By Thomas Grant Jr.
The ‘D’ in Dutch Fork truly stands for defense this season.
From posting four shutouts (24 going all the way back to 2016) to not allowing a point in 21 of 24 quarters played this season, the defending Class 5A champions are placing their hopes on keeping opponents off the scoreboard.
Fittingly, two senior standouts from that side of the football were selected last week to the Shrine Bowl. Both defensive back Elgin Sessions and linebacker Josh Smith will represent the Silver Foxes at the Dec. 21 game at Spartanburg High School.
“It’s a huge accomplishment,” Smith said. “It’s just things that you dream of. You dream of playing in these big All-Star games, things like that. You represent your state with some of the best athletes. It’s just a dream.”
“I’m very grateful,” Sessions said. “I worked hard for it. My teammates helped me get there as well. It wasn’t just me. My coaches helped me as well. I worked for this my whole life. I told my dad I wanted to be a Shrine Bowler and I went out and got it.”
“The Glove”
A two-sport athlete and West Virginia commit, Sessions plays a dual role in the secondary. Whether it’s going mano y mano guarding some of the top wide receivers in the state at cornerback or covering the field to prevent big plays as a strong safety, opposing quarterbacks are always on the lockout for his presence.
This is especially true the past two weeks as Sessions has turned his defensive prowess into points. He’s turned both of his interceptions against Chapin and Lexington into touchdowns.
An avid game film watcher, Session studies his opponents’ tendencies and uses it to his advantage when he’s “put on the island” against an elite pass catcher.
Such was the case in Week One against Ridge View. Sessions found himself in situations where he defended elusive University of South Carolina commit Jordon Gidron.
His efforts along will fellow defensive backs Malachi Smith and Derek Smith limited Gidron to two catches for 34 yards. The Blazers managed only 244 total yards, 188 passing, committed three turnovers (one interception) and were shut out 38-0.
Flex
The defensive play upfront also plays a major factor in disrupting opponents. Through six games, Smith earns the title as the biggest disrupter with a team-high 41 tackles to go with eight sacks and three quarterback hurries.
As a flex linebacker, Smith is as omnipresent around the field as Sessions and relishes the role.
“It means I can play every down,” said Smith about his role. “That means I can play the run; I can play the pass. Whether that’s in pass coverage or pass rush, getting sacks, being where the team needs me the most. Just being able to play multiple positions and just being able to play along the line and off the ball, it’s great for the team. It helps everything go together.”
Three-peat
Both Sessions and Smith believe the chemistry developed from years of playing varsity together plays a big role in Dutch Fork’s defensive dominance. It creates a trust in which each player sees their role of making the other job’s easier.
“When they do their job upfront and dominate the line, it really makes everything easy on the back end,” Smith said. “We pride ourselves on being on the line, beat the line and everything will work out on the back end.”
“With a player like Elgin, a great communicator, he’s always communicating with me,” Smith said. “To have two guys like us on one side of the field takes a lot of weight off the team.”
Dutch Fork looks to extend its latest streak of scoreless quarters at five this Friday at Lexington. The Silver Foxes have won 10 straight over the Wildcats and are 11-1 under head coach Tom Knotts.
While shutting out opponents is a team goal, Dutch Fork players remain focused on higher aspirations which for the program is a third straight title and ninth overall.
“Everybody knows we’re the best of the best,” Smith said. “We’re the best in Carolina. We have the best athletes. We have the best team, best coach, and all that. So, we just want that to be known (with a) Three-Peat.”
Irmo leading RPI poll
The Yellow Jackets won their 19th consecutive game last Friday in a 35-14 “Homecoming” victory over previously undefeated and ranked River Bluff.
Shrine Bowl quarterback A.J. Brand rushed for 178 yards and accounted for four touchdowns (three rushing, one passing) and Amire White rushed for 120 yards and a score.
Irmo (7-0, 2-0) now makes its first trip in seven years to Red Bank to face defending Region 4-5A champion White Knoll. The Timberwolves (4-3, 0-2) have dropped two straight region games, including a 38-0 loss to Dutch Fork.
The Yellow Jackets have won three straight in the series and own a 9-2 advantage over White Knoll.
While Irmo dropped to fifth in the Class 5A S.C. Prep Football Media Poll, it is first in the Maxpreps.com RPI ratings poll for the Lower State in Class 5A Division II.
The RPI rankings will be used to seed teams for the post-season. It’s based on 50 percent winning percentage, 40 percent of the opponents’ winning percentage and 10 percent of the opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (17) (6-0)
2. Northwestern (8-0)
3. Gaffney (1) (5-0)
4. Summerville (7-0)
5. Irmo (7-0)
6. Sumter (7-0)
7. JL Mann (4-1)
8. Boiling Springs (4-1)
9. Spartanburg (5-1)
10. Hillcrest (4-1)
Others receiving votes: Greenwood, River Bluff, Ashley Ridge, White Knoll
RPI RANKINGS
CLASS 5A DIVISION I
(Upper State)
1.Dutch Fork, 6-0, 0.80528; 2. Spartanburg, 4-1, 0.71237; 3. River Bluff, 6-1, 0.66252; 4. Lexington, 5-2, 0.64021; 5. JL Mann, 4-1, 0.61871; 6. Dorman, 3-3, 0.59342 7. Clover, 4-3, 0.56856; 8. Rock Hill, 5-3, 0.56855; 9. Boiling Springs, 4-1, 0.56727; 10. Byrnes, 2-4, 0.50385; 11. Mauldin, 1-4, 0.44203; 12. Wade Hampton, 0-5 ,0.22653
(Lower State)
1. Irmo, 7-0, 0.74761; Chapin, 4-3, 0.62899; 3. White Knoll, 4-3, 0.59500; 4. West Florence, 5-2, 0.59031; 5. Goose Creek, 4-3, 0.53019; 6. Myrtle Beach, 4-3, 0.52481; 7. Westwood, 4-3, 0.52014 8, Berkeley, 3-4, 0.49769; 9. Lugoff-Elgin, 3-5, 0.49284; 10. Lucy Beckham, 4-3, 0.47946; 11. Socastee, 2-5, 0.43439; 12. North Myrtle Beach, 2-5, 0.43021; 13. Conway, 1-6, 0.38819 14. St. James, 0-7, 0.32154
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
(All Games at 7:30 p.m.)
Dutch Fork at Lexington
Irmo at White Knoll
Photos by GoFlashWin.com
