It is amazing to me how a high school football team can go from the top of the heap to hitting the panic button.

But that’s what has happened to the Dowagiac Chieftains this season.

Now I am not talking about the players and the coaches, but the Chieftain fans.

Two weeks into the season and a 2-0 record had Dowagiac fans talking about an undefeated season and a Wolverine Conference championship.

But back-to-back losses have the Chieftain faithful in full panic mode and talking about the team not even qualifying for the post season.

Dowagiac is 2-2 entering a pivotal stretch of games.

The Chieftains are facing Comstock, Plainwell and Gull Lake over the next three weeks before finishing up with Otsego and Paw Paw.

The Colts, Trojans and Blue Devils are a combined 2-10 heading into this week’s action.

I look for the Chieftains to get healthy over the next couple of weeks, both physically and mentally.

Dowagiac gets back on track tonight with a 35-7 victory over Comstock.

Mattawan at Niles

Like Dowagiac, Niles started out the season with a couple of wins.

The Vikings have now lost two straight against a pair of quality opponents.

And like the Chieftains, Niles will be looking to get back on track against a team that is struggling this season — Mattawan.

The Wildcats won their opener against Battle Creek Lakeview, but have now dropped three straight to Jackson Lumen Christi, Lakeshore and Portage Northern.

In the process, Mattawan scored just 14 points.

Niles will have a new quarterback this week in Cole Clemens, who replaces the injured Nick Lucero.

The Vikings won’t miss a beat in defeating the Wildcats 21-7.

Brandywine at Coloma

The Bobcats tasted defeat for the first time in 2010 last week against Berrien Springs.

Brandywine was without two-way standout Jacob Frazier, who returns to the lineup tonight and will provide a big boost against the Comets.

Coloma comes into the contest having one just one game this season (La Lumiere). Outside of that game, the Comets have scored just six points in its three losses.

Brandywine is much improved defensively this season and could pitch a shutout as it picks up its fourth victory over the season 48-0.

Berrien Springs at Cassopolis

Like the Bobcats, the Rangers were defeated for the first time this season last week.

Cassopolis was blanked by its arch rival Edwardsburg.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Rangers this week as undefeated Berrien Springs rolls into town.

The Shamrocks like to score early and often and present quite a challenge for the Cass defense.

If the Rangers can get its offense performing the way it did the first two weeks of  the season, then this could be quite an offensive showcase.

If it doesn’t, Cass will continue to have problems.

Both teams will put up some big numbers in this one, but the Shamrocks will remain undefeated and atop the Lakeland Conference standings following a 42-28 win.

Buchanan at Edwardsburg

This game could very well decide the Lakeland Conference championship even though both teams still have to face Berrien Springs this season — the league’s other undefeated team through four weeks.

The Eddies are coming off a huge 21-0 win over rival Casspolis, while Buchanan thumped Coloma last week 49-0.

Both of these teams know how to play defense.

The Eddies have allowed just 19 points this season under new defensive coordinator Randy Brooks.

The Bucks have been equally as impressive, especially the last three weeks.

Buchanan allowed 20 points in its opener, but only nine the last three contests, which includes a pair of shutouts.

Since offense will be at a premium and the Eddies seem to have a knack for winning the close games, I have to go with Edwardsburg in a thriller.

I wouldn’t even be surprised if this game goes into overtime.

But in the end, Edwardsburg remains undefeated and headed toward a showdown with the Shamrocks in three weeks after edging the Bucks 17-14.

After the first four weeks of the season I am currently 17-2.

Scott Novak is sports editor of Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com