Irmo football finds its offensive rhythm Yellow Jackets look to carry momentum into regular-season finale and playoffs By Thomas Grant Jr. IRMO — For much of the season, Irmo football has sought to regain its offensive identity. With the regular-season finale approaching, the Yellow Jackets appear to have found theirContinue Reading
Photo by Thomas Grant Jr. – Dutch Fork quarterback Jaxon Knotts By Thomas Grant Jr. Concerns about the Dutch Fork football team’s level of play the past two weeks even concerned head coach Tom Knotts. Last Friday, the Silver Foxes responded by winning another region title in dominant fashion. TheContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Another region title is within reach for Dutch Fork football. A home win Friday over River Bluff would clinch the 15th region title under head coach Tom Knotts. Based on the numbers, the odds would seemingly favor the Silver Foxes: – 11-0 all-time versus the GatorsContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Irmo looked to snag the “lead driver” role in Region 5-4A last Friday for “Homecoming”. It was a battle of “Yellow Jackets” with the host team looking to hand visiting North Augusta its first region loss. Instead, Irmo found itself on the losing end of theContinue Reading
Photos by GoFlashwin.com By Thomas Grant Jr. The ‘second season’ for Dutch Fork football during the Tom Knotts era has proven as rewarding as the post-season. Since his arrival in 2010, the Silver Foxes have won 14 of the last 16 region titles. They are 49-2 since 2015 and haveContinue Reading
Photo by GoFlashwin.com By Thomas Grant, Jr. Irmo football returns to previously chartered territory this Friday. When it plays host to North Augusta, the game marks their return to Region 5-4A. This is also the first meeting between the two Yellow Jacket teams since 2015. “New region, new foes,” IrmoContinue Reading
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 teamsContinue Reading
Dutch Fork defensive lineman Jaden Wuerth – Photos by GoFlashwin.com By Thomas Grant Jr. After three straight road games to open the season, Dutch Fork gets its unofficial “Homecoming” this Friday. The 4-time defending Class 5A champions face Sumter for their home opener. It’s the Silver Foxes’ first game atContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. ORANGEBURG – It was an historic Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium for Dutch Fork football. In defeating Summerville 40-20 in the Class 5A Division I final for the second straight year, the Silver Foxes achieved a number of S.C. High School League milestones: -The firstContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Irmo’s quest to halt a 35-year championship drought ended in disappointing fashion Friday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. For the second straight year, the Yellow Jackets stood on the sidelines as Northwestern hoisted a second straight Class 5A Division II title. Instead of a last-second loss,Continue Reading
(Photos by GoFlashwin.com) By Thomas Grant Jr. Dutch Fork and Irmo are not only competing in different Class 5A Division brackets. Their Friday opponents in the third round also offer a contrast in frequency. J.F. Byrnes at Dutch Fork When the Rebels (8-3) visits the top-ranked Silver Foxes (9-1) forContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Ten Midlands high school football teams are featured in this week’s S.C. Prep Football Media Poll as the regular season enters its final week. Both Swansea and North Central reentered their respective classifications after key wins. Swansea climbed back into the Class 3A rankings at No.Continue Reading
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