It seems like only yesterday I was thinking to myself I couldn’t believe we were starting the fall sports season already.

Now, as I head into the final regular season football games, the district championship soccer matches and the conference volleyball tournaments, I cannot believe it’s almost over.

They say time flies when you are having fun and this has been a pretty good fall for our area sports teams.

There were some ups and downs of course, as there are every year, but for the most part, things have been positive for our teams.

As of today, we have just two teams headed to the football playoffs, but Buchanan could change all that with a big upset win over No. 8 ranked Muskegon Heights tonight.

No matter what happens to the Bucks against the Tigers, 2009 will be looked back upon as a success.

After losing two of its first three games, Buchanan rallied its troops and put together quite a run, winning four straight and claiming at least a share of the Lakeland Conference championship.

Dowagiac and Cassopolis don’t have to worry about getting into the post season as both have already qualified.

The Chieftains will be looking for a win tonight to try and secure a first round home game (see related story).

In soccer, Edwardsburg and Dowagiac will compete for district titles on Saturday.
The Chieftains will travel to Berrien Springs to take on Wolverine Conference foe South Haven.

The Eddies will head to Stevensville to face Sturgis in the Division 2 title match.

Dowagiac’s 11-8 record won’t impress too many people, but the Chieftains did not play a single match in the regular season with its entire team dressed.
Injuries and illness plagued Dowagiac throughout the season, plus playing in the tough Wolverine Conference has kept their record near the .500 mark all season.

But the Chieftains are battle tested and I think they will give South Haven a run for its money on Saturday.

Edwardsburg is having a tremendous season in soccer and is hoping to continue it on Saturday with a win against Sturgis.

The Eddies moved up a division this season after winning the Division 3 title last year.
Edwardsburg will head into Saturday’s title match with a 15-2 overall record.

However, one of those two losses came early in the year against Sturgis (4-0).

The Eddies rolled through the Lakeland Conference to win the championship.

Edwardsburg did not allow a conference team a single goal during the regular season and gave up just one in the semifinals against Berrien Springs.

The Eddies then got a measure of revenge in the title match by defeating Bridgman, the team which beat them the previous season for the conference championship in a shoot out.

Like I said before, it’s been a pretty good fall.

But the leaves have turned colors and are now falling from the trees, so it’s just about time to switch seasons.

Of course, there is still some unfinished business to take care off before we can head of into the winter season.

Scott Novak is sports editor of Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com or by phone at 687-7702.