A surprising titan of the 2023 football season and a traditional power coming on late both notched big wins in the first round of the South Carolina High School League 5A playoffs Nov. 3.

After a disappointing non-region slate and failing to win the region, the Dutch Fork Silver Foxes made a statement in the first round of the SCHSL playoffs with a 55-7 win over Boiling Springs.

Meanwhile, the White Knoll Timberwolves’ undefeated season continued with a 28-0 shutout of Cane Bay.

The Timberwolves offense put up 14 first quarter points with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Landon Sharpe to Austin Cunningham and a nine-yard touchdown rush from Sharpe. 

It was a quiet second quarter from the Timberwolves offense but they were able to tack on another score before the half with 50 seconds remaining when Sharpe found Cunningham again from 25 yards out to give them a 21-0 advantage at the break.

White Knoll scored once in the second half with the assistance of a 36-yard touchdown pass from Sharpe to running back Tiyon Fanning with a little over three minutes left in the fourth quarter. 

The 10-0 Timberwolves are now set to host Fort Dorchester.

Dutch Fork’s first quarter featured a 39-yard touchdown run from running back Maurice Anderson and two touchdown tosses from quarterback Jon Hunt, and the Silver Foxes never let up after leading 21-0 coming out of the first frame.

The next quarter saw an 80-yeart punt-return touchdown from Jacob Hamilton and an 88-yard touchdown pass from Hunt to Trenton Lodge.

Boiling Springs scored once shortly before halftime, but never again, as Anderson’s 96 yards (and two touchdowns) on just seven carries and Hunt’s 201 yards (and three touchdowns) on 8-11 passing powered the Silver Foxes to a route.

Dutch Fork travels to Anderson to take on T.L. Hanna, who has been one of the top teams in 5A most of the season.