The Dowagiac football team is two wins away from qualifying for the MHSAA playoffs for the sixth time in seven years.

The Chieftains come into Friday night’s contest at South Haven with a 4-1 record and a 2-0 mark in the Wolverine Conference West Division.

The two-time defending conference champions need a victory against the winless Rams (0-5) to keep pace with Edwardsburg, which is also 2-0 in the West Division.

Dowagiac continued to play stingy defense in its 50-16 win over Coloma last Friday night. After giving up 16 first half points, the Chieftains scored 43 unanswered points to pull out the victory against the Comets.

So far this season, Dowagiac has allowed 45 points or an average of nine points per game.

The Chieftains have won six straight contests against South Haven dating back to the opening round of the 2007 playoffs. Dowagiac lost to the Rams in the season opener that year 70-20, but rebounded to defeat South Haven 54-22 in the post season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.