Buirley’s Four Touchdowns Lead Big Walnut Past Worthington Kilbourne, 35–20

Golden Eagles improve to 6–1 overall and 3–0 in OCC Capital Division play

WORTHINGTON, OH – October 3, 2025 — Junior running back Nolan Buirley once again carried the load for Big Walnut, rushing for 197 yards and four touchdowns to power the Golden Eagles past Worthington Kilbourne, 35–20, in an OCC Capital Division showdown Friday night.

Buirley’s performance highlighted a balanced Big Walnut attack that piled up 471 total yards on just 37 plays — an eye-popping 11.8 yards per snap. The victory improved Big Walnut’s record to 6–1 overall and 3–0 in OCC Capital Division play.

Buirley was electric from start to finish, scoring on runs of 26, 4, 4, and 80 yards. His 80-yard sprint late in the third quarter came moments after Kilbourne had tied the game at 20–20, instantly flipping momentum back to the Golden Eagles.

The Golden Eagles opened strong behind Buirley’s two first-quarter touchdowns to lead 14–7. After adding another score in the second, Big Walnut took a 20–10 advantage into halftime.

Kilbourne quarterback Jackson Szabo (19-of-27, 217 yards, 2 TDs) led a third-quarter surge, including a 53-yard touchdown pass to Grayson Benjamin that tied the game at 20. But Buirley’s 80-yard breakaway silenced the home crowd, and Big Walnut never looked back.

Quarterback Eli Stumpf capped the night with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Owen Pollock early in the fourth quarter. Stumpf finished 6-of-9 for 169 yards and a touchdown, while Brody Hatfield added three catches for 87 yards.

Special teams were also steady for Big Walnut. Kicker Owen Pyles converted three of four extra points and handled all six kickoffs, averaging 45.7 yards per kick. Buirley added 52 yards on two kickoff returns, and Hatfield chipped in with a 30-yard return.

Defensively, Will Clawson anchored the unit with 13 total tackles, while Eli Helton had 10 tackles and Brady Taylor had nine stops and an interception. Landen Doan and Clint Stover each tallied a sack as the Golden Eagles held Kilbourne scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Despite the Wolves running nearly twice as many plays (70–37) and winning time of possession, Big Walnut’s explosive playmaking proved decisive. The Golden Eagles averaged 10.8 yards per rush and forced two turnovers in key moments.

With the win, Big Walnut (6–1, 3–0 OCC) remains atop the OCC Capital standings and will look to stay hot when it hosts Westerville North next Friday in Sunbury.