D.J. Hunt and the Dowagiac seniors have been challenged by coach Mike Stanger to remain focused as they face Otsego for a second straight week. (Leader photo/File)

There was good news and bad news for undefeated Dowagiac when the Michigan High School Athletic Association playoffs were announced on Fox Sports Detroit Sunday.

The Chieftains (9-0) were hosting Otsego (6-3) Friday night at Chris Taylor Alumni Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The good news is that Dowagiac is hosting the Bulldogs. The bad news is Dowagiac is hosting the Bulldogs.

The Chieftains are coming off a 43-0 domination of Otsego last Friday night.

Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger knows that facing the same opponent a week after beating them gives the Bulldogs plenty of incentive this week.

“This is a classic trap game for us,” he said. “We just told the kids they have zero to lose. They got beat by 40 points and nobody is going to be giving them a chance this week. I challenged our seniors to keep this team focused. Our job is the same as it has been all season and that is to go 1-0 this week.”

The Edwardsburg Eddies, who enter the playoffs on a two-game losing streak, will host the Hamilton Hawks.

The Eddies opened the season with a loss to Otsego and then ran off six consecutive wins to qualify for the post season for the third straight season.

Injuries throughout the season eventually caught up with Edwardsburg, who was defeated by unbeaten Dowagiac and Paw Paw the final two weeks of the regular season to finish at 6-3.

Hamilton brings a 5-4 record to Leo Hoffman Field.

“We are thrilled,” Edwardsburg coach said about being at home for the first round. “It was definitely a surprise. We went from thinking we were a four seed to being a two seed.”

With that surprise, however, now comes a scramble to find out more about Hamilton.

“We don’t know much about them,” he said. “We started by looking at who they have played and one of the games that stood out was them beating Zeeland West 42-38 a couple of weeks ago because Zeeland runs the same offense we do.”

Injuries continue to be a concern for the Eddies as they head into the postseason.

Edwardsburg had starting quarterback Jason Schimpa knocked out of Friday night’s contest. Bartz said he will be getting X-rays Monday. The Eddies also lost a back-up lineman in the contest.

On the plus side, he believes Bobby Steinhoff will be back for the game and possibly Brett Bowman.

The Brandywine Bobcats are in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

The Bobcats (7-2) drew a trip to undefeated Schoolcraft (9-0), which is a perennial powerhouse.

“We are really excited,” Brandywine coach Mike Nate said. “We had a team meeting and watched the show. The kids were really proud to see their name on the screen.

“I don’t know a lot about them other than they are the No. 2 team in the state and it’s going to be a challenge. I now they run a “44” defense and they run the option with two wings like a New Buffalo. Their quarterback throws the ball well. Let’s face it, they are 9-0, they are a solid football team. But I think we are a solid football team too. We are going to go over their thinking we can upset them. We are playing our best football right now, so I’m excited about our chances.”

Buchanan (7-2) will travel to Muskegon to face undefeated Oakridge (9-0). That game will be played Friday at 7:30 p.m.