By Thomas Grant, Jr. One game at a time. For all the success enjoyed by both head coaches Tom Knotts of Dutch Fork and Aaron Brand of Irmo, this mantra has remained the centerpiece of their weekly approach. Home wins Friday night moved the two teams a week closer toContinue Reading
IRMO – One of the Midlands’ biggest high school football rivalries is set to light up W.C. Hawkins Stadium on Friday, October 31, when Irmo High hosts Dutch Fork High under the lights. School District Five expects a capacity crowd for the varsity matchup and has outlined parking and safetyContinue Reading
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 DutchContinue Reading
(Photos by GoFlashwin.com) By Thomas Grant Jr. Another week, another dominating performance on both sides of the football for top-ranked Irmo. The Yellow Jackets entered The Swamp last week and emerged with a 56-14 win. Quarterback Dre’Von Dopson completed 11-16 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Both were caughtContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts doesn’t forget. Friday’s road trip to White Knoll (5-1, 1-0) is more than just another region matchup — it’s a return to the site of Dutch Fork’s last Region 4-5A loss, a 17-14 setback on Oct. 6, 2023. Even afterContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. On one side, Dutch Fork has had over two weeks to simmer over its first loss in two years. About eight miles away, rival Irmo has had the time to get accustomed to its number-one ranking in Class 5A. On Friday, both teams return to actionContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. A new season, same old winning story for Dutch Fork. The 3-time defending Class 5A Division I champions opened the season with a 54-21 win over ranked Spartanburg. Dutch Fork trailed 21-20 in the second quarter before Mario Anderson’s 49-yard interception return TD sparked a runContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. The quest for a ‘second 4-peat” starts Friday for Dutch Fork. The defending 2-time Class 5A Division I champions open the season at home against Spartanburg (0-1). It’s the first of two straight games in Irmo for the Silver Foxes against Top 10 teams. Dutch ForkContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant, Jr. The fourth-ranked Yellow Jackets opened the season on the road against defending Class 3A champion Oceanside Collegiate. The first game without All-State quarterback A.J. Brand saw them trail early 6-0. In the second half, it outscored the Landsharks 21-14 for the 35-28 win. The fifth-ranked ClassContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Irmo football was scheduled to close out the preseason last Friday with two, 12-minute quarters against Eastside in the Chapin Kickoff Classic. Incoming lightning cut short the scrimmage by over nine minutes. Before the stoppage, the Yellow Jackets led 14-0 over the Eagles. Running back AmireContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant, Jr. S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA PRESEASON POLL CLASS 5A 1. Dutch Fork (16), 2. Summerville, 3. Gaffney, 4. Northwestern (1), 5. Irmo, 6. Spartanburg, 7. Greenwood, 8. Sumter, 9. T.L. Hanna, 10 (tied). J.F. Byrnes and Ridge View Others receiving votes: White Knoll; Hillcrest; JL Mann; River Bluff;Continue Reading