Dutch Fork Explodes In Fourth To Top Summerville
By Roger Lee
HSSR, Contributing Writer
Orangeburg - Dutch Fork captured its fourth consecutive 5A football championship with a 40-20 win over fellow gridiron powerhouse Summerville.
For some of the seniors on the Silver Foxes’ team, the win in the 5A, Division 1 Football Championship at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Dec. 6 puts them in a prestigious group.
“Four rings, there aren’t that many people in the country who have done that so it shows what a special group this is,” said Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts.
The coach now holds a prestigious spot in South Carolina high school football record books since this championship is his 10th championship with Dutch Fork. That ties him with former Summerville coach John McKissick and former Woodruff coach W.L. Varner for the most state titles in a career according to Palmetto’s Finest.
“Well I think it means I’m old, but that’s pretty cool,” Knotts said. “It’s special and a great tribute to those players and the great group of supporters we have. I have a lot of respect for Coach McKissick. I’ve visited him a couple of times and had a great time with him. I learned a little bit from him and I’m honored to be in his company.”
Dutch Fork jumped out to a strong start as safety KJ Dupree intercepted two Green Wave pass attempts, both after a deflection by a teammate, in the opening quarter to help the Silver Foxes jump out to a 14-0 lead. The picks set up a 33-yard touchdown run by Kye Fulton and a 25-yard pass from quarterback Jaxon Knotts to Wyatt Warner.
Summerville regrouped and drove 80 yards on its ensuing possession to score on a 6-yard pass from Max Stafford to Jaiden Kelly-Murray with more than nine minutes remaining in the second quarter. Later in the quarter, Dutch Fork blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt and the Silver Foxes took a 14-7 lead into the half.
Kellly-Murray got the Green Wave right back in the game in the first two minutes of the third, picking up a Dutch Fork fumble and returning it 43 yards for a touchdown. Unfortunately, Summerville didn’t have as much success running the ball from that point as it did in the first half.
“We just played a little more sound defense,” Knotts said. “We had to shut down the run. They were handing the ball off left and right and getting big yardage. Once we kind of shored up the run it made them more one dimensional.”
Dutch Fork went on top again when Braydon Johnson took a forward pitch on a misdirection play and dashed 27 yards for a TD. The extra-point kick was wide, leaving the Silver Foxes ahead 20-14. The game was tight up until then, but Dutch Fork scored three touchdowns in the final 12 minutes.
The final quarter started with a play that got the Summerville fans riled up as Dutch Fork fumbled the ball on a punt. However, the Sliver Foxes managed to recover the ball and go on to score twice before Summerville could get much going for a 40-14 lead.
Knotts rushed for a one-yard TD. Shortly after, Julian Walker recovered a Summerville fumble and returned it 19 yards into the Green Wave end zone. Kyle Henry added a one-yard TD run with 3:01 remaining to seal the victory.
“We got some momentum there in the third quarter and we just couldn’t capitalize on it,” said Summerville coach Ian Rafferty. “We had a hard time blocking their guys up front. You know, when you have two Power 4 guys up front it can make it difficult. Still, I’m proud of our kids. We were right there in it and the wheels just kind of fell off.”
Summerville had a late touchdown drive that featured a heavy dose of running back Jayvyn Williams. He had a 40-yard run to get the ball inside the 10-yard line and capped the drive with a one-yard TD run.
“I told coach Knotts we are going to keep coming,” Rafferty said. “We are going to keep trying.”
