A 90-minute rain delay did not sidetrack the Dowagiac football team Friday night.

On an evening that started with the honoring of the “Attack” for winning the MHSAA Battle of the Fans and celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 1990 state championship team, Dowagiac rolled to a 54-12 Wolverine Conference victory over Allegan.

Tied at 12-12 after one quarter, Dowagiac grabbed a 20-12 lead after the 90-minute weather delay and the 12-minute second quarter.

Erik Walker and Shawn Sirk scored the first two Chieftain touchdowns on runs of 49- and 14-yards.

The Tigers (0-4) responded with a 16-yard run by Chris Hitchcock and a 7-yard run by Noah MacDonald.

Walker’s second touchdown, a 17-yard effort in the second quarter, turned out to be the game-winning.

The two teams skipped halftime.

After the short break, Dowagiac exploded for 27 points and put the game away.

Ronnie Payne scored on a 49-yard run and Hunter Ayers bulled his way through the middle of the Tigers’ defense from 13 yards out to extend the lead to 35-12.

Austin Jones then scored back-to-back touchdowns for Dowagiac — one on offense and the other on special teams.

Jones bolted 42-yards on a punt return before running 44-yards on the Chieftains’ next possession.

Jared Hatch capped the evening with a 22-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Chieftains finished the night with 326 yards of total offense, while holding Allegan to just 112 yards.

Walker finished with 96 yards on seven carries, while Payne added 68 yards on three totes. Jones finished with 53 yards.

Defensively, Collin Hassle had eight tackles, including one for loss. Kyle Thies added six tackles with one for a loss, while Scott Hassle had six tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss.

The Chieftains hit the road to face undefeated Edwardsburg Friday night. The Eddies and undefeated Paw Paw had to finish their contest Saturday due to the weather.

Edwardsburg was leading 12-7 when the game was stopped.

 

DOWAGIAC 54, ALLEGAN 12

At Dowagiac

Allegan           12       0          0          0 – 12

Dowagiac        12       8          27       7 – 54

D – Nate Ward 49 run (conversion failed)

A – Chris Hitchcock 16 run (kick failed)

D – Shawn Sirk 14 run (conversion failed)

A – Noah MacDonald 7 run (conversion failed)

D – Erik Walker 17 run (Anthony Neubauer 2-point conversion run)

D – Ronnie Payne 49 run (Austin Jones 2-point conversion run)

D – Hunter Ayers 13 run (conversion fails)

D – Austin Jones 42 punt return (conversion fails)

D – Jones 44 run (Chuck Nolke kick)

D – Jared Hatch 22 run (Nolke kick)

Varsity records: Allegan 0-4, Dowagiac 3-1