Dutch Fork makes history with fourth consecutive state championship

Tom Knotts equals state record with 10th state title as coach

Dutch Fork Silver Foxes Stone Furrey (14) celebrates after a first down Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, during the SCHSL semi state football game against the Dorman Cavaliers at Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, South Carolina. / Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Dutch Fork pulled away in the fourth quarter to pound Summerville 40-20 iin the 5-A Division 1 state championship Saturday night.

It was the Silver Foxes' fourth consecutive state championship and 10th overall. All 10 state championships have come under legendary coach Tom Knotts, who tied Summerville's John McKissick and Woodruff's Willie Varner for the most in South Carolina history.

Knotts has won 17 state championships, including seven in North Carolina. It was also the 300th win for the Dutch Fork program.

Jaxon Knotts, the coach's son, threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another.

K.J. Dupree had two interceptions which set up touchdowns and South Carolina signee Julian Walker returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown.

Braydon Johnson's 27-yard touchdown run broke a 14-14 tie late in the third quarter and the Silver Foxes rolled after that.

Summerville (12-3) had pulled even early in the third quarter on a 42-yard fumble return by Jaiden Kelly-Murray.

Preview

Dutch Fork (11-1) is seeking its fourth consecutive state title and 10th overall, all under legendary coach Tom Knotts, who has led the Silver Foxes since 2010. If the Silver Foxes win, Knotts will tie Summerville legend John McKissick and Woodruff''s Willie Varner for the most championships ever in South Carolina. Knotts also won seven state titles as a coach in North Carolina.

Summerville (12-2) is seeking to avenge last year's game, won 35-21 by Dutch Fork, that prevented the Green Wave from finishing undefeated.

Dutch Fork is led by a bevy of stars, including 6-foot-6, 230-pound Michigan commit Julian Walker, lineman Jaden Wuerth, wide receiver Stone Furrey, and quarterback Jaxon Knotts, the coach's son.

The Silver Foxes saw their 24-game winning streak snapped by Oceanside Collegiate Academy, a team vying for its third straight state title, on Sept. 19.

Summerville has a sophisticated passing attack featuring quarterback Max Stafford along with wide receivers Jaiden Kelly-Murray, Teru Davis and Jaelyn Pounds. Jayven Williams is a 1,500-yard running back.

The Green Wave had to overcome a two-touchdown deficit to edge Carolina Forest 29-28 in the third round before pummeling James Island 45-16 in the Lower State championship game.

Dutch Fork trailed 10-0 in the second quarter before rallying and pulling awa for a 30-10 win over Dorman in the Upper State championship game.

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Live Updates

(Refresh this page repeated for live updates once the game kicks-off)

	1	2	3	4	F
Summerville	0	7	7	6
Dutch Fork	14	0	6	20

1st Quarter

-Dutch Fork kicks off. Summerville starts at its 20.

Big throw from Max Stafford to Jaden Kelly-Murray into Dutch Fork territory.

Timeout Summerville. Third and 8 from the Dutch Fork 45.

INTERCEPTION! off a deflection, KJ Dupree returns it 40 yards to the Summerville 27. Plus penalty on Summerville.

Chop block penalty on DF.

TOUCHDOWN! Jaxon Knotts with a 32-yard TD pass to Kye Fulton. DF leads 7-0.

Summerville has the ball at its 20 following another touchback on the kickoff. 8:23 left in the first quarter.

Dutch Fork lineabcker Raleigh Salters injured on the play,.

Stafford scrambles for no gain on third and 9.

Great punt puts DF back at its 25.

Summerville defense forces a three-and-out.

Green Wave takes possession at its 29.

INTERCEPTION! Dupree again on a deflection with a long return.

Big run by Knotts on a keeper.

Knotts sacked. Third and 11.

An incompletion. Fourth and 11 from the 24.

TOUCHDOWN! Knotts to tight end Wyatt Warner. Dutch Fork leads 14-0 with 1:35 left in the first quarter.

Touchback. Summerville starts at the 20.

Jayven Williams breaks free for a 39-yard gain into DF territory.

END OF FIRST QUARTER

2nd Quarter

-Stafford gets the first down and then Williams takes it inside the red zone.

Williams again. First and goal.

TOUCHDOWN! Stafford to Jaden Kelly-Murray, 6 yards. Dutch Fork leads 14-7 with 9:22 left in the first half.

Dutch Fork will start from its 24.

Summerville stuffs an attemped hey sweep. Third and 15.

Screen pass stuffed. Fourth down.

Short punt gives Summerville possession at the DF 42.

Big run by Williams. First down at the 14.

Stafford sacked. Fourth and 18.

Field goal attempt blocked.

Three and out for DF.

Timeout DF with 1:44 left in the first half.

Summerville takes over at its 33.

Stafford sacked by Julian Walker.

HALFTIME

3rd Quarter

-Summerville kicks off. DF starts from its 27.

TOUCHDOWN! Jaden Kelly-Murray returns a fumble 42 yards for a touchdown. Tie game.

DF takes over at its 29 after the kickoff.

Summerville defense forces another three-and-out.

Running into the kicker penalt. First down for DF.

Knotts scrambles inside the Summerville 30.

Fourth and 3 for DF.

The Green Wave make the stop. Summerville ball.

Walker makes the stop on third and three. Fourth and 1 from the Summerville 29.

Timeout Summerville with 4:16 left in the third quarter.

Summerville punts to the DF 40.

Holding penalty negates a nice DF run on a reverse.

Knotts to Fulton for a first down at the Summerville 48.

Big run by Knotts has the Silver Lions near the red zone.

TOUCHDOWN! Braydon Johnson on a 27-yard run. PAT no good. Dutch Fork leads 20-14 with 1:27 left in the third quarter.

Touchback on the kickoff.

Stafford sacked by Walker.

Williams stuffed inside the 10.

Stafford scrambles to the 11. Fourth and long.

END OF THIRD QUARTER

4th Quarter

DF muffs the punt but recovers. Firdy down at Summerville 45.

Knotts again with a big run for a first down.

Knotts scrambles. Flag again. Helmet to helmet on Summerville.

Holding penalty on DF.

-Timeout with 8:41 left. Dutch Fork at the Summerville 21.

Double reverse pass to Knotts for eight yards. Penalty on Summerville. 12 men on the field.

Knotts on the keeper. First and goal from the 1.

TOUCHDOWN! Knotts takes it in. Try for two stopped. Dutch Fork leads 26-14 with seven minutes left.

Summerville to start from the 26.

TOUCHDOWN! Strip sack by Wuerth, Walker returns it 20 yards for the TD. Dutch Fork leads 33-14 with 6:01 left.

Timeout with 3:55 left. Dutch Fork closing in on history.

TOUCHDOWN! Kyle Henry takes it in from the 1. Dutch Fork leads 40-14 with 3:01 left.

TOUCHDOWN! Summerville gets a late one from Jayven Williams. 40-20 with 1:07 left.

FINAL