By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News

Wednesday was officially the halfway point of the high school football regular season.

It’s time for teams to start tuning it up as they prepare to make runs at conference championships and the post season.

Dowagiac is a game out of first place in the Wolverine Conference and will need some help to earn at least a share of the title.

So the Chieftains should begin turning their attention to a run at the playoffs – their fourth straight trip.

Dowagiac will be making its “run” behind a ground game that has already racked up 1,427 yards this season on just 180 attempts.

The Chieftains are averaging 357 yards a game on the ground and an impressive 7.9 yards per carry.

Senior Brandon Douglas leads the way with 492 yards and an average of 10.5 yards per carry.

Jon Myers is next in at 262 yards and a team-leading average of 11.4.

Troy Butcher also has more than 200 yards (215) on the ground, while Anthony Nelson and Stevie Baylock are at 167 and 143 yards respectively.

Conversly, teams are not running the ball all that well against the Chieftains.

Dowagiac has allowed just 403 yards rushing and 3.2 yards per carry.

Passing fancy
The Chieftains throw the ball when they have to and because of that are just 12-of-33 for 175 yards and one touchdown.

Chieftain quarterbacks have been picked off four times.
Opponents on the other hand, are more than 186 yards per game and are 52-of-105 for 745 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions.

Defense playing better
The Dowagiac defense has been playing better of late.

After giving up 35 points in the first half against Three Rivers, the Chieftains have allowed just 38 points in its last two games.

Against Allegan, most of those 35 points were scored after Dowagiac had taken a big lead.

The Chieftains are a plus-two in the turnover battle heading into Friday night’s game with Comstock. Kickoff set set for 7 p.m. at Chris Taylor-Alumni Field.