Dutch Fork football defeated River Bluff 41-14 on Friday night behind a strong performance from quarterback Ethan Offing.

The Silver Foxes made several big plays on offense to add another road victory and remain unbeaten.

“We like playing on the road,” Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts said after the win. “We like to get moving. They get out here and listen to music out here on the field and it’s not as much waiting around. So, we don’t mind where we play.”

On its first possession, the Silver Foxes’ offense got off to a quick start when Offing found wide receiver K.J. Smith for a 30-yard touchdown, giving Dutch Fork a 7-0 lead. After a three-and-out by River Bluff’s offense, Dutch Fork’s next possession ended in a punt after running back Maurice Anderson was stopped on third down by Gators linebacker Griffin Lindler.

With an early lead, the Silver Foxes opened the second quarter with a 50-yard touchdown from Offing to Anderson. The score from Anderson gave Dutch Fork a 14-0 advantage.

Midway through the second quarter, Dutch Fork’s offense kept its momentum going. Facing a third down in its own territory, wide receiver Boykin Bickley caught a 64-yard pass to set up the Silver Foxes in the red zone. Anderson capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run, making the score 21-0, Silver Foxes.

The Silver Foxes’ defense responded with an impressive showing of its own, as it frequently forced negative plays by River Bluff’s offense. On a key third down late in the first half, defensive end Julian Walker recorded a sack, forcing another punt by the Gators.

Offing continued his impressive night when he found Bickley for a 40-yard reception on third down. Anderson followed it another big play, this time a 30-yard catch that was followed by a 2-yard touchdown run. The Silver Foxes went into the locker room at halftime with a commanding 28-point lead over the Gators.

“We came in saying we wanted to run the ball, but that’s the kind of way it’s been all year,” Knotts said. “We haven’t really been able to run the ball. Maurice will break one or two, give us an explosive play.”

After halftime, Dutch Fork opened the third quarter with more explosive plays when Offing found Smith for a 30-yard reception. Wide receiver Chase Betts ended the drive with a touchdown catch on a reverse that gave the Silver Foxes a 35-0 lead.

Midway through the third quarter, River Bluff’s offense converted several third and fourth downs to stay on the field. Tight end Stephen Collier caught a 13-yard pass on third down, and running back Hayden Myers reached the line to gain on a pivotal fourth down at midfield. Myers made it a 35-7 game when he capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

“Their points were really when it was all wrapped up,” Knotts said. “They seemed to gash us a little bit. The plays that we really practiced, the three or four plays we knew we had to stop, those were the plays they got on their first touchdown. That’s a little disappointing.”

The Silver Foxes took a 41-7 lead when Offing found Bickley again, this time for a 47-yard touchdown reception.

“Bickley had a number of big plays,” Knotts said. “We did a lot of good things throwing the football. Ethan still needs to see the field a little bit better, but he’s a work in progess and I’m happy with a lot of the offensive results.”

River Bluff scored the final touchdown of the night when running back Darius Caine rushed for a two-yard touchdown, making the final score 41-14, Dutch Fork.

Dutch Fork (8-0, 4-0 Region 4) will face Irmo (9-0, 4-0 Region 4) at home on Friday night in a battle for first place in the region. River Bluff (7-2, 2-2 Region 4) concludes its regular season on Friday at Lexington (5-4, 1-3 Region 4).

“We know it will be packed next Friday versus Irmo,” Knotts said. “The Irmo town championship, so that should be fun.”