For the first 22 minutes of its game against Dorman, Dutch Fork’s title dreams were hanging on the ropes. 

The Silver Foxes took a few licks and got outplayed up front on offense. Meanwhile, on defense, the team conceded 10 early points to Dorman and was looking to avoid a knockout blow. 

However, any seasoned follower knows never to count Dutch Fork out. Sparked by two crucial Dorman turnovers, the Silver Foxes tied the game in the final two and a half minutes of the first half and ran away with a 30-10 win.

Dutch Fork went on to outscore the Cavaliers 20-0 in the third and fourth quarters, clinching the victory and earning a spot in its 10th straight state championship game. 

“We got two turnovers that just were huge,” Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts said. “ We really seized the momentum, and we never let go.” 

The Silver Foxes offense had just punted the ball away, frustration was mounting and nothing was working. Dorman’s offense took the field up 10-0, seemingly in control. 

KJ Dupree changed that when he snagged an interception and gave his offense the ball back with great field position. The Silver Foxes capitalized on the mistake, and Quintin Wilson scored a 14-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to three. 

On Dorman’s next drive, the quarterback got hit by Jaden Wuerth, who knocked the ball loose. Michigan commitment Julian Walker jumped on top of the ball and secured the Silver Foxes another possession just before halftime. 

Dutch Fork scored again off a Dorman turnover, ending the half with a made 34-yard field goal by Bradley O’Leary. 

From looking defeated just minutes before, to tied at the break, Dutch Fork flipped the game on its head and gave itself a clean slate for the second half. 

“ Our guys, our culture is such that we just refuse to lose,” Knotts said. “Probably everybody thought we were going to lose when we were down 10-0 in the first quarter, and we couldn't do anything offensively. We just bowed our backs and did what we were supposed to do.”

Knotts didn’t have to give his team any special message or make any drastic changes in the second half. The team just had to settle in and play Dutch Fork football, and it did. 

The Silver Foxes shut out the Cavaliers in the second half and found new life on offense. 

After missing a few open receivers early, quarterback Jaxon Knotts started to hit his targets, and at the same time, the run game started to find success. 

 ”We just decided that we'd come out and try to do our jobs a little better, call some better plays, and we thought we could move the ball,” coach Knotts said. “We didn't have to make any adjustments, just play calling.” 

Dutch Fork scored on its first drive of the third quarter on a fake reverse by running back Isaac Shine. He faked the toss and took off up the middle of the field, untouched on his way to the endzone. 

Dorman went three-and-out on all of its drives in the third quarter as Dutch Fork went into the final period up 17-10. 

The Cavaliers took a big gamble early in the fourth quarter. 

After an illegal substitution on fourth down, Dorman was backed up into a fourth-and-16. Instead of punting the ball and pinning Dutch Fork deep with over eight minutes to go, the Cavaliers opted to try a fake punt. 

The attempt was blown up and Dutch Fork took over near midfield. Jaxon Knotts connected on a 30-yard pass on the first play of the drive, and then scored a rushing touchdown after a 16-yard quarterback keeper.  

Because of the fake punt, Dutch Fork now led by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Those odds are insurmountable for almost any team. 

Dorman had no response to Dutch Fork’s scores and turned the ball over on downs one more time deep in its own territory. The Silver Foxes buried the Cavaliers with one final touchdown, a quick rush from Wilson for his second of the game. 

With the win, Dutch Fork is back in the 5A Division I state title game. The team is aiming for its ninth state championship in 10 years, and head coach Tom Knotts is looking for his 17th title. 

Dutch Fork will travel to Orangeburg this Saturday, Dec. 6, for a game against Summerville. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.