The Dutch Fork Silver Foxes line up for the National Anthem prior to their game in Texas against Allen High School.
Is there much separating the Allen High School and Dutch Fork High School other than about 1,000 miles and four states? Apparently not.
The Dutch Fork Silver Foxes, South Carolina’s defending Class 4A Division I state champions, traveled to Allen, Texas, to play the two-time defending Texas Class 5A state champions Friday, September 5 and lost in an offensive shootout 58-52.
Depending on which poll you’re looking at, the Allen Eagles are ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation. They’ve won the last two Texas state championships and also won one in 2008. They have a $60 million stadium and are part of the juggernaut known as Texas high school football.
No matter; Dutch Fork isn’t too bad either.
The Silver Foxes introduced Texas to Matt Colburn on the game’s third play when he took it 80 yards to the end zone to give Dutch Fork a 7-0 lead. Allen answered with a four-play drive which ended in Kyler Murray’s 2- yard touchdown pass to Kerry Hall.
Dutch Fork’s Matt Colburn breaks through the Allen defense.
And the offenses were off and running.
The Eagles started to take control in the second quarter with a field goal and two Murray touchdown runs of 17 and 57 yards. Colburn struck for a 25- yard touchdown to keep the Silver Foxes within striking distance. At the half, Allen led 31-21.
The Eagles extended their lead at the 10:18 mark of the third quarter with a Murray 4-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Guyton. Dutch Fork answered with Tyler Bass’s 47-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 37-24 with 4:43 to play in the third quarter. Murray struck again with a 17-yard touchdown on Allen’s next possession, but Colburn broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown, and the Silver Foxes added a safety at the end of the third quarter to cut the Eagle lead to 44-32.
Tate Fant then hit Ward Hacklen on a 7-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth and cut the gap to 44-38, but the Eagles stormed right back with a seven-play, 76-yard drive which culminated in a 12- yard touchdown run by Murray for a 51-38 lead.
Dutch Fork’s Tyler Bass kicks a 47-yard field goal against Allen.
Dutch Fork needed one play to answer, a 75- yard touchdown pass from Fant to Colburn, and the lead was 51-45. Once again, Allen answered with a Murray run, this time from a yard out for a 58- 45 lead with 2: 07 to play. The track meet continued as the Silver Foxes answered with one final score, a 9-yard pass from Fant to Hacklen with 18 seconds remaining in the game giving the 58- 52 final.
Colburn finished with 328 all purpose yards and four touchdowns for Dutch Fork. He had 250 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 25 carries. He also caught two passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Fant completed 17- of-31 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns, and Austin Connor had four receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown for the Silver Foxes, all part of a 540-yard offensive explosion.
Not to be outdone, the Eagles rattled off 636 yards of offense. Murray led the way with 178 yards rushing and five touchdowns on ten carries. He also completed 24-of-40 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns. Kerry Hall caught nine of those passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Dutch Fork’s Tate Fant look s to pass against Allen.
Neither team had a turnover.
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