By Thomas Grant Jr.
History favors Dutch Fork in Friday’s Region 4-5A contest against White Knoll.
The Silver Foxes are 17-2 all-time against the Timberwolves. They have also won the last 13 meetings and are 12-0 under head coach Tom Knotts.
There’s also a 33-game region streak Dutch Fork has carried since the 2015 season.
The team’s fortunes have seemingly reversed themselves going into the upcoming meeting. It’s the Timberwolves (6-0, 1-0) who are undefeated and ranked sixth in the state rankings.
Meanwhile, it’s the defending state champions who are unranked and looking up in the standings. A 2-4 record in non-region play marks their worst showing this late in the season since 2010, the season after Knotts’ arrival.
“We are struggling and just need to keep working hard and trying to improve,” Knotts said. “Nothing really matters at 7:30 p.m. except how you play the game. We hope to be the usual Dutch Fork and dominate October. But White Knoll is a really good team and I’m sure they’ll be motivated to get their first win against us in a long time.”
White Knoll head coach and former Dutch Fork defensive coordinator Nick Pelham is not taking his former employer lightly at all.
“(My players) don’t even know what the record is,” he said. “They know it’s Dutch Fork and we hold them in high esteem. They’re the standard and like I told somebody else the other day it’s not a day that goes by that I say, “what you do right now would not fly at Dutch Fork” or “that would not be acceptable at Dutch Fork”. So they’ve heard that for three years, so they know how great that program is.”
Dutch Fork will have had two weeks of preparation for a Timberwolves’ team which is averaging 47 points a game and holding teams to six points a game. With exception to the season-opening loss to Colquitt County, the Silver Foxes are holding opponents to 12.2 points a game.
Safety Deon Winsley leads the team in tackles (42) and second in sacks behind linebacker Josh Smith. Cornerback Peyton Betts has four interceptions and he and the secondary will get tested by quarterback Landon Sharpe and his bevy of wide receivers Austin Cunningham, Evan Henderson and C.J. Earl and Shrine Bowl selection and tight end Hasan Lee.
Offensively, Maurice Anderson has emerged as the team’s top rusher. Depending on the health status of Jonathan Hunt, Ethan Offing will start again at quarterback.
White Knoll’s defense will present pressure upfront with defensive linemen Lincoln Ilunga and Demenico Banks and Shrine Bowl linebacker Jaiden Kimble.
Dutch Fork has won or shared the region title every season under Knotts. Their last region loss was Oct. 13, 2015 to Ridge View.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA RANKINGS
Class 5A
1. Summerville (18) (6-0)
2. Hillcrest (6-0)
3. Byrnes (1) (6-1)
4. TL Hanna (6-1)
5. Gaffney (4-2)
6. White Knoll (7-0)
7. Lexington (5-1)
8. Fort Dorchester (3-2)
9. Sumter (5-2)
10. JL Mann (6-1)
Others receiving votes: Spartanburg, Clover, Ashley Ridge
Photo: Dutch Fork linebacker Dylan Oliver with the football.
