A lot was on the line Friday night as cross-town rivals Dutch Fork and Irmo met for the first time since 2019. 

Dutch Fork defeated the Yellow Jackets 24-14 to win the 5A Region 4 championship, clinch an undefeated season and earn the top seed in the 5A Division I playoffs. It was the closest game Dutch Fork played this season, and it was Irmo's only loss. 

“These are the two best teams in the state,” Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts said. “They're going to be in the smaller 5A, we're in the larger 5A, so thank goodness we don't have to play them again. And they're probably saying thank goodness they don't have to play us again. Maybe two Irmo teams will bring home two state championships.” 

The atmosphere was electric as both side’s fans showed up in force to root for their teams. It was a close game early, but Dutch Fork’s defense shut Irmo down in the second half to seal the victory. 

Irmo finished the game with over 300 yards of offense but had just 98 yards in the second half. The Yellow Jackets were shut out in the second half and Dutch Fork scored a field goal to make it a two-possession game. 

“Our defense has given up 45 points now in nine games, so that's pretty dog gone good,” Knotts said. “It makes it easy to play offense when your defense is playing lights out.”

Dutch Fork quarterback Ethan Offing had two total touchdowns in the game. He threw for over 100 yards and added 62 on the ground. 

Running back Maurice Anderson had a strong outing, rushing for 160 yards on 20 attempts. He helped the Silver Foxes drain the clock in the second half and make an Irmo comeback improbable. 

“We're going to be a scary team once we can continue to run football,” Knotts said. 

Irmo quarterback A.J. Brand made big plays in the first half but was limited in the second. He finished with over 230 total yards and two touchdowns, but in the second half, he had just over 50 total yards, no touchdowns and an interception. 

“He carried the team. He just made some people look silly a few times,” Knotts said. “But my team rose to the occasion, did what they were supposed to do. To shut him out in the second half is a tremendous accomplishment.” 

The Yellow Jackets had momentum early, forcing a turnover and scoring a touchdown on the game’s first two possessions. 

Dutch Fork started with the ball and made it to the red zone before Offing threw an interception to Irmo’s Matthew Blocker. Irmo then went downfield and scored a 12-yard rushing touchdown by Brand. 

The Silver Foxes evened the score on their next drive. Dutch Fork faced fourth-and-short, but Anderson was able to power through for a first. Offing ran into the endzone on a quarterback keeper a few plays later. 

Irmo made its first mistake of the game after Donovoan Murph made a catch near midfield but fumbled the ball away while being tackled. Raleigh Salters was there to pick it up and ran back to the Irmo 25. 

K.J. Smith punched in the go-ahead touchdown as Dutch Fork took its first lead in the game. 

The Yellow Jackets responded though and tied the game at 14 following a 78-yard passing touchdown from Brand to Maleek Miller. 

That was the last time the game would be tied as Dutch Fork retook the lead on a seven-yard touchdown from Offing to Boykin Bickley. That was the last score of the first half and final touchdown in the game. 

In the second half, the game sped up and possessions chewed more time off the clock. Each team had just one drive in the third quarter. 

Irmo started with the ball and took over six minutes off the clock before punting near midfield. Dutch Fork responded with a drive that lasted until the final minute of the third and ended in three points. The Yellow Jackets tried to play catchup in the fourth but failed to score, and time ran out.

While it wasn’t the result they wanted, Irmo finished the season 9-1 and still earned a top seed in the 5A Division II bracket. The Yellow Jackets will have a bye during the first week of the playoffs and will play the winner of Chapin and Goose Creek next week. 

Dutch Fork finished the year 9-0 and will be the top seed in the 5A Division I bracket. The Silver Foxes will play the winner of Dorman and Boiling Springs. 

While the Yellow Jackets and Silver Foxes won’t have the chance to meet again in the postseason, now that the two are in the same region, fans in the town of Irmo can enjoy an exciting rivalry for the next few years. 

“As long as they're still in our region, it'll be a great rivalry every year,” Knotts said.

Full Area Scoreboard 

Chapin: 35, White Knoll: 34

River Bluff: 24, Lexington: 10

South Aiken: 40, Airport: 27

Gilbert: 52, Aiken: 7

North Augusta: 20, Gray Collegiate: 17

Saluda: 57, American Leadership: 0

Batesburg-Leesville: 8, Strom Thurmond: 7

Northside Christian: 53, First Baptist: 28