Class 5A, Division I State Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Based on what we knew coming into the season, there is very little surprise we have a rematch in the Class 5A, Division I state championship between three-time defending state champion Dutch Fork (11-1) and Summerville (12-2). The Silver Foxes won last season's matchup 35-21 and both teams feel like they learned a lot from that game that they will be carrying over to this game. The Silver Foxes are playing in their 10^th straight state championship and looking for its second four-peat in the last nine seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I learned that (Dutch Fork) is a well-coached football team and you have to play mistake free football to beat them,” Summerville running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1215391' first='Jayven' last='Williams']</strong> said. “Having another opportunity to win state is amazing. We came up short last year but feel like the lessons learned during that game will help us this time around.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If that's the case, Williams and the offensive line of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816958' first='Quinn' last='Cook']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819779' first='Jahmarion' last='Lott']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822312' first='Daniel' last='Krantz'] [player_tooltip player_id='1271589' first='Christian' last='Hewett'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819778' first='Nolan' last='Giet']</strong> will have a lot to do with that. Williams ran wild in the semifinal win over James Island with four touchdowns on runs of 69, 5, 24 and 2 yards. He ran for 230 yards as well as the Green Wave jumped to a 31-0 lead before cruising to the 45-16 victory. But the challenge gets more difficult this week against a Dutch Fork defense that has been spectacular this season and even more so in the playoffs.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The front four of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592529' first='Julian' last='Walker']</strong> (68 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 10 sacks) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1700244' first='Hunter' last='Colegrove']</strong> (23 tackles) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1463245' first='Luciano' last='Cesario']</strong> (37 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six sacks) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='409882' first='Jaden' last='Wuerth'] </strong>(53 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 11 sacks) will give the Summerville rushing attack its biggest test of the season. Linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821104' first='Jackson' last='Stengel']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1777821' first='Ethan' last='Moze']</strong> are mobile and athletic and play off what the front four does.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Salters is a three-year starter for coach Tom Knotts, and he recalls what it took last season against that Green Wave offense that has plenty of skill position players back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I learned Summerville was explosive and they could easily beat us if we give up too many big plays,” Salters said. “It's exciting and fortunate having a chance to win four championships in a row is something special. Most kids don't even get to experience the feeling of one state championship so getting a chance to four-peat is a blessing.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dutch Fork scored 30 unanswered points to knock off Dorman 30-10 in the semifinals. QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823705' first='Jaxon' last='Knotts']</strong> has played better each week, and he ran for 60 yards and a touchdown while throwing 137 yards in the win. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821111' first='Quintin' last='Wilson']</strong> has returned from injury and is firmly entrenched as the top running back after scoring twice and running for 84 yards on 16 carries. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821109' first='Sheldon' last='Shine']</strong> added 48 yards on five carries and scored on a 42-yard run. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='568697' first='Stone' last='Furrey']</strong> has been the top target this season with 38 catches for 688 yards and five touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664559' first='Niran' last='Ford']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821118' first='Randy' last='Goodson']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1151291' first='Brody' last='Lorenzo']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592665' first='Jordan' last='Roseborough']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1208053' first='jamez' last='hutcherson'] </strong>pave the way upfront on the offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summerville's defense is big, strong and experienced. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402500' first='Malachi' last='Washington']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615021' first='Dexter' last='Chavous']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379092' first='David' last='Hall']</strong> start along the defensive line in the 3-4 system. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816961' first='Demarcus' last='King'] [player_tooltip player_id='1816968' first='Eli' last='Pressley'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267285' first='JT' last='Williams']</strong> are a formidable group at linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Legacy Game:</strong> QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734517' first='Max' last='Stafford']</strong> didn't transfer from IMG Academy back to the Lowcountry for anything less than a state championship. That's why he enrolled at Summerville, and he's made the most of the senior year. At the beginning of the season, Stafford shared time with fellow senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734478' first='Cooper' last='Kafina']</strong> but during the latter part of the season, it was the 6-foot, 200-pound senior running the show. He has 19 touchdown passes against just three interceptions and is completing over 62 percent of his passes. If Williams can make the Silver Foxes respect the run and the offensive line can give Stafford time, he might be able to exploit a young Dutch Fork secondary. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17798710/692ceb8c266f7c1db182404f' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-692d0a452f531"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Matchup Within the Matchup:</em></strong> The trio of Summerville receivers in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1061146' first='Teru' last='Davis']</strong> and <strong>Jaelyn Pounds</strong> are all underclassmen but have already played plenty of football in their high school careers. They will be going against the Silver Foxes secondary that has a lockdown corner in senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734522' first='Mario' last='Anderson']</strong> (pictured above), but the other three players are junior free safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823707' first='Sebastian' last='Lake']</strong>, sophomore safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821952' first='Kareem' last='Dupree']</strong> and freshman cornerback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1595010' first='Taddrick' last='Gibson']</strong>. Asking them to keep up with the three Green Wave receivers that have combined for 94 catches for 1,635 yards and 19 touchdowns will be a challenge. The Dutch Fork pass rush will obviously play a factor, but this should be a fun battle to watch. Anderson Dupree and Gibson each have three interceptions.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Underclassman to Watch: </em></strong>There are several other players that might garner the spotlight on the defensive side of the ball, but Summerville sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1061094' first='Jaylen' last='Pryor']</strong> has had a great season on a defense that features a lot of juniors and seniors. In 10 games, he has 66 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and one caused fumble. He plays on the outside, can cover slot receivers and makes plays sideline-to-sideline with ease. He will be a key against a Silver Foxes offense that is very balanced.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20144446/69123afd475a49295103859e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-692d0a452f56b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-Factor:</em></strong> Dutch Fork senior <strong>Brayden Johnson</strong> is someone that will end up doing a lot of things on offense and special teams. He's second on the team with 36 receptions for 323 yards and two touchdowns, he's fifth in rushing with 166 yards and six touchdowns on 34 carries, he averages 7.3 yards per punt return and 11.8 yards per kickoff return. He's even punted six times (Dutch Fork has only punted 24 times this season) and he has the highest average at 36.2 yards per punt. He's going to have a role and it's going to be one Summerville better account for.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>TENATIVE STARTING LINEUPS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Dutch Fork Offense</em></strong></td><td><strong><em>Summerville Defense</em></strong></td><td><strong><em>Summerville Offense</em></strong></td><td><strong><em>Dutch Fork Defense</em></strong></td></tr><tr><td>QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823705' first='Jaxon' last='Knotts']</strong></td><td>DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402500' first='Malachi' last='Washington']</strong></td><td>QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734517' first='Max' last='Stafford']</strong></td><td>DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592529' first='Julian' last='Walker']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821111' first='Quintin' last='Wilson']</strong></td><td>DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615021' first='Dexter' last='Chavous']</strong></td><td>RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1215391' first='Jayven' last='Williams']</strong></td><td>DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1700244' first='Hunter' last='Colegrove']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='568697' first='Stone' last='Furrey']</strong></td><td>DL D<strong>avid Hall</strong></td><td>WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray']</strong></td><td>DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1463245' first='Luciano' last='Cesario']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='312450' first='Braydon' last='Johnson']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816961' first='Demarcus' last='King']</strong></td><td>WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1061146' first='Teru' last='Davis']</strong></td><td>DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='409882' first='Jaden' last='Wuerth']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821101' first='Chase' last='Betts']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816968' first='Eli' last='Pressley']</strong></td><td>WR <strong>Jaelyn Pounds</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>TE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821099' first='Landon' last='Collins']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267285' first='JT' last='Williams']</strong></td><td>TE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822313' first='Cooper' last='Gaskins']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821104' first='Jackson' last='Stengel']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664559' first='Niran' last='Ford']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1061094' first='Jaylen' last='Pryor']</strong></td><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816958' first='Quinn' last='Cook']</strong></td><td>LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1777821' first='Ethan' last='Moze']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821118' first='Randy' last='Goodson']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267287' first='Jordan' last='Ravenell']</strong></td><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819779' first='Jahmarion' last='Lott']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734522' first='Mario' last='Anderson']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1151291' first='Brody' last='Lorenzo']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822309' first='Josiah' last='Taylor']</strong></td><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822312' first='Daniel' last='Krantz']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823707' first='Sebastian' last='Lake']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592665' first='Jordan' last='Roseborough']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray']</strong></td><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1271589' first='Christian' last='Hewett']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821952' first='Kareem' last='Dupree']</strong></td></tr><tr><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1208053' first='jamez' last='hutcherson']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822314' first='William' last='Flores']</strong></td><td>OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819778' first='Nolan' last='Giet']</strong></td><td>DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1595010' first='Taddrick' last='Gibson']</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table -->