Playing on the road to open a season can be tough on any team.

Playing your first two contests away from home with a young and inexperienced team can be a daunting proposition.

But that is exactly what faces the Dowagiac football team Thursday night as the Chieftains head to South Haven.

Dowagiac is coming off a 35-0 loss to Vicksburg in its season opener.

Not only did the Chieftains come away from Vicksburg with a loss, but it also lost one of its best players in junior offensive and defensive lineman Collin Dussel, who suffered a knee injury.

Now is not the time to panic according to Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger.

“We have been here before,” he said. “In 13 years of coaching we have taken our lumps early and we bounce back. I believe this team has character. Our team character is not to lay down. We are going to get better. This team is going to come to film tomorrow and we are going to get better.”’

Dowagiac will be facing a South Haven team, which is expected to do much better than it has in previous seasons.

The Rams are coming off a 3-6 season, snapping a streak of five consecutive years of winning two or less games.

Last week against Sturgis, the Rams opened up with a 30-25 win over Sturgis, rallying from a 25-18 halftime deficit.

South Haven standout Daymion Archuleta rushed for 95 yards and the winning touchdown, while quarterback Devon Smiley added 57 yards and threw a pair of touchdowns.

Dowagiac struggled offensively, finishing with only 105 yards of total offense.

Defensively, the Chieftains gave up 174 yards of total offense.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Thursday night. Dowagiac will open up its home schedule Sept. 11 against Three Rivers.