‘Everything is for her.’ Dutch Fork RB honors late mother with record-tying game.
Jon Hall has had a tough year at times on and off the football field.
The Dutch Fork running back’s mother died a little more than a year ago and might have contributed to the senior’s slow start on the field.
Lately, though, Hall has been a dynamo for the potent Dutch Fork offense. On Friday, the senior tied a school record with six rushing touchdowns as the Silver Foxes defeated Carolina Forest, 45-20, to win the Class 5A Lower State championship.
Dutch Fork will go for its fourth straight Class 5A title against Dorman on Dec. 7 at Williams-Brice Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon.
“Everything I do, I do for her,” Hall said of his late mother. “She is the reason why I am who I am today. Everything is for her. I miss her and I love her.”
Jon Hall playing for his mom
Hall fought back tears in postgame interviews when talking about his mother, Shondala, who died May 24, 2018. He said he has dedicated this season to her and has played inspired football for the Silver Foxes in the postseason.
Hall had four touchdowns last week against Fort Dorchester and six against Carolina Forest on Friday. His six rushing touchdowns tied the mark held by three different players, most recently Stephen Davis, who had six against Dorman in 2013.
Hall finished with 145 yards on the ground and also had three catches for 85 yards. In four playoff games, he has rushed for 518 yards and 14 touchdowns.
“Jon Hall has been running like a demon,” Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts said. “He lost his mother last year and it has been really hard on him. He started slow and I think that had a lot to do with it but he really bounced back. We love us some Jon Hall.”
Dutch Fork scores on almost every possession
Knotts wasn’t pleased with his offense’s performance but liked what he saw against the Panthers, who were making their first trip to the state semifinals.
Dutch Fork scored on every possession except the final one when they ran out the clock at the end of the game. The Silver Foxes finished with 483 yards and averaged almost 12 yards a play as they fought a tough early challenge from the Panthers.
“We took a hard shot from them,” Knotts said of Carolina Forest. “I’m not sure we have been behind all year. But we took their best shot, weathered the storm and ended up blowing them out. Great job by us.”
Quarterback Ty Olenchuk was 13-of-17 for 276 yards and Tennessee commit Jalin Hyatt had five catches for 102 yards.
Carolina Forest scored on its first two possessions as Dutch Fork trailed for the first time since Week 0 against Mallard Creek. But Hall’s second touchdown tied the game at 14. Then the Silver Foxes stopped the Panthers on fourth down at the Dutch Fork 36.
Dutch Fork scored seven plays later on a Hall 1-yard run to make it 21-14 with 29 seconds left in the second quarter. Carolina Forest fumbled the ensuing possession and the Silver Foxes’ Graham Newboult kicked a field goal to make it 24-14 at halftime.
Dutch Fork continued to roll as its defense slowed Carolina Forest quarterback Mason Garcia and the Panthers in the second half.
Scoring summary
CF 7 7 0 6 - 20
DF 7 17 14 7 - 45
First quarter
CF - Garcia 4 run (Purier kick), 6:26
DF - Hall 1 run (Newboult kick),
Second quarter
CF - Murphy 24 pass from Garcia (Poirier kick), 8:04
DF - Hall 1 run (Newboult kick), 6:21
DF - Hall 1 run (Newboult kick), 0:29
DF - Newboult kick, :00
Third quarter
DF - Hall 1 run (Newboult kick), 10:47
DF - Hall 24 run (Newboult kick), 2:32
Fourth quarter
DF - Hall 70 run (Newboult kick), 9:06
CF - Watkins 5 pass from Garcia, 2:30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING - CF: Legette 24-62, Garcia 15-61, Watkins 1-23, Brown 1-1. DF:Hall 16-145, Taylor 3-42, Spencer 1-7, Knight 1-5, Olenchuk 2-5
PASSING - CF: Garcia 17-23-1 193. DF:Olenchuk 13-17-0 276 Hyatt 1-1-0 4.
RECEIVING - CF: Murphy 6-92, Watkins 6-38, Edwards 2-43, Lavallee 1-11, Admill 1-9. DF: Hall 3-85, Hyatt 5-102, Jacobs 3-72 Spencer 1-9, German 1-8, Olenchuk 1-4
This story was originally published November 29, 2019 at 11:40 PM.
