With state title trip on line, Dutch Fork readies for raucous environment at Gaffney
Tom Knotts has never coached a game at Gaffney High School, but he’s heard many stories about the stadium’s atmosphere.
The Dutch Fork coach and his team will get a first-hand look as they head to The Reservation, the nickname for Gaffney’s home field, on Friday in the Class 5A Upper State championship. The winner of the game advances to next Saturday’s state title game at Benedict College’s Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.
Gaffney has lost just one game at home over the past two years, this season against Mallard Creek of North Carolina.
“Eight or 10 thousand people are screaming against us. I can’t think of a better environment to play football,” Knotts said Tuesday before practice. “I have been told by many people what it is going to be like to be there. I look forward to it. They (the crowd) are going to be after us. Everyone will be against us. I hope our guys will respond to it.”
Dutch Fork players and coaches got a taste of what a Gaffney crowd could be like during last year’s Class 5A championship game at Benedict between the two teams. The Indians’ fans arrived several hours before kickoff and made up a majority of the crowd last year as they defeated the Silver Foxes 22-19 for their first championship since 2012. The 2012 title also came against Dutch Fork.
The loss snapped Dutch Fork’s 62-game unbeaten streak and its bid for its sixth straight state championship.
Knotts and the Dutch Fork players said revenge is definitely a factor going into Friday’s game.
“I’m very motivated by it,” Knotts said. “I haven’t beat Gaffney. Lost to them last year, lost to them in the state championship game in 2012. I don’t like losing to people too many times. I’m definitely motivated to win this game.”
“We have thought about it a lot,” Dutch Fork running back Jarvis Green said. “After the loss last year, we were back in the weight room getting ready for the season, working hard. We have been preparing for Gaffney, and now it is here.”
Green, a Mr. Football finalist, has been the catalyst of the Silver Foxes offense. The James Madison commit needs 151 yards to go over 2,000 rushing yards for the season despite missing time because of injuries. Green has 761 all-purpose yards and nine total touchdowns in three playoff games.
Dutch Fork quarterback Aliam Appler is completing 65.7% of his passes during the postseason and has 10 total touchdowns.
Defensively, Dutch Fork is giving up just 205.5 yards and 12.5 points a game. The Silver Foxes have given up just 46 points over their last seven games.
The defense will be tested by Gaffney quarterback and Duke commit Grayson Lofits, who has thrown for 2,677 yards and 19 touchdowns. Loftis threw for 248 yards and had the game-winning touchdown pass to Suga Jefferies with 3:30 left.
Dutch Fork also picked off Loftis twice during the game.
“They are the same fast, athletic, get-after-it, tough mentality,” Knotts said of Gaffney. “They are a typical Gaffney football team that will have a lot of fight in them. It should be a good ball game.”
SCHSL playoff schedule, predictions
A look at matchups for Friday’s SC High School League playoff with The State’s Lou Bezjak’s predictions in parentheses.
All games at 7:30 p.m.
Class 5A
Dutch Fork at Gaffney (Bezjak’s prediction: Dutch Fork)
Summerville at Fort Dorchester (Fort Dorchester)
Class 4A
Northwestern at Greenville (Northwestern)
South Florence at AC Flora (AC Flora)
Class 3A
Clinton at Powdersville (Powdersville)
Beaufort at Dillon (Dillon)
Class 2A
Saluda at Abbeville (Abbeville)
Oceanside Collegiate at Andrew Jackson (Oceanside Collegiate)
Class A
St. Joseph’s at Christ Church (Christ Church)
Cross at Johnsonville (Johnsonville)
Bezjak Last Week: 7-1
Bezjak Season Record: 256-61
This story was originally published November 24, 2022 at 7:44 AM.
