What We Saw: Dutch Fork Repeats As Class 5A Champion

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ORANGEBURG |</strong> The conclusion of the “Greatest Story Ever” was written Friday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium by Dutch Fork.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 21-6 victory over White Knoll, the Silver Foxes completed their most improbable run to a Class 5A title. After a 2-5 start, Dutch Fork finished the season with an eight-game winning streak for its eighth championship, all under Tom Knotts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not surprisingly, it was the senior class which led by example in paving the way to victory. Quarterback <strong>Jonathan Hunt</strong>, who missed a portion of the season on two occasions with shoulder and hamstring injuries, had two rushing touchdowns in the second half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunt's 135 passing yards was the bulk of the Silver Foxes' offense. It was also 21 yards more than White Knoll's entire offensive total.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dutch Fork's defense stepped up to the challenge of slowing down a White Knoll offense which has averaged 34.3 points a game. The Silver Foxes held the Timberwolves to 114 total yards, limited them to eight first downs, 1-11 on third down conversions and sacked <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346199' first='Landon' last='Sharpe']</strong> five times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters']</strong> led Dutch Fork with seven tackles and two sacks. Senior linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142713' first='Deon' last='Winsley']</strong> and <strong>Bryce Nutall </strong>had six and four tackles, respectively, and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1142809' first='Peyton' last='Betts'] was part of a secondary which limited Sharpe to a season-low 86 passing yards.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>According to senior defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142746' first='Dakota' last='Jordan']</strong> (pictured right), the team was as motivated to avenge the 17-14 loss on Oct. 6 as it was to winning another state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We had to shut them down,” Jordan said. “They beat us the first time, we were all like ‘They should have never had beat us.' But the second time around, we knew was to expect. We were prepared.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White Knoll head coach Nick Pelham also saw a more intense, focused Dutch Fork team in the rematch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“They tackled and they really tackled Landon,” Pelham said. “We were about 50 percent in our first game against them on third down. We were nowhere near 50 percent on third down tonight. That's the game offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We lost the game in all three facets. It wasn't just one, trust me. &nbsp;On offense we struggled just to keep drives going, make a few first downs, hold the ball, get some confidence. I think that's something that will stick with us a long time which is we didn't do a good job on third down.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The matchup lived up to its hype as a defensive slugfest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dutch Fork had two opportunities in the first quarter to take an early lead. The first drive ended with last week's hero [player_tooltip player_id='464892' first='Justin' last='Welch'] missed a 30-yard field goal attempt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Dutch Fork's next series, they opted to go for a first down on fourth and inches at its own 31. The snap sailed well over Hunt as he raced to recover the football which was knocked into the endzone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Racing to make the recovery was White Knoll linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142785' first='Lincoln' last='Ilunga']</strong>. He also had an interception and he and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142518' first='Demenico' last='Banks']</strong> led the Timberwolves with 11 tackles each.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A missed PAT left the score with a 6-0 lead at halftime as both teams held to under 100 yards. In the locker room, Knotts was perplexed with his team's “flat” effort in the first half of a state final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second half saw <strong>Trent Lodge</strong> provide a spark with the Silver Foxes' longest play from scrimmage. His 31-yard run brought Dutch Fork into White Knoll territory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunt took over from there with a 24-yard pass to <strong>Leyton Shuler</strong>, followed two plays later by his 2-yard touchdown run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dutch Fork's next scoring drive was set up by an 11-yard punt by Shrine Bowl linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='911089' first='Jaiden' last='Kimble']</strong>. With the ball at the White Knoll 35, Hunt converted a third and 13 with a 16-yard run down the home sidelines. Hunt's 18-yard pass to Shuler set up his second 2-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 14-6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pass interference penalty on White Knoll extended Dutch Fork's final scoring drive in the fourth quarter. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013047' first='KJ' last='Smith']</strong> scored from four yards with 6:03 left and the Silver Foxes forced the Timberwolves to turn the ball over on downs with 2:57 left to seal the victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The defense was playing lights out the entire time,” Knotts said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->