PLAINWELL — Shane Bevins returned a fumble 49 yards and scored on a 23-yard run as visiting Dowagiac defeated Plainwell 30-13 in a battle of Wolverine Conference football unbeatens.

It was a defensive battle through the first three quarters with the Chieftains taking a 10-6 lead into the final quarter.

Dowagiac exploded for 20 points to run its record to 3-0.

Quarterback Brett Scanlon opened the fourth quarter scoring with a 7-yard run before connecting on back-to-back field goals of 32 and 22 yards.

Bevins, who returned a fumble for the only touchdown of the first half, capped the scoring for the Chieftains with a 23-yard run to extend Dowagiac’s lead to 30-6.

Ryan Britton got the Trojans on the board in the final 40 seconds with a 38-yard run.

Plainwell (2-1) returned an interception 98 yards in the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead after the extra point attempt failed.

Bevins then scored for the Chieftains’ defense to give Dowagiac a 7-6 lead following Scanlon’s extra point.

His 32-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining in the half extended Dowagiac’s lead to 10-6 at halftime.

The Chieftains finished the night with just 250 yards of total offense. Dowagiac ran for 180, led by Scanlon’s 63 yards on 12 carries. Scanlon and Cal Cox combined to go 4-of-8 passing for 70 yards.

Plainwell amassed just 161 yards of total offense — 118 on the ground and 43 through the air on 5-of-13 passing.

Both teams lost a fumble, while Dowagiac picked off a pair of passes. Both interceptions came in the fourth quarter, one by Derek Stark and the other by Brendon Murray.

 

Dowagiac 7 3 0 20 – 30

Plainwell 6 0 0 7 – 13

P – Chase Black 98 interception return (kick failed)

D – Shane Bevins 49 fumble return (Brett Scanlon kick)

D – Scanlon 32 field goal

D – Scanlon 7 run (Scanlon kick)

D – Scanlon 32 field goal

D – Bevins 23 run (Scanlon kick)

P – Ryan Britton 38 run (Graham Hubbell kick)