Knotts, Dutch Fork Make History In Knocking Off Summerville

ORANGEBURG | Dutch Fork quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1823705' first='Jaxon' last='Knotts'] went from watching history to be a huge part of it. It helped that he had defensive stalwarts like [player_tooltip player_id='1592529' first='Julian' last='Walker'] [player_tooltip player_id='409882' first='Jaden' last='Wuerth'] and KJ Dupree along the way to make his first season as the starter under his dad, Tom Knotts, a memorable one.   Knotts threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in leading the Silver Foxes to their 10th state title in 13 years after a 40-20 victory over Summerville in the Class 5A, Division I state championship Friday night at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. It's the second straight year Dutch Fork defeated the Green Wave in the finals.   “It's amazing just being able to add to it and have him tie that record,” [player_tooltip player_id='1823705' first='Jaxon' last='Knotts'] said. “Even when it didn't look too good, I thought we were going to win. I think he's pretty mad at me right now because I threw ice on him.”   It puts Knotts into legendary status in the state of South Carolina. He has 10 state championships since taking over at Dutch Fork. The 10 titles tie him with former Summerville coach John McKissick and Woodruff coach Willie Varner for most titles in South Carolina history. He won seven state titles while coaching in North Carolina.   “I'm honored to be in their company but it's a tribute to the players and administration and everybody that I have around me,” Knotts said.   His son Jaxon, a junior, took over the starting quarterback duties this season after spending many of those previous state titles from the sidelines as the ball boy. He was the back up last season before saving his best for the title game.     Knotts ran for 103 yards and a one-yard TD run while throwing for 110 yards and touchdowns to [player_tooltip player_id='1821100' first='Kye' last='Fulton'] [player_tooltip player_id='1823712' first='Wyatt' last='Warner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='312450' first='Braydon' last='Johnson'].   “It makes it special (having his son as the starting QB) but right now I have about 75 sons on that sideline,” Tom Knotts said. “It makes it special with my son playing out there but I'm a year-to-year guy and every Friday night has been special this season.”   Summerville tied it at 14 just a little over a minute into the second half when [player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray'] scooped up a Knotts fumble and raced 43 yards. Knotts knew he had to atone for that mistake.   The Silver Foxes (12-1) turned it over on downs on the next possession, but Dutch Fork took the lead for good when Knotts threw an inside shuffle pass to Johnson and he scored from 27 yards out with 1:27 remaining in the third quarter.   That seemed to invigorate the defense, and they forced a three-and-out on the next Summerville series when Walker had a sack, [player_tooltip player_id='1734522' first='Mario' last='Anderson'] had a tackle for loss and [player_tooltip player_id='1821104' first='Jackson' last='Stengel'] had a stop for a short gain. Stengel finished with 6.5 tackles.   Knotts and company then went 45 yards in nine plays and consumed 4:52 off the clock to take a 26-14 lead with seven minutes remaining on his 1-yard TD run.   Walker made it 33-14 less than a minute remaining when Wuerth forced a strip sack and the recent South Carolina signee picked it up and rumbled 19 yards for his first career touchdown.   Walker had 3.5 sacks, Wuerth added 2.5 sacks and Brayden Caulder and Anderson each added one.   “To end it in a dominate fashion like this, it means the world to me,” Walker said. “I can't tell you how much growth and work went into this year. It means more than people actually know and I'm happy we were able to end it the way we did.”   Dupree set up the two first half touchdowns when he intercepted passes on tipped passes and had long returns into Summerville territory. The first score was a 33-yard pass from Knotts to Fulton. Knotts threw a rope to Warner down the seam between two defenders on fourth down for a 14-0 lead.   Summerville (12-3) answered with its best drive of the half and scored on a seven-yard pass from [player_tooltip player_id='1734517' first='Max' last='Stafford'] to Kelly-Murray with 9:22 remaining in the half. Kelly-Murray was the leading receiver for Summerville with 39 yards on four catches. The Green Wave had another scoring opportunity late in the half, but Anderson blocked a 40-yard field attempt.   [player_tooltip player_id='1215391' first='Jayven' last='Williams'] was the best option for the Green Wave offense. The junior ran for 175 yards on 22 carries and scored a late touchdown.   OTHER DUTCH FORK NOTABLES   [player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters'] LB, 2026 – The three-year starter and unquestionably the emotional leader for the Silver Foxes defense left with a fractured arm in the first quarter. He only had one tackle, but he ended his career as a four-time state champion.   [player_tooltip player_id='1151291' first='Brody' last='Lorenzo'] OL, 2028 – The offensive lineman that is the top-rated player in our 2028 Class showed his versatility against the Green Wave. He's the starting center but he played multiple positions Saturday night in trying to create mismatches and give Dutch Fork running lanes against a talented Summerville front.   OTHER SUMMERVILLE NOTABLES   [player_tooltip player_id='1267285' first='JT' last='Williams'] LB, 2026 – Williams capped his career with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and he forced the fumble that Kelly-Murray picked up and ran back for a score.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816961' first='Demarcus' last='King'] DL, 2028 – King blew up a play in the backfield that caused Dutch Fork to come up short on a fourth down in the third quarter. He was disruptive in a lot of passing situations and 3.5 tackles and a sack.