CHAPIN, S.C. — Chapin High dropped a 21-8 decision to unbeaten Dutch Fork last week, and the Silver Foxes used that result to hold the top spot in Class 5A in the SC Prep Media Poll released Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Dutch Fork had 10 first-place votes and finished three points ahead of Northwestern, which had eight first-place votes. A week earlier Dutch Fork had nearly swept the first-place ballots. Northwestern is 7-1 after beating then-No. 3 Dorman 35-19.
Dutch Fork is 7-0. With three weeks left in the regular season, the Silver Foxes are among only four unbeaten teams still chasing a perfect record, along with Daniel, James Island and Strom Thurmond.
Since head coach Tom Knotts arrived in 2010, Dutch Fork has posted undefeated seasons in 2016, 2018-20 and 2024, and the program improved to 51-2 in region play since 2015. Next on the schedule is River Bluff, which has won five straight.
Chapin High School Eagles compete in SCHSL Class 5A, Region 3 for the 2026-2028 realignment cycle, the same classification as Dutch Fork and Northwestern.
More coverage: Chapin SC high school football · Chapin SC high school sports & NIL
