Photo by GoFlashwin.com
By Thomas Grant Jr.
The Dutch Fork and Irmo football teams are heading into the post-season on a roll.
Each now seeks to jointly reach the state finals for the third consecutive year. It would be their 11th straight title game appearance for the Silver Foxes in Class 5A, while the Yellow Jackets are seeking a third consecutive trip in Class 4A.
Both games would take place Friday and Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg.
Dutch Fork
The only uncertainty the Silver Foxes faced entering the regular-season finale against White Knoll was its playoff seeding.
Dutch Fork was penciled in as a top seed in the Class 5A Upper State bracket ahead of Northwestern.
Despite the 49-7 win over the Timberwolves to clinch a seventh undefeated regular season under head coach Tom Knotts, it finished as a second seed. The Silver Foxes (9-0) will still have a first-round bye and await the winner of Lexington at Fort Mill.
Dutch Fork defeated Lexington 28-7 October 2 and have won the last 13 meetings. It is 4-0 all-time against the Yellow Jackets, the last meeting in 2013.
What is an uncertainty is the status of Shrine Bowl quarterback Jaxon Knotts. He reportedly suffered a hand injury in the first half and did not return.
The elder Knotts said Saturday the team is hopeful of his son’s availability for the playoff opener. Dutch Fork enters the post-season with several notable streaks:
⁃ 15-0 in playoff openers under Knotts
⁃ 30 consecutive home playoff wins
⁃ A 24-game home-winning streak
⁃ 18-game winning streaks (overall and playoff)
Irmo
The Yellow Jackets finished the regular season with their second highest point total of the 21st century.
In the 73-0 win over Fox Creek, quarterback Britton Davis threw four touchdowns to four different recovers. He has thrown 12 of his 26 touchdowns during the 3-game winning streak.
Backup Rick Vanderhorst rushed for two scores and Jayden Arrington had a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown.
This was the most points scored by Irmo (7-3) since an 85-0 win over Colleton County during the 2023 season.
After finishing second behind North Augusta in Region 5-4A, the Yellow Jackets open the Class 4A playoffs at W.C. Hawkins Stadium Friday against South Aiken (6-4). Irmo defeated the Thoroughbreds 38-14 on October 9 as Davis rushed for three touchdowns.
The winner travels to North Augusta for the second round.
S.C. Prep Football Media Week 10 Poll
Class 5A
1. (tie) Northwestern & Dutch Fork, 3. James Island, 4. Dorman, 5. Berkeley, 6. Byrnes, 7. Boiling Springs, 8. Ridge View, 9. River Bluff, 10. Fort Mill
Class 4A
1. Westside, 2. Gaffney, 3. TL Hanna, 4. North Augusta, 5. Hilton Head Island, 6. South Pointe, 7. Lugoff-Elgin, 8. Indian Land, 9. South Florence, 10. Irmo
