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Dutch Fork claims 9th state championship
Worthy Evans • January 11, 2025
Senior Dutch Fork RB Maurice Anderson
By WORTHY EVANS
Contributing Writer
Columbia - If anyone is an expert in maintaining excellence in a high-school football program, it’s Tom Knotts.
The Dutch Fork head coach led the Silver Foxes to their ninth state championship with a 35-21 victory over Summerville at South Carolina State’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Dec. 13. While people may be quick to assume that winning state championships that often is automatic, Knotts says quite the contrary.
“The climb to the top of the mountain is much easier than staying on the top. Trust me on that,” Knotts said after the win. “We’ve got to find ways to innovate, keep them working, keep them motivated. I’ve said many times that success is a double-edged sword. It can give you a lot of confidence but it can also destroy work ethic.”
Dutch Fork, which finished the season 13-0 and outscored its opponents 509-94 this season, had such a work-ethic destruction following its 2022 state championship win. The senior leaders left that team and the young 2023 team had to battle through a 2-5 start. The Silver Foxes missed out on a region title that year, but beat region rival White Knoll to claim its eighth state-title win.
The underclassmen on that 2023 team returned with lessons learned on how to approach a football season. In all, 31 seniors on offense and defense played through 12 games without surrendering a lead. Among the senior leaders were running back Maurice Anderson with 1,177 yards and 22 touchdowns on the year, receiver Boykin Bickley with 60 catches for 1,160 yards and nine touchdowns, defensive end/linebacker Josh Smith with 96 tackles, 16 for loss, and nine sacks, and linebacker Daniel Williams with 65 stops, 28 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks.
Against Summerville, those seniors took on more adversity than they have all season—Dutch Fork fell behind 14-6 by the second quarter. After the Silver Foxes took a 6-0 lead, Jaden Cummings connected with Jaiden Kelly-Murray for an 18-yard touchdown pass and Jayven Williams broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run.
“Just stay the course,” Knotts told the team by that point. “We knew there were some things we could do and we were shooting ourselves in the foot, we were letting our emotions take over, and we did some things really I thought were uncharacteristic of the way we played this year. We played in the first half like it was our first game of the year.”
Dutch Fork did get things straight shortly afterward. Junior quarterback Ethan Offing connected with Bickley for a 19-yard touchdown pass, and then found Jalen Montgomery in the end zone for the game-tying 2-point conversion.
B.J. Platts later powered into the end zone from eight yards out to give the Silver Foxes a 21-14 lead at the half.
In the second half Offing found Bickley again for a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-14.
With Cummings out because of an injury, Summerville backup quarterback Cooper Kafina hit Kelly-Murray for a 77-yard catch-and-run to get the Green Wave back within a possession.
Platts’ 38-yard TD run with two minutes left in the game secured the win for the Silver Foxes.
“This is a very deserving senior group,” Knotts said. “I wasn’t pleased with the way we won, we played with a lot of effort and the game just got a little chippy for my liking but we did come out with a ‘W’ which is always a great thing.
For Knotts, who won seven state championships at two schools in North Carolina before coming to Dutch Fork, every team is different, and every path to the end of the season requires different ways of thinking. And the longtime head coach is focused on thinking about the next year.
“I think we’re on the right track,” he said. “There was a good foundation when I got here, we just had to take it over the top and we’ve done that.”
By Billy G. Baker Publisher Moncks Corner —The High School Sports Report is proud to release our 37 th consecutive all-state basketball teams, from both the SCHSL and SCISA, for the recently completed 2024-25 season. Despite there being no signings of boy’s or girls’ basketball players to either South Carolina or Clemson from the 2025 class, it was a solid year for in-state talent none-the-less. The staff of the HSSR attended every SCHSL play-off game held the Florence Center this past season, and the majority of the post-season games held in Sumter, involving SCISA competition. Over the past three seasons, the HSSR has literally witnessed 70 per cent of these players chosen for our 2024-25 all-state teams play in person, logging thousands of miles to see these players in action first-hand. Abijah Franklin, the recent MVP of the Carolina’s Classic all-star game versus North Carolina, after he scored a team high 24 points in the game, has been named the HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 Mr. Basketball . The Furman signee led the state in scoring this season at 33 points, 8 rebounds, three assists and two steals a game. Franklin is a two-time all-state pick. After leading Andrew Jackson to their second straight AA basketball title this season, Elon signee Tamia Watkins, has been named the HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 Miss Basketball . Watkins, closed out an outstanding six-year career by averaging 30.1 points and 4 rebounds a game her senior season. She recently led the South Carolina Select team with 14 points against North Carolina in that annual all-star game between the two states. From the SCISA ranks Heathwood Hall senior point guard Lauren Jacobs was almost a unanimous choice for the HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 Miss Basketball honors. The Ole Miss signee averaged 25.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.7 steals a game this past season closing out an outstanding career with the Highlanders. The HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 Mr. SCISA Basketball is Porter-Gaud senior John Michael Jenkins . Jenkins was among the fastest moving players in recent memory on the court and he averaged nearly 20 points a game, with seven assists, and four steals a game this season. Jenkins scored 21 points in the Cyclones state title win over Agusta Christian recently. He is currently entertaining college offers after transferring to P-G from Oceanside Collegiate two years ago. HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 Mr. Basketball - Abijah Franklin-Wren HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - Statewide Boys Player of Year-Josh Leonard-Wilson HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - Div. I AAAAA Boys Player of Year-Korie Corbett-Ridge View HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - Div. II AAAAA Boy’s Player of Year---Caden Coleman-Greenville HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - AAAA Boys Player of Year-Jordan Watford-Lancaster HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - AAA Boys Player of Year—Brian Sumpter-Keenan HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - AA Boys Player of Year—Jamie Brooks-Atlantic Collegiate HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - Class A Boys Player of Year—Joshua Goodman-Denmark-Olar HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - Div. I AAAAA Boys Coach of Year—Josh Staley-Ridge View HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - Div. II AAAAA Boys Coach of Year—Mike Anderson-Greenville HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - AAAA Boys Coach of Year—Jerron Cauthen-Lancaster HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - AAA Boys Coach of Year-Zach Norris-Keenan HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - AA Boys Coach of Year—Tanner Massey-Atlantic Collegiate HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 – Class A Boys Coach of Year-Hercules Davis -Denmark-Olar HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 Div. I AAAAA All-State Boys Basketball TJ Lewis-Blythewood Evan Enos-Byrnes Melvin Teal-Summerville Gavin Ward-James Island Yasir Cromer-River Bluff Colt Fowler-Byrnes Rex Walter-Boiling Springs Keenan Whiteside-Dorman Kaleb Evans-Lexington Ethan Crews-Easley Dontez Walker-JL Mann HSSR 2024-25 Div. II AAAAA All-State Boys Basketball Damien Kinloch-Berkeley John Cleveland-Berkeley Roman Cooley-Greenville Franklin Whitley-Greenville Shane Potts-Goose Creek Ja’Quell Brown-Goose Creek Sebi Boyogueno-Riverside Logan Parker-Fort Mill Nas Berry-Fort Mill CJ Terrell-Greenwood Thomas Rouse-Eastside Rickey Littlejohn-Gaffney James Watson-Myrtle Beach HSSR 2024-25 All-State AAAA Boys Basketball Lamont Britt-Gray Collegiate Levi Ball-Gray Collegiate Columbus Parker-Lancaster Malik Tinsley-Lancaster Jacarey Ballard-Lancaster Amare Anderson-Greer Malik Tinsley-Lancaster Da’Ron Dunbar-North Augusta Quh’mareon Webb-North Augusta Brock Cherry-Wren Kmajay Jenkins-Westside Tristian Thompson-Wilson Shannon Davis-Crestwood Johnathan Perry-Christ Church HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 All-State AAA Boys Basketball Eric Gray-Union County Antoine Caughman-Keenan Khalid Sherman-Loris Zay Robertson-Dillon Jordan McGahee-Orangeburg-Wilkinson Justin Vining-Fox Creek Quan Burton-Powdersville Jaleel McGee-Powdersville Von Burton-Powdersville Johnathan Perry-Christ Church Adam Bown-Christ Church AJ Edwards-Brookland-Cayce Grayson Patterson-Woodruff Blayne Edwards-Lake City Brelin Davis-BHP HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 All-State AA Boys Basketball Jaylen Bellamy-Atlantic Collegiate CJ Hemingway-Atlantic Collegiate Bryce Peterson-Andrew Jackson Zeke Clyburn-Andrew Jackson J’Sean Sanders-High Point Academy Chonci Miller-High Point Academy Jaden McNeil-High Point Academy Eli Brown-Chesnee Tushawn Richardson-Clinton Manny Davis-Eau Claire Darius Brooks-Hampton County Deyon Ford-Mullins Dakarai Worley-Mullins Charles White-Marion Jeffrey Ceasar-Manning Caden Edmond-Central Amarion Wilson-Bridges Prep HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 All-State Class A Boys Basketball Gavin Hood-Great Falls Tykeem Ross-Denmark-Olar Terrence Hinton-Denmark-Olar Terence McFadden-Bethune Bowman Bryson Robinson-Bethune-Bowman Jayden Baylor-Abbeville Darius Riley-Abbeville Cayden Ramsey-Cross Stetson Stacks-North Tylin Jenkins-Hannah-Pamplico Kenard Heyward-Carvers Bay Tyrek Wright-McBee Darius Houston-McCormick Jayden Crawford-Green Sea-Floyds Nasir Brooks-Hemingway HSSR 2024-25 Boys All-Rookie Basketball Nathaniel Freeman-Bridges Prep Huck Flynn-Riverside Judah Lee-Green Sea-Floyds Riggs Savage-Powdersville Zay Harris-North Augusta Anton Daniels-Atlantic Collegiate Brice Wiersma-TL Hanna James Gamble-East Clarendon Beau Hite-Emerald HSSR- SCHSL 2024-25 -Miss Basketball— Tamia Watkins-Andrew Jackson HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 -Div. I AAAAA Girls Player Of Year- Chase Thomas-Blythewood HSSR SCHSL 2024-25 – Div. II AAAAA Girls Player Of Year—Amani McCray-Berkeley HSSR SCHSL 2024-25 – AAAA Girls Player Of Year-Celena Grant-North Augusta HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 -- AAA Girls Player Of Year—Kami Roach-Walhalla HSSR SCHSL 2024-25 - AA Girls Player of Year— Ni’Yonna Asbelle-Andrew Jackson HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 - Class A Girls Player of Year—Dream Watson-Military Magnet HSSR SCHSL 2024-25 Div. I -Statewide Girls Coach Of Year-- HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 -Div. I AAAAA Girls Coach Of Year—Emily McElveen-Schaffer-Blythewood HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 Div. II AAAAA Girls Coach of Year-Crystal Peace-Berkeley High HSSR SCHSL 2024-25 - AAAA Girls Coach Of Year-Al Young-North Augusta HSSR SCHSL 2024-25 - AAA Girls Coach Of Year-Bryon Wimphrie-Walhalla HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 -AA Girls Coach of Year—Steven Fair-Andrew Jackson HSSR SCHSL 2024-25 – Class A Girls Coach Of Year-Nathaniel Taylor-Military Magnet HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 Div. I Girl’s All-State Basketball Jade Hailstock-JL Mann Skyla Tuthill-Ashley Ridge Jahzara Leamon-Mauldin India Williams-Blythewood Hayley Hightower-Blythewood Molly Daugherty-Summerville Cailah Tucker-Summerville Emma Daugherty-Summerville Morgan White-Dorman Aubrey Stevenson-Rock Hill Chole Hudson-Rock Hill Ashlyn Evans-Byrnes Clara Mustapher-Stratford Breah Franks-JL Mann Anasia Harvey-Ridge View HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 Div. II Girl’s All-State Basketball Alaina Carter-Berkeley Madison Thomas-Berkeley Tamera Wynn-TL Hanna Faith Farmer-North Myrtle Beach Danielle Oliver-Greenwood TyKirea Johnson-Greenwood Cameron Oliver-Greenwood Elly Trickett-Riverside Shiriah Harris-Gaffney Tianah “TT” Hopper-Gaffney Ava Owens-Greenville Madeline Dates-Goose Creek Michaela Fairwell-Dutch Fork Shaelyn Hayes-White Knoll Aneya Britt-Westwood HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 All-State AAAA Girls Basketball Ashley Walker-North Augusta Kenedi Wright-North Augusta Khalia Hartwell-Westside Asia Clinksales-Westside Kaleigh Lucas-South Pointe Janiya Cunningham-South Pointe Hannah Rosato-Bishop England Braylin Mungo-Camden Lila Mann-Daniel Shala Williams-Daniel Jhnai Sumpter-Lower Richland Chi’Nya Isaac-Lower Richland Malasia Jamison-Aiken Logan Murray-Wilson Kadence Walker-Lee-Gray Collegiate HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 All-State AAA Girls Basketball Miley White-Walhalla Gianna Ortiz-Walhalla Miley White-Walhalla Treasure Davis-Dillon Khw’Nylaha McKinnon-Dillon Taylor Lee-Sutton-Keenan Janiya Richburg-Loris Marisa Moody-Loris Ella Mae Schepp-Oceanside Collegiate Sadie Burnette-Woodruff Krislyn Wilder-Chapman Reagan Mobley-West Oak Devyn Blackwell-Southside Christian Janiya Cunningham-South Pointe HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 All-State AA Girls Basketball Janiyah Squire-Ninety-Six Essence Rodgers-Blacksburg Jazzlyn McMillan-Fairfield Central Emily McCall-Andrew Jackson Jaeda Davis-Marion Maliyah Williams-Marion Kylie Fortner-Landrum Destinee Tiller-Eau Claire Milaysha Chisolm-Eau Claire Aimarika Moorer-Lake Marion Hannah Riles-Lake City Naydia Shaw-Kingstree HSSR-SCHSL 2024-25 All-State Class A Girls Basketball Autumn Thomas-Calhoun Falls DeNiriyah Williams-Military Magnet Sabri Mitchell-Military Magnet Serenity Williams-Lee Central Hannah Reames-Lee Central My’Keriyah Holmes-Lee Central Kalen Mayes-Denmark-Olar Aveion Walker-Denmark-Olar Tiffany Helmer-St. Joseph’s Catholic Kailen Parks-North Lauren Middleton-Cross Aysiah Bonaparte-Hunter-Kinard-Tylar Tilayzia Youmans-Hunter- Kinard-Tyler D’Essence Graham-Carver’s Bay Jasmyn Jenkins-Carver’s Bay Raven Brown-Bamberg-Ehrhardt HSSR-2024-25 All-Rookie Girls Basketball Tiana Marshall-Westside (8 th ) Imani Levey-Berkeley Miracle Cheeks-Greenville Jaiden McKnight-Kingstree Maddie Pojani-First Baptist CoCo Charley-North Evie Adams-St. Joseph’s Catholic Courtney Campbell-Orangeburg Prep Lauren Willis-Military Magnet HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 SCISA Boys Basketball HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 Mr. SCISA Basketball - John Michael Jenkins-Porter-Gaud HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 AAAA Boys Player Of Year - Bryce Reyierson—Augusta Christian HSSR SCISA 2024-25- AAA Boys Player Of Year - Ty Harping-Hilton Head Prep HSSR-SCISA 2024-25-AA Boys Player Of Year - Blake Ferguson-Cathedral Academy HSSR- SCISA 2024-25- Class A Boys Player of Year - Kavontay Rose-Ragin Prep HSSR- SCISA 2024-25- AAAA Boys Coach of Year - John Pearson-Porter-Gaud HSSR-SCISA 2024-25- AAA Boys Coach Of Year - Richard Barron-Hilton Head Prep HSSR- SCISA 2024-25 -AA Boys Coach of the Year - Blake Feruson-Cathedral Academy HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 -Class A Boys Coach of the Year - Anthony Jackson-Ragin Prep HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 All-State AAAA Boys Griffin Ferrano-Porter-Gaud Banks Butler-Porter Gaud Kateaux Miller-Porter Gaud Kais Parris-Pinewood Prep Tre Green-Pinewood Prep Tripp Eidson -Pinewood Prep Jonathan Slawson-Pinewood Prep Braysen Stockman-Ben Lippen Ty Shine-Augusta Christian Aamere Tolbert-Augusta Christian Hugh Humphries-Wilson Hall KJ Allen-Trinity Collegiate JY’Ell Preston-Trinity Collegiate Tristen McCleary-Heath Jaiden Haltiwanger-Hammond Kamari Hunter-Heathwood Hall Tristen McCleary-Heathwood Hall Jackson Ross-Hammond Luis Echevanna-Cardinal Newman Scoop Dennis-Laurence Manning HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 All-State AAA Boys Billy Barron-Hilton Head Prep Brenden Moore-Hilton Head Prep T Riley-Orangeburg Prep Avery Ravenell-Orangeburg Prep Colby Richardson-Pee Dee Academy Bennett Causey-Pee Dee Academy Payne Wood-Spartanburg Day Ron Rank-Spartanburg Day Ty Kennedy-Greenwood Christian Crews Felder-Calhoun Academy Taylor Greene-Florence Christian Thomas Hester-St. Johns Christian Mateo Costello-Colleton Prep Thompson Stone-Dillon Christian Jackson Outlar-Dillon Christian Tucker Shealey-First Presbryterian Rowen Croft-Patrick Henry Mikell Tucker Mathis-Patrick Henry HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 All-State AA Boys Kadan Whitledge-Cathedral Academy Ajani Gresham-Cathedral Academy Dominic Felis-Cathedral Academy Gage Dicks-Andrew Jackson Academy Hayden McClung-Andrew Jackson Academy Hall Sease-Andrew Jackson Academy Vashahd Schofield-Andrew Jackson Academy Tony O’Banner-Thomas Heyward Academy Kelan Fripp-Thomas Heyward Israel Wright-Bethesda Academy Abe Shuler-Dorchester Academy Landon Turner-Carolina Academy Walker McCutchen-Carolina Academy Trace June-Lee Academy John Quattlebaum-Dorchester Academy Daniel Shetley-Oakbrook Prep Yannick Huelsmeyer-Faith Christian HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 All-State Class A Boys Jody Gillam-Holly Hill Academy Ashton Soles-Holly Hill Academy Omarai Myers-Ragin Prep Zymir Robinson-Hill-Ragin Prep Kayshaun Rutherford-Ragin Prep Trez Mincey-Curtis Baptist Treivan Wright-Curtis Baptist Charlie Bonds-Richard Winn Bennett Nicholson-Richard Winn Colson Loadholt-Jefferson Davis Nasir Void-Jefferson Davis Reece Still-Jefferson Davis Academy Caleb Wilbanks-Newberry Academy HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 Girls Basketball Awards: HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 Miss SCISA Basketball - Lauren Jacobs-Heathwood Hall HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 AAAA Girls Player Of Year - Makayla Leggette-Trinity Collegiate HSSR-SCISA 2024-25- AAA Girls Player Of Year - Rebecca Hammond-Pee Dee Academy HSSR-SCISA 2024-25- AA Girls Player Of Year - Ryan Mayers-Cross Schools HSSR- SCISA 2024-25- Class A Girls Player of Year - Jaliyah Terry-Curtis Baptist HSSR- SCISA 2024-25- AAAA Girls Coach of Year - Bree Goodson-Trinity Collegiate HSSR-SCISA 2024-25- AAA Girls Coach Of Year - Meagan Thomas-Pee Dee Academy HSSR- SCISA 2024-25 -AA Girls Coach of the Yea- Doc Archibald-Cross Schools HSSR-SCISA 2022-23-Class A Girls Coach of the Yea- Tim Johnson-Curtis Baptist HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 AAAA Girl’s All-State Salease Kind-Trinity-Collegiate Natalie Pitts-Trinity Collegiate Cokey Suddeth-Palmetto Christian Maliyah Birch-Northwood Academy Rylan Dundon-Northwood Academy Ava Rush-First Baptist Gabby Moore-First Baptist Paige Pouyat-First Baptist SaBreya Monsanto-Heathwood Hall Camillea Gore-Heathwood Hall Avery Schwarz-Augusta Christian Lyza Pricklemyer-Laurence Manning Logan Mims-Wilson Hall Lauren Majorkiewicz-John Paul II Makenna Ellis-Augusta Christian Evie Godfrey-Northside Christian Chaelyn Tifre-Northside Christian Elaina Whalen-Ben Lippen Perry Chambers-Porter-Gaud HSSR 2024--25 All-State SCISA AAA Girls Courtney Campbell-Hilton Head Prep Erin Cleary-Hilton Head Prep Claire Owens-Pee Dee Academy Claire Eskridge-Pee Dee Academy Jane Walker Yonce-Orangeburg Prep Hannah Lambrecht-Orangeburg Prep Annabelle Hunter-Orangeburg Prep Anne Hatcher White-Colleton Prep Ava Murray-Colleton Prep Kylie Finley-St. Johns Christian Audrey Fredere-Greenwood Christian Emma Hudgens-Greenwood Christian Emerson Poston-Florence Christian Lillian Lucas-Patrick Henry Laney Futch-Patrick Henry Kaytlin McJimpsey-Spartanburg Day Mandy Wells-Clarendon Hall Ashlee Berry-Clarendon Hall Layla Walker-Calhoun Academy HSSR 2024--25 All-State SCISA AA Girls Lexann Maldonado-Cross Schools Sydney Hollings-Cross Schools McKinnley Beard-Andrew Jackson Academy Bella Carrigg-Andrew Jackson Academy Braylee Burke-Laurens Academy Madisyn Graham-Laurens Academy Rylee Weathers-Dorchester Academy Emery McClure-Dorchester Academy Emma Amos-Carolina Academy Mazie Tomlinson-Lee Academy Karagan Melton-Lee Academy Caro Chmura-Charleston Collegiate Madison Williams-Cathedral Raven Williams-Cathedral HSSR-SCISA 2024-25 All-State Class A Girls Macy Butler-Curtis Baptist Lily Kilroy-Curtis Baptist Charlotte Lewis-Richard Winn Abby Lewis-Richard Winn Milly Kate Prescott-Holly Hill Academy Taylor Hill-Wardlaw Academy Maddie Deloach-Wardlaw Academy Milly Kate Prescott-Holly Hill Academy Rileigh York-Jefferson Davis Academy Riley Williams-Jefferson Davis Academy Payton Hutto-Jefferson Davis Academy McKenzie Glanton-Mead Hall Carolina Wiedenman-Mead Hall Kenzie Morse-WW King
Matthews, Wilder join Humphries on All-Region team
Kevin Miller no longer boys basketball head coach
Tigers return 4 All-Region players in Williams, Arant, Shaw, Uhlar
Dakarai Worley selected to SCBCA AA All-State team
Burris, Silver Foxes had success on the field while watching his wife lose battle with cancer
Blazers reach quarterfinals of AA girls basketball playoffs for 3rd straight year
Anna Kate Huggins, Emerson Poston, Demi Greene All-Region picks
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Kaliyah Herman selected as Region 6 Offensive Player of the Year
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