Dutch Fork outlasts Blythewood for wild region win

Dutch Fork has had its fill of Blythewood Stadium this week.

The Silver Foxes lost to Ridge View on Tuesday in a Region IV-4A game that was rescheduled in the aftermath of area flooding two weeks before.

But on Friday night, Dutch Fork overcame a rested Blythewood team in a wild 35-28 victory.

Blythewood (5-2, 0-1), which had postponed its matchup at Spring Valley to Nov. 13, was coming off two weeks rest.

Dutch Fork (5-3, 1-1) started off-balance as Blythewood quarterback David Isreal led the Bengals to a 21-14 halftime lead. It came to life early in the second half when defender Brian Wilson picked off an Isreal pass.

On the drive that ensued, the Silver Foxes marched 62 yards on nine plays. Quarterback Cole Douglas found Alec DeBoer for a 7-yard TD pass to tie the game at 21.

Blythewood took a 28-21 lead on Isreal’s 35-yard pass to Kenny Benton late in the third, but Douglas scored on a 4-yard run late in the third quarter and on a 16-yard run early in the fourth to seal the win for the Silver Foxes.

TURNING POINT

Down 28-21 in the third quarter, Dutch Fork worked a quick 5-play, 80-yard scoring drive to tie the game at 28. Douglas powered the drive with a 49-yard run, and capped it with a score from four yards out.

KEY PERFORMERS

David Isreal: The Blythewood quarterback was 14-for-21 in passing for 326 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Cole Douglas: The Dutch Fork quarterback rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. He also completed 17 of 27 passes for 273 yards and a TD. He was coming off an ankle injury suffered in the Ridge View game.

THEY SAID IT

“The thing was, we were struggling at protecting (David Isreal). Their defensive line is fantastic. We came out with a good gameplan and executed well, but they’re a lot bigger than us and a lot stronger. We had some chances down the stretch, but we weren’t able to make the plays and they were.” – Blythewood coach Dan Morgan

“We’re down 11 starters due to injuries or academics. For us to be hanging in here like this, for them to be playing as hard as they’re playing, and taking a beating from me and not giving up, they’re hanging in there and I’m proud of them.” – Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts

“The adrenaline kept on pumping as we kept playing. The team stepped up, I stepped up. Every time we get down, we get right back up.” – Dutch Fork quarterback Cole Douglas

THREE KEY NUMBERS

2: Number of days rest Dutch Fork had since falling 28-21 to Ridge View in the same stadium Tuesday night.

100: Yards receiving Blythewood’s Kenny Benton had on his first two catches. One was a 45-yard TD reception. He finished the night with five catches for 166 yards and two scores.

264: Blythewood’s passing yards in the first half on 11 completions.

HOW THEY SCORED