By Thomas Grant Jr.
Can lightning strike twice at Red Bank?
It’s what White Knoll hopes to accomplish this Friday at home.
On Oct. 6, 2023, the Timberwolves defeated Dutch Fork 17-14. The win snapped the Silver Foxes’ 32-game winning streak in Region 4-5A and propelled White Knoll to its first-ever state title game appearance.
Ironically, the two teams met again in the final with Dutch Fork coming out on top 21-6. Now, 10th ranked White Knoll (5-1, 1-0) looks to repeat past history at home versus the third-ranked Silver Foxes (4-1, 1-0).
“That win two years ago was a special game in White Knoll history,” White Knoll head coach Nick Pelham said. “But it will be very difficult to recreate. We will have to play well at every level of our defense due to their varied running game and tremendous spacing in their passing game.
Our offense will have to limit possessions by getting third and fourth down conversions to be able to stay on the field. If our best players show up hungry and ready to play, we may have a chance to stay in the game and see if we can get some breaks like we did in 2023.”
Dutch Fork is coming off a 50-0 shutout of Chapin. It was the Silver Foxes’ ninth straight region win since the White Knoll loss as they rebounded from a 24-20 defeat two weeks earlier to Oceanside Collegiate Academy that ended a 24-game winning streak.
Since the season-opening loss to Class 4A ninth-ranked Camden, the Timberwolves have won five straight games. Pelham points to positive changes in attitude stemming from that loss.
“Our biggest improvements have been in preparation,” he said. “The Camden game helped us get our players attention about the importance of preparation. Our meetings, lifts, and practices have improved dramatically…and our best players have led that change.
“Another drastic improvement has been in handling adversity during games. We panicked when things didn’t go well early but our players and coaches have learned to deal with setbacks during the game with much more maturity. For example, against Sumter we threw an INT at our own end that led to a touchdown in 1st quarter and didn’t get an offensive first down until the second quarter. But there wasn’t any panicking. Our players kept at it and we stayed under control and in the game and eventually played well and beat Sumter at their place.”
Pelham has also seen new starting quarterback Jhais McKiever settle into his role. He’s benefited from having an experienced wideout in Touchstone Energy Bowl selection Caleb Geronomi as a weapon.
“Our quarterback play has improved at every level in our program,” Pelham said. “I am very excited to see the poise and control all of our QBs areas playing with. In addition, the game has slowed down for all of them. They are all more proficient in their reads and comfortable in their roles. Finally, Jhais McKiever has become an accurate passer in addition to his excellent running ability. He is throwing some very catchable balls in the intermediate areas and in the East West passing game.”
Newberry stays perfect
A fourth-quarter rally enabled the Bulldogs to improve to 7-0 for the first time in 20 years.
Trailing Silver Bluff 19-7 entering the fourth quarter, Newberry scored 15 straight points in the 22-19 win.
Kenton Caldwell scored on a 10-yard run to cut the deficit to 19-14 with 11 minutes left in the game. On the Bulldogs’ next possession, Caldwell found James Dunbar for a 20-yard touchdown to take the lead.
Newberry (7-0, 1-0) added the 2-point conversion to close out the scoring.
B-L falls in OT
Amadre Wooden was stopped on the potential game-tying 2-point conversion as Batesburg-Leesville dropped their region opener.
Deonte Phillips scored the game-tying touchdown to force overtime and the go-ahead score in the extra period. Quarterback Brishaun Lee completed 12-26 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns for the Rebels.
Wooden had a season-high 249 rushing yards and three touchdowns. K.D. Whitt rushed for 73 yards a score for Batesburg-Leesville (3-3, 0-1).
Over in Gilbert, the Indians fell short in a late rally against South Aiken by a 17-14 score.
Kit McLauchlin completed 17-34 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter. Chandler Guthrie had 12 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown.
OTHER LAKE MURRAY SCORES
Saluda 48, American Leadership Academy 0
Irmo 35, Lexington 0
White Knoll 35, River Bluff 3
Fairfield Central 35, Mid-Carolina 3
CLASS 5A
(Division I – Lower State)
James Island, 6-0, 0.72813 Carolina Forest, 5-1, 0.68722 Stratford, 5-1, 0.66597 Sumter, 6-1, 0.6609 Summerville, 5-1, 0.65528 Wando, 4-2, 0.53422 Ashley Ridge, 3-3, 0.53238 River Bluff, 3-3, 0.50960 Lexington, 2-4, 0.49171 Fort Dorchester, 2-4, 0.45444 Cane Bay, 1-5, 0.41692 Stall, 1-5, 0.39960 West Ashley, 1-4, 0.39383
(Division II – Lower State)
Irmo, 6-0, 0.81071 White Knoll, 5-1, 0.65817 Lucy Beckham, 4-1, 0.65455 Myrtle Beach, 4-2, 0.61798 Berkeley, 4-2, 0.61172 Lugoff-Elgin, 4-3, 0.54463 Westwood, 4-2, 0.52419 St. James, 2-4, 0.47214 West Florence, 2-4, 0.46067 Conway, 2-4, 0.43881 North Myrtle Beach, 2-4, 0.43524 Socastee, 1-5, 0.39014 Chapin, 0-6, 0.34843 Goose Creek, 0-6, 0.28167
CLASS 4A (Lower State)
South Florence, 5-1, 0.69353 Hilton Head Island, 6-1, 0.68355 North Augusta, 6-1, 0.68015 Gray Collegiate, 4-2, 0.66607 Bishop England, 5-1, 0.64437 Midland Valley, 5-1, 0.62577 Bluffton, 5-2, 0.61894 Wilson, 5-2, 0.57490 May River, 5-1, 0.56129 Hartsville, 3-3, 0.55365 Crestwood, 4-3, 0.54765 Lower Richland, 4-3, 0.51544 South Aiken, 4-3, 0.48095 Darlington, 3-4, 0.47310 Gilbert, 2-4, 0.43071 Aiken, 2-4, 0.42960 Beaufort, 2-4, 0.41224 Brookland-Cayce, 1-5, 0.39565 Colleton County, 1-5, 0.37036 Lakewood, 0-6, 0.29833 Airport, 0-6, 0.28843
S.C PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 5A
1. Irmo (15) (6-0), 2. Northwestern (3) (6-1), 3. Dutch Fork (4-1), 4. Summerville (5-1), 5. James Island (6-0), 6. Dorman (5-1), 7. Greenwood (5-1), 8. Ridge View (4-2), 9. Byrnes (4-1), 10. White Knoll (5-1)
Others receiving votes: Gaffney, TL Hanna, Sumter, Greenville, Indian Land
Class 2A
1. Central (18) 6-0, 2. Fairfield Central (5-2), 3. Clinton (4-3), 4. Strom Thurmond (5-1), 5. Timberland (5-1), 6. Hampton County (4-3), 7. Phillip Simmons (4-2), 8. Saluda (4-2), 9. Batesburg-Leesville (3-3), 10. Chesnee (4-2)
Others receiving votes: North Central, Chester, Andrew Jackson, East Clarendon, Cheraw
