SOUTH HAVEN — A 28-0 deficit was too much for visiting Dowagiac to overcome against South Haven in Wolverine Conference West Division play Friday night.

The Chieftains rallied to cut the lead to 28-21, but the Rams were able to hold on for a 34-28 victory.

The loss dropped Dowagiac to 2-3 on the year and leaves the Chieftains with the reality that it must win its final four games to qualify for the state playoffs.

South Haven (2-3) scored 28 points in the opening quarter.

Daymion Archuleta opened the scoring with a 16-yard run and added a 5-yard run later in the first quarter. In between, Tony Browner hauled in a 7-yard pass from Devon Smiley as the Rams opened up a 21-0 lead.

The Rams capped the first quarter scoring with a 2-yard Danny Dopp run.

Neither team scored in the second quarter.

Brandon Hatch scored three touchdowns for the Chieftains in the second half. His 2-yard run was the only score of the third quarter.

Hatch also scored on runs of 1- and 5-yards to close the gap to 28-21 with just over six minutes remaining in the game.

Just as it did a week earlier, Dowagiac gave up a late big play that proved to be the difference in the game.

South Haven used a 78-yard pass from Smiley to Browner to give the Rams a 34-21 lead.

The Chieftains didn’t give up, scoring on a 16-yard pass from Bryce Dodd to Erik Walker.

However, Dowagiac was unable to get the tying score, turning the ball over on downs deep in its own end with 10 seconds remaining.

For the second straight week, Dowagiac outgained its opponent, but wound up on the wrong end of the final score.

The Chieftains finished with 326 yards in total offense compared to 275 for South Haven.

Bryce Dodd was 5-of-22 for 117 and a touchdown. Hatch was 0-for-1 with an interception.

Hatch rushed for 109 yards on 17 carries.

Archuleta rushed for 118 yards on 28 carries, while Smiley was 3-of-9 for 93 yards.

 

Dowagiac                    0          0          7          21 — 28

South Haven              28       0          0            6 — 34

SH – Daymion Archuleta 16 run (Matt Riedel kick)

SH – Tony Browner 7 pass from Smiley (kick fails)

SH – Archuleta 5 run (Archuleta run)

SH – Danny Dopp 2 run (Riedel kick)

D – Brandon Hatch 2 run (Jorge Ruiz kick)

D – Hatch 1 run (Ruiz kick)

D – Hatch 5 run (Ruiz kick)

SH – Browner 78 pass from Smiley (kick failed)

D – Erik Walker 16 pass from Bryce Dodd (Ruiz kick)