By Thomas Grant Jr.
After 15 seasons as Dutch Fork head coach and 15 state titles won in the Carolinas over five decades, Tom Knotts is as motivated as ever.
Following Monday’s first practice for the upcoming season, Knotts said his defending state champions are still entering the new season with a ‘chip on their shoulder.’
The reason? He cited a poll by “writers” (which reportedly ran in the High School Sports Report) that had the Silver Foxes ranked fifth in Class 5A.
(NOTE: The South Carolina Prep Football Media preseason poll is not released until Aug. 12. An online SI.com Top 25 preseason ranking also had Dutch Fork third behind Gaffney and Westside).
“We’ve got 33 seniors that played a bunch last year,” he said. “We’ve got about 14 returning starters and I’m just having a hard time believing anybody would pick up fifth. Whoever did it, we’re on a mission.”
After an 0-3 start and coming within a defeat of experiencing the first losing season under Knotts, the Silver Foxes managed to win its final eight games to complete the “Greatest Story Ever”.
The group of returning seniors includes quarterback Ethan Offing. Fresh off winning the United State Region title and finishing runner-up at the Senior League Baseball World Series with Irmo Little League, he and teammate safety Raleigh Salters were ready to don the football cleats again.
“I was ready to step on the field,” Salters said. “I was prepared since…after the game.”
“I was always in the mode,” Offing said. “I was always ready for football.”
Both credited playing another sport with not only keeping them in shape, but in Offing’s case, helped strengthen his arm.
Playing behind Offing this year is sophomore Jaxon Knotts. The presence of his son has Knotts even more excited to take to the field for his 45th season.
This season will see some changes in the Silver Foxes’ road to a ninth state title. The South Carolina High School League has split Class 5A into two Divisions once again.
Dutch Fork will compete in Division I with schools like Lexington and River Bluff. All three will also compete in Region 4-5A with Irmo moving up from Class 4A to join them.
The Silver Foxes are currently scheduled for nine games this season. They will open later than usual and with two road games before returning home for back-to-back games against charter schools Gray and Oceanside Collegiate academies.
Dutch Fork also has a competitive preseason schedule with scrimmages against Northwestern, and J.F. Byrnes.
DUTCH FORK 2024 SCHEDULE
AUG. 30 – at Spartanburg
SEPT. 6 – at Ridge View
SEPT. 13 – GRAY COLLEGIATE ACADEMY
SEPT. 20 – OCEANSIDE COLLEGIATE ACADEMY
SEPT. 27 – BYE
OCT. 4 – at Chapin
OCT. 11 – WHITE KNOLL
OCT. 18 – at Lexington
OCT. 25 – at River Bluff
NOV. 1 – IRMO
Photos and Videos by Thomas Grant Jr.
