In a game that featured over 600 yards in total offense, 104 plays run and both teams averaging better than five yards per carry, one would not think that defense would be the difference.

But that is exactly what happened at Chris Taylor-Alumni Field as visiting Edwardsburg held off Dowagiac 46-26 in a Wolverine Conference West Division clash Friday night.

The Eddies’ defense forced four turnovers — two fumbles and two interceptions — to counter the fact that the Chieftains (3-4) never punted in the contest and finished with 305 yards of total offense.

The final turnover, an interception returned 43 yards for a score by Ben Robertson seals the victory for Edwardsburg.

The Eddies outscored the Chieftains 16-6 in the final quarter to make the final score a bit deceiving.

Heading into the final quarter, Edwardsburg held just a 30-20 advantage.

After the Chieftains had cut the Eddies’ advantage to 30-26 following a missed 2-point conversion attempt, Edwardsburg took the ensuing kickoff and marched down the field and capped the drive off with a 3-yard Dustin Vires run.

Vires also opened the scoring following a Dowagiac turnover at its own 18-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage for the Eddies, Vires scored to give Edwardsburg the 6-0 lead after the conversion run failed.

Vires would finish with 119 yards on 12 carries for an average of 9.9 yards per rush.

Dowagiac would respond to the opening salvo from Edwardsburg and went down and scored on a 2-yard Bryce Dodd quarterback keeper. Chucky Nolke’s extra point kick gave Dowagiac a short-lived 7-6 advantage.

Isaiah Miller would put Edwardsburg back on top with the first of his three touchdowns on the night. He scored from 2-yards out to make it 14-7 after Dante Razzano hit Mason Tinch with the conversion pass.

Miller would also score on runs of 1- and 20-yards and rushed for 105 yards on 16 carries.

Dowagiac’s Rolly Lucio had a pair of touchdowns on the night. High first score would cut Eddies’ advantage to 14-13. His second TD would make it 22-20 and that would be as close as the Chieftains would get.

Edwardsburg (6-1) would finish the night with 316 yards rushing and another 67 yards passing as Razzano was 4-of-4. Tinch caught half of those throws for 51 yards.

Dowagiac was led by Brandon Hatch’s 129 yards on 20 carries. Walker and Lucio added 49 and 44 yards respectively.

Defensively, the Eddies were led by Austin Cline’s 13 tackles. Jackson Gaideski finished with 12 tackles. Robby Cline had a pair of fumble recoveries and Razzano had an interception.

Defensively for the Chieftains, Josh Lamphere had nine and a half tackles and Jared Hatch eight stops.

Edwardsburg will now host Berrien Springs for the Wolverine Conference West Division championship, while Dowagiac will travel to Paw Paw Friday night.

 

Edwardsburg            6          16       8          16 – 46

Dowagiac                    7            6        7            6 – 26

E – Dustin Vires 18 run (run fails)

D – Bryce Dodd 2 run (Chucky Nolke kick)

E – Isaiah Miller 2 run (Dante Razzano pass to Mason Tinch)

D – Rolly Lucio 10 run (kick fails)

E – Miller 1 run (Miller run)

D – Lucio 4 run (Xavier Marquart kick)

E – Miller 20 run (Razzano run)

D – Eric Walker 15 run (run fails)

E – Vires 3 run (Razzano pass to Damion Pompey)

E – Ben Robertson 43 interception return (Miller run)