5 things to watch: 2019 SC high school football state championships
Here are five story lines to watch next weekend at the South Carolina High School Football League state championship games at Benedict College and Williams-Brice Stadium on Dec. 7-8.
Back for Four
Dutch Fork looks to enter the record books this week as it goes for its fourth straight title against Dorman in the Class 5A championship game.
The Silver Foxes are the only team to win a title in 5A since the state expanded to five classes in 2016-17, and they have a 39-game unbeaten streak.
Six teams have won four state titles in a row with Abbeville (2015-18) the last to do it. If Dutch Fork wins, it will be the first Midlands team to win four titles in a row.
Columbia (1924-26), Lexington (1948-50), Spring Valley (1973-75) and Swansea (1992-94) all have won three titles in a row.
Knotts vs. Guttshall
The Dorman and Dutch Fork matchup is believed to be the first title game in state history with both coaches having won more than 400 games in their career.
Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts picked up win No. 400 last year and has 414 wins overall — with 296 coming in North Carolina. He has won 11 state titles, four coming at Dutch Fork since he arrived in 2010.
Guttshall got No. 400 earlier this year and has 410 in his career. Like Knotts, Guttshall began his coaching career in North Carolina and 112 of his wins are in the Tarheel State.
Guttshall has won five state titles, with two coming at Dorman.
Mr. Football talent on display
Three of the state’s Mr. Football finalists will be on display with Saluda’s Noah Bell, Chapman’s Mikele Colasurdo and Dutch Fork’s Jalin Hyatt all helping their team to championship games. Myrtle Beach and QB Luke Doty also is in the championship but his playing status is in doubt because of an injury.
Bell threw for 336 yards and rushed for 70 with four total touchdowns in Saluda’s win over four-time champion Abbeville. The Tigers are looking for their first championship since going back-to-back in 1962-63.
Colasurdo, a Georgia State commit, threw for 295 yards and three scores in Friday’s 63-27 win over Camden.
Hyatt is Dutch Fork’s top receiving threat and had his seventh 100-yard receiving game of the year Friday against Carolina Forest. The Tennessee commit had five catches for 102 yards in the 45-20 win over the Panthers.
Here we go again
For the third time in four years, Chapman and Dillon meet in the Class 3A championship.
Chapman defeated Dillon 29-27 in 2016 and Dillon won the following year 55-27.
The two teams have taken different paths to get there. Chapman has been at home the entire postseason and won its four playoff games by an average of 42.5 points. The Panthers are averaging 57.7 points a game.
Three of Dillon’s four playoff victories have been on the road and were all decided by seven points.
Long time coming
Saluda football pulled off one of the stunners in the high school football season by knocking off four-time defending champion Abbeville in 2A Upper State championship.
Fans lined the streets with their cars in town to welcome the team back following the win. Saluda hasn’t won a state championship since going back-to-back in 1962-63.
State Championship Schedule
Friday
At Benedict College
Class 2A
Saluda vs. Barnwell, 5 p.m.
Class A
Ridge Spring-Monetta vs. Green Sea Floyds, 8 p.m.
Saturday
At Williams-Brice Stadium
Class 5A
Dorman vs. Dutch Fork, noon
Class 3A
Chapman vs. Dillon, 3 p.m.
Class 4A
Wren vs. Myrtle Beach, 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $12.00 in advance, $12.00 at gate. Advance tickets sold at participating schools only.
GoFan for online tickets https://gofan.co/app/school/SCHSL
TV/INTERNET: Friday’s games will be locally on WACH Fox 57.2 and other Sinclair TV stations across the state. Friday and Saturday’s games will be streamed on www.nfhsnetwork.com (Subscription required.
