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Chieftains fall to Three Rivers in Wolverine Conference classic

By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Monday, September 8, 2008 10:59 AM EDT

Aaron Spence scored three touchdowns to lead visiting Three Rivers to a 19-14 victory over the Chieftains in a Wolverine Conference classic Friday night at Chris Taylor-Alumni Field.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Wildcats against Dowagiac.

Spence's third touchdown with 4:03 to play in the fourth quarter gave Three Rivers the victory.

Spence also scored on runs of 2- and 22-yards.

Both of Dowagiac's touchdowns were scored by Brandon Douglas.

Douglas put the Chieftains on the board first with a 12-yard run through the middle of the Three Rivers defense just eight seconds into the second quarter.

Michael Filley's extra point attempt was good and Dowagiac led 7-0.

For the Chieftains, it was the second long drive of the game.

Dowagiac opened the game with a 15-play drive that resulted in a missed field goal and a missed opportunity.

"We took the opening drive and went 15 plays down to the 11-yard line and we didn't punch it in," Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger said. "We missed a field goal. Stuff like that comes back to haunt you. We have got to finish drives.

"We were physically beating them up. If you look at the time of possession we won that. You look at total yardage we won that. Defensively we had more takeaways than they did. We didn't punch it in, we didn't finish it. We have to figure out what we didn't do or how we did it wrong," he added.

Spence knotted the game at 7-7 when he cappted a seven play, 56-yard drive with a 2-yard run.

Kyle Lokar hit the extra point kick to deadlock the contest with 4:24 to play in the opening half.

The game stayed that way until there were just 38 ticks left on the third quarter clock.

The Wildcats took advantage of a short field as Dowagiac sent for it on fourth down at its own 39 yards line.

The Chieftains were stuffed by the Wildcats'defense and four plays later, Spence went in from 22-yards out to make it a 13-7 contest after Lokar's kick was wide right.

"We weren't consistent on offense," Stanger said. "I think that's one thing we need to look at on film. We rushed for 313 yards on offense, but that consistency wasn't there. On some short yardage situations when we needed it, we didn't get it. So we definitely have to look at that."

Douglas scored in the fourth quarter on a 43-yard scamper to give Dowagiac a short-lived 14-13 lead with 5:23 to play.

The run highlighted the Chieftains' seven play, 66-yard drive.

On the first play from scrimmage following the ensuing kickoff, Spence connected on a 63-yard bomb to Beau Huyck, who got behind the Dowagiac defense as it tried to chase down Spence.

The big play set the Wildcats up at the Chieftain 1-yard line.

Spence failed to get in on first down, but found his way into the end zone on the second attempt.

Lokar's kick was good and the Wildcats had a five-point advantage, 19-14.

Dowagiac got a good kick return, which was added by a late hit by Three Rivers.

The Chieftains were unable to do much with the football as the seconds clicked off the clock.

"I'm proud of our kids. They didn't quit once and they didn't hang their heads. They stayed together. We responded," Stanger said. "I give Three Rivers credit. They played a good game too."

Dowagiac outgained Three Rivers 327-247 in total offense.

Dowagiac ran for 313 yards, while the Wildcats had 185 yards through the air.

Spence was 11-of-17 for 173 yards, while he also ran for 66 yards on 15 attempts.

Douglas rushed for 162 yards on 14 carries, while Tim DeRyder added 98 yards on 21 attempts.

"We are going to put this one behind us," Stanger said. "We are going to watch films Sunday night and we are going to make our corrections. We are going to highlight the positives and correct the negatives and then we are going to move on to Vicksburg."

The Chieftains are back in action next Friday night when they travel to Vicksburg (2-0) for another conference contest.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Three Rivers 0 7 6 6 - 19

Dowagiac 0 7 0 7 - 14

D - Brandon Douglas 12 run (Michael Filley kick)

TR - Aaron Spence 2 run (Kyle Lokar kick)

TR - Spence 22 run (kick failed)

D - Douglas 43 run (Filley kick)

TR - Spence 1 run (run failed)

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