 6, and Walnut Grove plays at Allen on Nov. 5. Elsewhere, VYPE lists Sachse at Wylie East on Thursday among its 10 DFW games to watch, and notes Waxahachie's 35-28 win over Duncanville last week.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: Walnut Grove is no longer the new school trying to prove it belongs. You don't go 7-1 in your first season in 6A and lose by one point in overtime to Jesuit by accident. Allison has built a real program.

That said, I'm taking Prosper. The Eagles' only loss is to Allen, and they score in bunches. Their defense has given up more points than you'd like, though, and Walnut Grove can put up points too. I expect a shootout.

And here's the big picture. Playoff seeding is on the line, and both teams have tough finishes, especially Walnut Grove at Allen. The loser Friday faces a much harder road to a good seed.

My call: Prosper 42, Walnut Grove 35.

What to watch next

Watch the first quarter. If Walnut Grove holds its own early, the home crowd will help. Then check the district picture Saturday. For last week's rankings, read our Oct. 27 state rankings post, and find every Friday story on our DFW High School Football page.

Radio question: does Prosper protect its turf, or does Walnut Grove announce it is the new power in Prosper ISD?

Sources: Prosper-Celina Journal - No. 6 Prosper visits Walnut Grove in first-ever rivalry game; MaxPreps - Prosper vs. Walnut Grove, Oct. 30, 2026; VYPE - 10 Games to Watch in Week 10 of DFW High School Football; The Dallas Morning News - Best Dallas-area high school football games to watch this week.