Dutch Fork has 3 state titles under Tom Knotts. Could 2018 be his best team yet?
Tom Knotts has had some great football teams since he arrived at Dutch Fork in 2010.
The Silver Foxes have made five state title game appearances and won three overall, including back-to-back Class 5A championships. This year’s squad has the potential to be the best one yet, Knotts said.
“We feel like we got everything together on paper. … We think we are tough both on offense and defense,” Knotts said before Monday’s practice. “But it’s early.”
Dutch Fork players hit the practice field last week with many wearing T-shirts with the No. 3 on them, signifying their desire to win a third straight championship. Knotts said he doesn’t feel pressure to win another title, which would be his 11th overall, but it comes with the territory.
“I don’t know if it was a bike race I was watching or something, and they said pressure was a privilege,” Knotts said. “I always felt funny about pressure. It didn’t bother me. When it was put in that perspective, it sheds some different light on it. You are doing something well, then to have pressure on you.”
Dutch Fork enters the season having won 28 of its last 29 games and is ranked in the MaxPreps’ Top 50 preseason. The Silver Foxes open the season Aug. 18 with a marquee game against Mallard Creek (N.C.) High at Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, a place where Knotts won seven state titles.
Dutch Fork brings back several key components from its title-winning team, including quarterback Ty Olenchuk, running back Ron Hoff and receiver Jalin Hyatt. Olenchuk, a Clemson baseball commit, threw for 1,685 yards and 17 touchdowns a season ago.
Hoff battled injuries last year but finished strong, including rushing for 188 yards and two touchdowns in the state championship game. Hyatt, who picked up several Division I offers over the summer, had 947 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last year.
Defensively, the Silver Foxes return several key players, including Josiah Commander, Hugh Ryan, Jamar Walker and Kendrick Allen.
About Dutch Fork
Coach: Tom Knotts
Last Year’s Record: 13-1
Key returning players: QB Ty Olenchuk, RB Ron Hoff, WR Gage Zirke, WR Jalin Hyatt, OL Kameran Stewart, LB Josiah Commander, DL Jamar Walker, DB , OL Ta’chawn Brooks, CB Ryan Harris, LB Kendrick Allen
Newcomers to watch: DL, Quez McDaniel, LB John Epting, LB Lawson Danley
2018 schedule
Aug. 18: at Mallard Creek (Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, NC)
Aug. 24: vs. Spring Valley
Aug. 31: vs. Irmo
Sept. 7: at Boiling Springs
Sept. 14: vs. Blythewood
Sept. 21: vs. Northwestern
Sept. 28: vs. Chapin
Oct. 5: at River Bluff
Oct. 12: at Lexington
Oct. 26: vs. White Knoll
This story was originally published July 30, 2018 at 5:31 PM.