By Thomas Grant Jr.
Heading into the fourth quarter at White Knoll, some ominous negative signs were in the air last Friday night for third-ranked Dutch Fork.
The Timberwolves led 24-20. It was two years ago in Red Bank when they held on for the 17-14 victory that snapped Dutch Fork’s 32-game winning streak in region play.
In another case of “déjà vu”, White Knoll was up by the exact same score Oceanside Collegiate Academy defeated the Silver Foxes by just three weeks ago.
Dutch Fork would reverse those fortunes in the final stanza. Outscoring White Knoll 21-0, 14 of the points coming off turnovers, the Silver Foxes won 41-24 for their 10th straight Region 4-5A win.
“It was neck-and-neck and turnovers is what kills you in any level of football and we were able to produce when we got the turnovers,” Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts said. “That was the change in the game right there.”
Running back Quintin Wilson got Dutch Fork off to a 13-0 lead with two of his three rushing touchdowns. He finished with 116 yards on 16 carries.
White Knoll quarterback Jhais McKeiver responded with two of his three rushing touchdowns of his own in the second quarter. This gave the Timberwolves a 14-13 lead in the second quarter as Devon Geronomi blocked a Dutch Fork PAT after Wilson’s second score.
After Brad O’Leary missed a 32-yard field goal attempt, Dutch Fork regained possession with an interception by linebacker Ethan Moze. Two runs later, Wilson was in the endzone for the third time to make it 20-14 with 2:17 left in the first half.
White Knoll got within field goal range before halftime. An offside penalty moved the football to the Dutch Fork 19 where Brayden Briscoe bounced his attempt off the upright and over the center post to bring the Timberwolves within 20-17.
A 42-yard run by Tiyon Fanning set up a 25-yard touchdown run by McKeiver to regain the lead at 24-20 with 4:10 left in the third quarter. He finished with 142 rushing yards to go with 180 yards passing.
Dutch Fork responded with a 9-play, 80-yard scoring drive. A 38-yard run by Wilson and 10-yard scamper by Kyle Henry set up a first and goal at the two-yard line.
Facing fourth down to open the fourth quarter, quarterback Jaxon Knotts battled his way into the endzone to regain the lead.
White Knoll’s next two possession ended with turnovers that led to Dutch Fork scores. The first was a fumble forced by linebacker Mario Anderson and recovered by Shrine Bowl linebacker Raleigh Salters.
The Shrine Bowl selection was back after missing time with a high ankle sprain.
“As a leader of the defense, I just had to bring everybody together and let them know we had to make a big play,” Salters said. “We changed the game a little bit. Brought the momentum back to our side.”
This led to the first of two long pass plays by Knotts to Stone Furrey. The two connected on a 36-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 34-24.
The second turnover by White Knoll was an interception by cornerback Amaurie Harley. On third and 7, Knotts threw a long pass that Furrey managed to stretch out for the catch while remaining upright for a 43-yard gain.
A four-yard scoring run by Henry closed out the scoring.
RPI RATINGS
(Class 5A – Division I)
Upper State
Dutch Fork, 5-1, 0.72529, Ridge View, 5-2, 0.65989, Dorman, 5-2, 0.64959, Rock Hill, 5-3, 0.60990, Spartanburg, 4-3, 0.58503, Byrnes, 4-3, 0.58280, Clover, 4-3, 0.57577, Boiling Springs, 4-3, 0.51704, Mauldin, 3-4, 0.50394, Blythewood, 3-5, 0.42765, Spring Valley, 2-6, 0.38537, JL Mann, 1-6, 0.37391, Wade Hampton, 0-7, 0.25793
(Class 5A – Division II)
Lower State
Irmo, 7-0, 0.79844, White Knoll, 5-2, 0.63241, Myrtle Beach, 5-2, 0.62262, Lucy Beckham, 4-2, 0.61595, Berkeley, 5-2, 0.60182, Westwood, 5-2, 0.53815, Lugoff-Elgin, 4-4, 0.52339, West Florence, 3-4, 0.46067, North Myrtle Beach, 3-4, 0.46237, St. James, 2-5, 0.44641, Conway, 2-4, 0.43881, Socastee, 1-6, 0.37289, Chapin, 0-7, 0.34894, Goose Creek, 0-7, 0.29878
(Feature Photo by GoFlashwin.com) – Dutch Fork linebacker Raleigh Salters recovers fumble forced by Mario Anderson.
