The state playoffs begin at Chris Taylor-Alumni Field for the Dowagiac football team Friday night.

That is because the Chieftains must win their final four games in order to get to six wins and an automatic playoff berth.

That will be a tall order as three of the final four teams Dowagiac will be facing qualified for the post season last year.

But first things first, the Chieftains must take care of business against Coloma on Homecoming night.

The Comets have won just one game thus far in 2014, its opening contest against Allegan (22-7).

Since that time, Coloma has allowed its opponents 35 or more points in its four losses and has only scored a total of 15 points.

“I believe the focus will be there knowing we have to win out to make the state playoffs,” Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger said. “We just have to take it one game at a time. We have to win the play, the series, the quarter, the half and the game.”

Dowagiac is no stranger to being behind the “eight ball.”

In 2005, the Chieftains won their last three regular season games to advance to the playoffs by beating Benton Harbor, Niles and St. Joseph.

This time around, Dowagiac must beat the Comets, Edwardsburg, Paw Paw and Berrien Springs.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.