Dutch Fork soaks Irmo
The expected shroud of rain came just after the 6:30 p.m. Friday start at Irmo’s W.C. Hawkins Stadium. The light but steady drizzle didn’t deter the Dutch Fork running game from rolling to a 35-0 shutout over the crosstown rival Yellow Jackets.
Dutch Fork (4-2) scored early and often, keeping the ball on the ground for all but two plays in the first half.
The only first-half highlight for Irmo (1-5) was a defensive stand that led to Silver Foxes placekicker Ford Williams’ missed 37-yard field goal try in the second quarter.
Irmo quarterback Mason Smith finished the night passing for 121 yards, going 14-for-27. The Yellow Jackets were also able to put together a 16-play, 78-yard drive in the fourth quarter, but Dutch Fork’s Bobby Irby preserved a shutout when he intercepted a Smith pass at the goal line and returned it 67 yards.
The Silver Foxes sacked Smith four times and held Irmo to 13 first downs. It also blocked a third-quarter punt that set up another score.
TURNING POINT
After the opening kickoff, Dutch Fork took possession on its 46-yard line, and quarterback Cole Douglas marched his team 54 yards on 11 plays before scoring a touchdown on a 14-yard run.
KEY PERFORMERS
Cole Douglas: The Dutch Fork quarterback led the way on a rain-soaked field, rushing 20 times for 121 yards and four touchdowns.
Rory Galman: Led the Silver Foxes defensive effort with two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and six tackles.
Alex Smith: The Dutch Fork defender had five tackles, a blocked punt and an interception with a 27-yard return.
THEY SAID IT
“We’re gonna run the football. We’re not real complicated in the passing game but we feel like we can when we want to. But as long as we’re moving the ball and controlling the field, we feel pretty good about our chances to win.” – Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts
“Weather wasn’t an issue. They came out and they won the football game. They took it to us. Some of the penalties we had were out of character for us. I think we got caught up in the rivalry a little bit. These are things we can fix, and we have to put a better team out on the field next Friday.” – Irmo head coach Reggie Kennedy
“We thought it was going to rain more, but the rain game plan was going really good for us and we stuck with it. We didn’t have to pass much, I wish we could have, but the game didn’t dictate that.” – Dutch Fork quarterback Cole Douglas
THREE KEY NUMBERS
188: Irmo’s total yardage
31: Passing yards for the Silver Foxes
259: Rushing yards for Dutch Fork
HOW THEY SCORED
1st Quarter
D – Cole Douglas 14 run (Ford Williams kick) 5:47
2nd Quarter
D –Douglas 5 run (Williams kick) 9:18
D –Douglas 1 run (Williams kick) 5:03
3rd Quarter
D –Douglas 1 run (Williams kick) 8:44
D – Clayton Jones 5 run (Williams kick) 5:47
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Dutch Fork – Cole Douglas 20-121, Clayton Jones 11-73, Austin Connor 4-44, Jesse Ragin 5-23, Alec DeBoer 1-9. Irmo – Mason Smith 14-22, Jeffery Tharp 5-14, Ronnie Jamison 1-(-7).
Passing: Dutch Fork – Cole Douglas 2-2-0, Jo’mal Aiken 0-1-0. Irmo – Mason Smith 27-14-2.
Receiving: Dutch Fork – Alec DeBoer 1-22, Clayton Jones 1-9. Irmo – Ronnie Jamison 3-42, Raekwaon Heath 3-36, Jeffery Tharp 3-3, Tyon Billups 2-21, Brandon Love 1-9, Phillip Barrett 1-7, Shakeem Bradley 1-3.
This story was originally published October 2, 2015 at 10:16 PM with the headline "Dutch Fork soaks Irmo."