(All photos by GoFlashWin.com)
By Thomas Grant Jr.
The town of Irmo will once again feast on turkey and football during Thanksgiving.
For the second straight year, both Dutch Fork and Irmo are headed to the S.C. High School League semifinals. Both are also seeking to make it two Region 4-5A teams at the state finals for the third straight year.
Dorman (10-2) at Dutch Fork (10-1)
State semifinals have become as synonymous with the Silver Foxes as their championships.
Under head coach Tom Knotts, they are a perfect 12-0 in the semifinals. They also enter this year’s Upper State final matchup with Dorman carrying a series of streaks:
- 31 straight home playoff wins
- 19 sraight overall home victories
- 16 straight playoff wins (the longest active winning streak in public and private schools)
- 7 straight wins this season
Ironically, it was the Cavaliers who handed Dutch Fork its last home playoff loss. Led by former University of South Carolina quarterback Colin Hill, they defeated the Silver Foxes 49-19 in the third round in 2015.
Since then, Dutch Fork has defeated Dorman three straight times in the post-season. This includes two dramatic state title wins in 2017 and 2019 and a 35-18 win in 2022.
Dutch Fork is coming off a 21-0 victory over J.F. Byrnes at home. It was the program’s 29th shutout victory since 2015.
Dutch Fork held the Rebels to 117 total yards, collected two sacks and forced two turnovers.
After a previous scoring drive ended with quarterback Jaxon Knotts fumbling at the goal line, Dutch Fork regained possession after freshman defensive back T.J. Gibson forced a fumble by Jackson Buckley.
Linebacker Ethan Moore made the recovery and it turned into a 7-yard touchdown run by Kyle Henry.
After a scoreless first quarter, Dutch Fork reached the 1-yard line. As quarterback Jaxon Knotts tried to reach over the goal line, the ball was knocked away by freshman defensive back TJ Gibson and recovered by the Rebels.
The Silver Foxes added to their lead in the third quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run by Sheldon Shine in the third quarter. Saxon kept the eight-play, 85-yard drive alive when he converted a 3rd and 14 by scrambling for a 17-yard run.
J.F. Byrnes had a 4th and one late in the contest. As it attempted a flea flicker, Michigan commit Julian Walker picked up the sack on Caine Rogers for a 14-yard loss.
After both teams turned the ball over on downs, Dutch Fork got the football and Quinton Wilson scored from 14 yards with 1:31 left to close out the scoring.
The win also clinched the 10th straight 10-win season for Dutch Fork and 15th under Knotts. They face a Dorman team who defeated Ridge View 35-14 behind a punishing run game.
The winner will face either James Island or Summerville in the state final at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
Berkeley (10-2) at Irmo (11-1)
To reach a third straight Lower State final, the Yellow Jackets would have to defeat a familiar Region 4-5A foe for the fourth time in 13 months.
As promised, the latest matchup with White Knoll was another physical, closely-fought affair at W.C. Hawkins Stadium.
Irmo (11-1) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. After a long run on first down by Amire White, quarterback Dre’Von Dopson found an open Corey Miller for a 20-yard touchdown.
Following the first of a career-high three interceptions by Jamar Grissett, White added a scoring run. The Yellow Jackets kept White Knoll scoreless as Caden Hall grabbed another interception.
White Knoll answered with 14 straight points in the third quarter. Quarterback Jhais McKeiver completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Brown to put the Timberwolves on the board.
Irmo fumbled the kickoff and the Timberwolves took over at the 18-yard line. Richmond commit Caleb Geronomi got the carry and scored from nine yards to tie the game.
Geronomi then collected an interception on the Yellow Jackets’ next series. They were unable to capitalize as the 44-yard field goal attempt missed short.
With 57 seconds left in the third quarter, Irmo used trickery to regain the lead. Maleek Miller took the handoff, rolled to his right and threw to an open Jay Eady to make it 21-14.
Miller added a 3-yard touchdown run with 3:06 left to clinch Irmo’s second straight Class 5A Division II Lower State final appearance under head coach Aaron Brand.
“We told them, weather the storm, stay in it and don’t get rattled,” Irmo coach Aaron Brand said. “That team has one of the top coaches in the state. Their staff is good and they had a good game plan. We were just 14 points better tonight. … I’m super proud of these guys.”
The Yellow Jackets’ opponent will be Berkeley, a 61-13 winner over Myrtle Beach. This is just the second meeting between the two schools, the first won by the Stags 32-14 in the 2018 playoffs. The winner faces in the final defending Division II champion Northwestern or Indian Land at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
