For Smith, it’s great to see his teammates and other Midland talent step up to the next level.

“It shows the younger guys that if you work hard and do things well, you’ll have a similar fate.” Smith said.

Silver Fox: Top of the food chain

The Silver Foxes have been the standard bearer of South Carolina football, winning seven of the last eight championships. As they sit at 7-0 with no future loss in sight, Dutch Fork is expected to deliver.

On3 recently ranked Silver Foxes as no. 22 the high school team in the country. They are one of two South Carolina teams in the top 100, with Rock Hill’s Northwestern High (No. 30) being the other.

As expected, Dutch Fork didn’t really focus on placement.

“We don’t think much of it,” Smith said. “It’s a small thing to have said about our schedule, but you know, we’re not too worried about it.”

The senior said the team has a different mindset each week, but the goal of winning remains consistent.

“Every week we have a different theme,” Smith said. “Whether it’s a man (or) work like game is up to you.

“We have to worry about things like that and not beat ourselves up from week to week (to) maintain the standard.”

Said standard is to stay at the top, a place Dutch Fork has been comfortable in for years. It wouldn’t be strange for the team to think so i can’t be beaten, especially after last season’s championship.

In the previous campaign, Dutch Fork started the season a shocking 2-5. The Foxes then went on an eight-game winning streak and ended a storybook state title streak.

However, the team’s aim is to stay focused on the task ahead and finish as it started – as the best.

“We remembered that season where we were at the bottom and then we worked our way back up,” Smith said. “It was a terrible feeling to lose three games in a row and just lose games in general.