By Thomas Grant Jr.
Friday Night Lights has taken on a different meaning this season for Dutch Fork.
Through the first month of the season, lightning storms have had a significance presence at high school football games in the Palmetto State. From delays, rescheduling or even outright cancellations, few teams have avoided the difficulties created by the bad weather.
For the second time this season, Dutch Fork found itself dealing with the elements. The excitement of a home opener after three straight road games to open the season quickly dissipated amid the sounds of school alarms due to the presence of lightning.
With Dutch Fork holding a 13-0 lead over Sumter with 2:13 left in the first quarter, fans were forced to return to their vehicles. The rainfall soon followed and the two teams ended up waiting three hours and 40 minutes to resume play.
At 11:45 p.m., the Silver Foxes and Gamecocks got back to finishing the game. Those fans who did return to the stadium witnessed an offensive show by the host team in a 55-26 victory.
“Nobody ever really said anything,” said Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts about the extended delay. “We just kept going ’30 more minutes. 30 more minutes.’ It got to be 10 o’clock and like, it’s not fair for them to go home and then come back tomorrow or Monday.
“I just sat there and waited for the ad man. No ad man ever said anything to me. So, we were just ’30 more minutes. 30 more minutes’ and started like 11:40. I know that’s past your bedtime. Way past mine.”
Playing in the late hours did not affect quarterback Jaxon Knotts. The senior completed 15-19 passes for a career-best 368 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 56 yards and two scores.
A primary target for Knotts was transfer Maleek Miller. Displaying the explosiveness and elusiveness shown across town the past two years at Irmo, he finished with 238 receiving yards on eight receptions and three touchdowns.
“Maleek Miller put on a show and I’d like to say that was pretty good coaching on my part, but it’s pretty smart giving Maleek Miller the ball,” Knotts said. “He made them look silly sometimes. I’ve been telling him that he can do that kind of thing and tonight, he finally came alive and showed what he’s capable of.”
After play resumed, Sumter found success running the football. It put together two long scoring drives to make it 20-12 in the second quarter.
With five seconds left in the first half, Miller quickly changed the momentum in Dutch Fork’s favor.
Following a timeout, Knotts completed a screen pass to Miller from his own 37. Initially following his lead blocker, Miller broke into open field and into the endzone to put the Silver Foxes up at halftime 27-12.
“That big score at the end of the first half, when we really couldn’t stop ‘em and he went and scored, I think that really hurt (Sumter),” Tom Knotts said. “It hurt their confidence. I think they knew they couldn’t every really stop us. But when he scored at the end of the first half, that was big.”
“The standards are definitely different and it’s definitely higher,” said Miller about transferring to Dutch Fork. “I feel like that it’s made me a better person and I made the right choice to come over here.”
Knotts and Miller hooked up again for a 67-yard touchdown to stretch the Silver Foxes’ lead. Meanwhile, Dutch Fork adjusted to Sumter’s running attack by placing All-State center Brody Lorenzo upfront on defense.
The Silver Foxes finished the game with touchdowns from Knotts and Quintin Wilson, who rushed for 109 yards. It was their 13th consecutive win, 22nd straight home win overall and 23rd win in a row at home against in-state teams.
Dutch Fork (4-0) closes out its non-region schedule Friday at home against Gray Collegiate Academy.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA WEEK FIVE CLASS 5A POLL
1. Dutch Fork (16), 2. Northwestern, 3. Dorman, 4. (tie) Rock Hill (4-0) &James Island, 6. Berkeley, 7. Byrnes, 8. Sumter, 9. Fort Mill, 10. Boiling Springs
Others receiving votes: Summerville
