No team in South Carolina has been as dominant as Dutch Fork since Tom Knotts arrived at the school from Charlotte in 2010.

The Silver Foxes are fresh off another state championship after beating Summerville in the 5A Division I championship 35-21, winning their ninth championship and Knotts’ 16th.

This season, the team is seeking to win its fourth state title in a row. Since South Carolina first introduced 5A football, Dutch Fork has won all but one state title. The lone season the Silver Foxes failed to win the state title, they lost in the final to Gaffney.

Dutch Fork begins this season as the preseason No. 1 team in 5A and the state, according to multiple polls. The Silver Foxes return many players from last year’s squad, but also have a few notable replacements on the way.

Offense

There will be a new leader under center for the Silver Foxes as veteran starter Ethan Offing shifts his focus to baseball full-time.

Instead, the team will be led by a player Knotts is very familiar with: his own son, Jaxon Knotts. Jaxon is a junior this season and saw some action last year as the main backup. In four appearances, he completed 14-28 passes for 114 yards.

Knotts will have plenty of targets to throw it to, but who emerges as his top target is still up in the air. Dutch Fork lost its top four receiving targets to graduation in 2024.

The team retained a few notable underclassmen, but the flashiest name was not on last season’s roster. Chapin transfer Stone Furrey is Gamecock receivers coach Mike Furrey’s son and led the Eagles last year with over 700 yards.

The protection will be a bit younger than usual, but there is good potential. Sophomore Brody Lorenzo is a name to watch, already with multiple college offers.

Defense

Dutch Fork’s defense is expected to look as dominant as ever with big hitters up front and a speedy secondary.

Julian Walker is considered one of the best players in the state and is committed to play at Michigan for college. The defensive end finished 2024 with 50 tackles and a team-high 11 sacks.

Playing alongside Walker is defensive end Jaden Wuerth. He transferred in from Aquinas High School in Georgia. In his first two seasons of high school football, Wuerth has 286 tackles and 27 sacks.

Senior Raleigh Salters will lead the linebacker core. He was second on the team in total tackles last season with 84.

In the defensive backfield, Mario Anderson and Tyler Brown will be charged with preventing the other team from moving downfield.

Dutch Fork will be one of the few teams in Lexington County to sit out Week 0. The team will instead open its season at home against Spartanburg on Aug. 29.

2025 Dutch Fork Schedule

Week 0 - BYE

Week 1 - vs. Spartanburg - Aug. 29

Week 2 - vs. Ridge View - Sept. 5

Week 3 - at Gray Collegiate - Sept. 12

Week 4 - at Oceanside Collegiate - Sept. 19

Week 5 - BYE

Week 6 - vs. Chapin* - Oct. 3

Week 7 - at White Knoll* - Oct. 10

Week 8 - vs. Lexington* - Oct. 17

Week 9 - vs. River Bluff*- Oct. 24

Week 10 - at Irmo* - Oct. 31

Note: (*) indicates a game against a region opponent