Dutch Fork confident with Douglas under center

Cole Douglas was ready to go.

The Dutch Fork quarterback was on the field about 20 minutes before the first official practice began Friday morning. That’s something that didn’t surprise Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts, who named Douglas the starter early into spring practice in May.

Douglas was expected to battle with transfer Caleb Clark at quarterback, but that never materialized.

“Our quarterback battle ended very quickly,” Knotts said. “Cole Douglas has really stepped up. He is our most consistent worker and leader. He has done everything I critiqued him on and tried to improve.

“I thought there would be a concern at quarterback, but it ended up being a non-issue.”

Douglas takes over for Tate Fant, who threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 22 touchdowns in leading Dutch Fork to its third straight Class 4A Division I state championship appearance. Douglas saw some action as a junior, attempting 14 passes and running for 189 yards.

Most of Douglas’ attempts came in the 47-17 loss to Hillcrest in the title game when he was forced into action after Fant left the game with a concussion in the second quarter. Douglas said he and his teammates used the championship loss as motivation in getting ready for this season.

Dutch Fork returns 10 starters from last year’s state runner-up squad.

“Nobody knew how we were going to respond,” Douglas said. “I see a lot. We are fighters and use each other to get around difficult situations.”

Cole’s father, Jack Douglas, was a standout at The Citadel during the early 1990s and scored the game-winning touchdown when the Bulldogs knocked off South Carolina in 1990.

Jack Douglas left The Citadel as the top rushing quarterback in I-AA history with 3,674 yards. He was elected to The Citadel Hall of Fame in 2000 and the South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2007.

Cole Douglas said his father was a big influence on his life, and the two have shared many Sundays working on football together.

“He has good genes, and I am real pleased with Cole Douglas’ work ethic and approach,” Knotts said.

There are other concerns and injuries for the Silver Foxes going into their opener against Greenwood on Aug. 21 at the Battle of the Bluff.

Safety Steven Davis, an Auburn commit, wore a cast on his wrist as he watched Friday’s practice on the sideline. Davis had wrist surgery this week after injuring it during a 7-on-7 tournament in Georgia earlier in the month, and Knotts said he will be out a couple of weeks.

Knotts said Malik Sumter, a starter on the offensive and defensive line, is out probably until the playoffs with a torn patellar tendon.

Receivers Jamal Aiken and Austin Connor also had surgery in the offseason.

“We are getting awful thin,” Knotts said. “We just kind of developed a ‘next guy up’ mentality.”

This story was originally published July 31, 2015 at 5:44 PM.