A 28-minute drive separates Dutch Fork High School and Williams-Brice Stadium.
For the school’s senior football players, it has served as a “home away from home”. 
At noon Saturday, the Silver Foxes will look to claim a 4th consecutive S.C. High School League Class 5A title and 5th overall on the home field of the Gamecocks. 
They will face a familiar foe in undefeated Dorman (14-0) for the championship at noon. 
“They’re a very formidable opponent,” Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts said. “They do everything right. They’re a great coached team. We’re looking forward to Saturday.”
The contest is a rematch of the 2017 final won by the Silver Foxes 28-27. Dutch Fork rallied from an early deficit behind the play of running back Ron Hoff and wide receiver Bryce Thompson and got a game-saving  tackle by linebacker Hugh Ryan of tight end John Gelotte on the 2-point conversion attempt to preserve the victory.
“We thought we had a good play,” Cavaliers’ head coach Dave Gutshall said. “But they made a great play. If I had to do it, I’ll call the same play. If we’re in that situation Saturday, it will be a different play.”
The series is tied at 4-4 between the 2 teams dating back to 2007. Gutshall views the Silver Foxes as a rival given the recent history and acknowledges his defense will have a challenge stopping their offense by quarterback Ty Olenchuk. 
“I don’t think there’s any team in the state that can stop the Dutch Fork offense,” he said. “If we can keep the ball in front of us and we’re going to have to make some plays in the Red Zone. When you watch (Olenchuk) play, he’s always getting the ball to the right guy. It’s a very impressive offense and pretty good on defense. They’ve done a great job on that side of the ball as well.”
“He’s got a golden arm and can really throw the football as good as anybody that I’ve ever had,” Knotts said. “I’m just looking forward to (Olenchuk) finishing with a bang and he’ll be sorely missed in the future.” 
Olenchuk is the team’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. He has thrown for 3,284 yards and 39 touchdowns this season.

“GIVE HALL THE BALL”
While the Silver Foxes’ passing offense with Olenchuk and wide receivers Jalin Hyatt (59 receptions, 1,196 yards, 23 TDs) and Elijah Spencer (49 receptions, 844 yards, 8 TDs), the running game with senior Jonathan Hall has produced 36 rushing touchdowns and 1,341 yards to go with 36 receptions for 477 yards.
This past Friday in the 45-20 win over Carolina Forest in the Lower State final, Hall tied a school record with 6 touchdowns and has scored 10 TDs in the past 2 playoff games.
“Friday night was 1 of the 1st times Ty said ‘Give Jonathan the ball, give Hall the ball,’” Knotts said. “Let’s don’t throw it anymore. Let Hall carry it. He’s running like a demon. That was the 1st time I ever heard Ty said it. It was nice to see Jon have a   special night.”
The same game also saw defensive back DiMarco Johnson set a school record with his 11th career interception. 

MILESTONES
Dutch Fork will enter Saturday’s game looking to extend the following streaks:
•39 straight games without a loss.
•38 straight wins over South Carolina teams
•19 straight post-season wins.
The Silver Foxes are also seeking to become the 7th program in state history to win 4 consecutive titles:
•Florence (1916-19)
•Woodruff (1975-78)
•J.F. Byrnes (2002-05)
•Christ Church (2011-2014)
•Dillon (2012-2015)
•Abbeville (2015-18)

The senior class of Dutch Fork High School enters Saturday’s game with a 54-1-1 overall record. They finished undefeated in region play at 20-0 and are undefeated in the post-season entering Saturday. 

FORMER WILDCAT IN BOOTH
The Dorman High School radio and internet broadcast of Saturday’s title game will have a familiar face on the call.
Cavaliers’ boys basketball coach Thomas Ryan, a graduate of Lexington High School, is part of the crew calling for WQUL ( www.wqul959.com ). Ryan talked about the team during the preseason high school basketball press conference at the Columbia Metropolitan Center in early November.
“This Dorman football team is fun to watch,” Ryan said. “They’re talented, they play hard so we’re hoping for good news these next few Friday nights. But it’s fun to see both sports play so well.”
Ironically, Ryan is also looking to join a select group of South Carolina boys’ basketball teams to win 4 straight titles. Only Charleston (1921-26), Columbia (1916-20) and Calhoun County (2006-09) have accomplished that feat. 
Dorman opens the regular season at home Friday against Peachtree Ridge (Ga.) The Cavaliers will visit Columbia the next 2 weeks to compete in the Bojangles Bash and Chick-Fil-A Classic.

BY THE NUMBERS 
Both Dutch Fork and Dorman are      holding opponents to under 10 points a game. The Silver Foxes are averaging 46 points a game, while the Cavaliers are averaging 43 points a game. 

TV/RADIO AVAILABILITY
The game will air live on Channel 1250 on Spectrum Cable and streamed at www.nfhsnetwork.com and watched for a subscription fee.

HELMS HONORED BY TOUCHDOWN CLUB

Gray Collegiate quarterback Hunter Helms was recognized as the Midlands' High School Player of the Year by the Columbia Touchdown Club. 

Helms finished his senior season with 4,126 passing yards and 48 touchdowns. He threw for 9,129 yards and 98 touchdowns in his career and will play in the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives All-Star Game Dec. 14 in Myrtle Beach. 

After initially committing to Holy Cross, Helms reopened his college search and is reportedly down to Clemson and Michigan for his college choices. 

TOLEN TO RECEIVE HONOR
Gilbert quarterback Jy Tolen will receive the Palmetto Champions’ Class 3A Lower State Back of the Year award at 7 pm Thursday at the S.C. Football Coaches Association’s banquet at Seawell’s Restaurant
The Indian senior is 1 of 8 players who will compete for the overall Back of the Year award. This past season, Tolen threw for 4,046 yards and 47 touchdowns and rushed for 3 scores in leading Gilbert’s 11-2 record and 2nd region title in 3 years.