THURSDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

For the 2nd time in 3 years, Dorman pushed Dutch Fork to the limit.

In 2017, the Silver Foxes needed a stop by linebacker Hugh Ryan on a 2-point conversion attempt to preserve a 28-27 victory in the Class 5A championship game.

Dorman head football coach Dave Guts-hall was playing for the win given the challenge of trying to stop Bryce Thompson in overtime.

This time, the 2 teams ended it in overtime.

Again, the outcome favored Dutch Fork and its head coach Tom Knotts at the hands of a player the previously unbeaten Cavaliers could not contain.

Senior wide receiver Jalin Hyatt caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ty Olenchuk in overtime. That give the Silver Foxes a 34-31 victory.

It was the 3rd touchdown pass play between Clemson baseball signee Olenchuk and University of Tennessee commit Hyatt.

“Coach Knotts said we’ve never had a tough game,” Hyatt said. “This was a hard game. At halftime, he was just saying ‘What are you going to do when adversity hits you?’

“We stuck through it. We stayed as a team. We believed as a team. We all believed in Coach Knotts and (Defensive Coordinator Nick) Pelham. We came out with the win.”

The duo helped Dutch Fork jump out to a 14-0 lead. It was 13 seconds into the game on the opening snap when Olenchuk found Hyatt at the 35 and he turned upfield and down the sidelines for a 80-yard score.

This was the 6th time this season Olenchuk and Hyatt hooked up for Dutch Fork’s opening score.

After Dutch Fork defensive lineman Rasheed Rucker recovered a fumble at the 37, Olenchuk and Hyatt connected again on a 7-yard touchdown pass to cap an 8-play, 63-yard scoring drive with 6:25 left in the 1st quarter.

The Cavaliers answered with 21 unanswered points to take the lead.

Dutch Fork turned to its running game to rally back. Senior Jon Hall broke free for a 57-yard run to set up his 7-yard touchdown reception - his 1st of the season - to tie the game with 7:21 left in the 3rd quarter.

Adversity struck Olenchuk on the next 2 series. After throwing just 3 interceptions before last Saturday, Olenchuk was picked off on successive drives.

Dorman (14-1) capitalized off the 1st interception with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Lee to Jayvon Hall.

After advancing to the Dutch Fork 27, the Dorman drive stalled as defensive back Tyrik McDaniel sacked Lee for a loss.

After Diorman punted, the Silver Foxes got the ball back at their own 5 yard line with 9:36 left.

Olenchuk and Hyatt converted on 2 3rd downs and Hall had a 4th and 3 run for 4 yards before scoring on a 18-yard run to tie the game with 4:16 left.

It was Hall’s 37th rushing TD of the year and he finished with 189 rushing yards.

“That was the biggest drive of the season, no doubt,” said Olenchuk, who acknowledged needing his teammates to pick him up after the back-to-back interceptions. “We’re backed up at our own 5, forced to punt if we got 4th down. Big 3rd down play to Jalin. Jalin made a great catch. Definitely a big drive for us.”

Both teams were unable to score at the end of regulation.

Dorman took the ball to start overtime and Omar Khan connected on a 25-yard field goal to put the Cavaliers up 31-28.

After an incomplete pass to Hall on 1st down, Olenchuk threw a fade route pass to Hyatt who managed to snag the ball inbounds for the game-winner.

“Jalin Hyatt helped me the whole way,” Olenchuk said. “He is an incredible wide receiver and best I could ever ask for.”

MILESTONES

Dutch Fork finished the 2019 season 14-0-1 and with the following streaks intact:

•40 straight games without a loss

•39 straight wins over South Carolina teams

•23 straight wins in region play and on the road

•20 straight post-season wins

The Silver Foxes also became the 7th program in state history to win 4 consecutive titles. They joined these schools:

•Florence (1916-19)

•Woodruff (1975-78)

•J.F. Byrnes (2002-05)

•Christ Church (2011-14)

•Dillon (2012-15)

•Abbeville (2015-18)

The senior class of Dutch Fork High School enters Saturday’s game with a 55-1-1 overall record.

Head coach Tom Knotts won his 5th state title at Dutch Fork and 12th overall counting his days at Independence and West Charlotte high schools in North Carolina.

BUSY FORMER WILDCAT

Dorman boys’ basketball coach and Lexington High graduate Thomas Ryan had an eventful past Saturday. It started when he worked the radio broadcast for the Class 5A football title game.

Following the contest, Ryan returned to Roeback to lead the defending 3-time Class 5A boys basketball champion Cavaliers to a 80-41 victory over North Augusta at the Farm Bureau Insurance Tipoff.

Dorman is seeking to become the 4th team in state history to win 4 titles in a row and 2nd in the modern era.

ON THE MIC

River Bluff public address announcer Patrick DeMarre was the lead voice for the Weekend of Champions at Williams-Brice Stadium.

TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVES ALL-STAR BOWL

Doug Shaw Stadium in Myrtle Beach is the site of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives All-Star Bowl set for noon Saturday.

The South team is dominated by Chronicle Country players and coaches. The list of players includes quarterbacks Tyler Olenchuk of Dutch Fork and Jy Tolen of Gilbert, offensive lineman Ta’Chawn Brooks (Dutch Fork), defensive tackle Garrett Huyck and offensive lineman Josh Taylor (both of Chapin), offensive linemen Walker Anderson (Lexington) and Tradd Castles (Brookland-Cayce), placekicker Luis Orellana (White Knoll), tight end Jacob Lucas (Pelion), running back Nanders Lawrence (Airport) and wide receivers Alec Holt (Gilbert) and Michael Jones (Swansea).

Johnsonville head coach Ken Cribb will lead the South team. His coaching staff is prominent with Lexington County head coaches, including Perry Woolbright (Lexington), Dann Holland (Pelion) and Rusty Charpia (Brookland-Cayce) and assistant coaches Mark Cagle (Gilbert) and Scott Stogner (Chapin).

Competing for the North team are Gray Collegiate Academy teammates quarterback Hunter Helms and wide receiver Omarion Dolleson and wide receiver Ke’Shoun Williams (Batesburg-Leesville).

QUOTABLE

“I’m already starting thinking. I’m going to take this weekend off, Sunday off and Monday I’ll be getting back to work.” -

Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts about winning an unprecedented 5th consecutive title in South Carolina.