By Thomas Grant Jr.
Dutch Fork either trailed or were tied with Ridge View last Friday for 47 minutes and 37.1 seconds.
With 38.9 seconds left, quarterback Jaxon Knotts put the Silver Foxes ahead with a 25-yard touchdown run. The score capped a 13-play, 95-yard scoring drive in which the junior converted three third downs.
Dutch Fork All-State defensive lineman Julian Walker sealed the 28-21 victory with a sack of Ashton Chapman in the final seconds. It was a performance worthy of Hall of Fame Night where the school inducted the likes of Buffalo Bills’ placekicker Tyler Bass.
“We’re Dutch Fork, we’re not supposed to lose the game,” said Knotts, who scored all four touchdowns, three passing, for the Silver Foxes and finished with 352 total yards. “We knew we had to score one way or another. Whether it was the kicker, whether getting it in the endzone. We just wanted it more than they did tonight. We were tired, but it turned out we wanted it more and got it done.”
Chapin transfer Stone Furrey also had a breakout game for the Silver Foxes. He had six receptions for 158 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown off a flea flicker.
“Coming over here from Chapin, I’ve had to work my butt off and work my tail off every single day because being at a place like this, if you go down or don’t try hard, somebody’s waiting for your spot because you have to win state championships to be a part of this team,” Furrey said. “So I think it’s a blessing for myself to come over here and work as hard as I can. God gave me the ability to come do it.”
Despite the 24th straight victory and 13th consecutive at home, head coach Tom Knotts saw areas of needed improvement. He once again saw his young secondary struggle to consistently defend the pass.
While freshman Taddrick Gibson had an interception, the Silver Foxes gave up 230 passing yards. They had a similar issue the week before against Spartanburg before an interception return TD by Mario Anderson put Dutch Fork back in control.
“I don’t expect it, I demand it,” Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts. “I demand it. It’s got to happen or we’re going to bring up some B and some JV players because they’ve been doing this for four years. I don’t get it.”
The Silver Foxes now begin a 2-game road slate against charter schools. They visit West Columbia to face Gray Collegiate, which posted its first win of the season 27-14 over Marlboro County.
Former Silver Fox
scores TD versus USC
South Carolina State held a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter against the University of South Carolina last Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The Gamecocks responded with 38 unanswered points for the 38-10 victory. However, the Bulldogs’ lone touchdown came courtesy of former Dutch Fork wide receiver Nicholas Sowell.
With 12:32 left in the game, he caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Stubblefield. He finished with two receptions for 23 yards.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (15) (2-0), 2. Northwestern (5) (3-0), 3. Irmo (3-0), 4. Greenwood (2-0), 5. Summerville (2-1), 6. Byrnes (1-1), 7. James Island (3-0), 8. Dorman (2-1), 9. Gaffney (1-2), 10. Ridge View (1-2)
Others receiving votes: Sumter, White Knoll, Greenville, Carolina Forest, Berkeley, Fort Mill, Spartanburg
Photo by Thomas Grant Jr. – Dutch Fork running back Kyle Henry
