By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac junior varsity football team won its second straight game Thursday night, while the Chieftain freshman team remained undefeated on the season.
The Chieftain JV posted a 15-0 win over visiting Benton Harbor at Chris Taylor-Alumni Field.
The win comes on the heels of their first victory last week against visiting Edwardsburg.
Dowagiac got the game started on the right football as Brandon McCuddy raced 81 yards to the end zone on the Chieftains' first offensive play from scrimmage.
McCuddy also threw for a two-point conversion as a high snap forced the Chieftains to abort their first extra point kick.
McCuddy then hit Ryan Laylin with the conversion pass.
McCuddy finished with 112 yards rushing.
Mike Laylin scored the other touchdown for the Chieftains.
Defensively Brandon Simmons had eight and a half tackles to lead the Chieftains. McCuddy finished with six tackles, while Orlando Galvan and Tyler Taggert were both credited with five tackles.
JoAngel Goins and Ryan Saylor each had an interception.
The Dowagiac freshman football team scored a safety and a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to erase a 6-0 halftime deficit and remain undefeated Thursday night.
Trailing 6-0, Dowagiac scored on a David Sayre touchdown run to tie the score at 6-6.
With less than four minutes remaining, Dowagiac recorded a safety to give it an 8-6 lead when Kyle Bailey was held in the end zone by a Benton Harbor offensive lineman which resulted in the automatic safety.
Dowagiac then scored on a quarterback sneak by Nick File to extend its advantage to 14-6.
Dowagiac coaches Matt Alward and Russ Bergemann both credited the defense for the victory.
While the offense moved the ball throughout the game, it was the defense that held Benton Harbor and bay.
The defense created three turnovers, including an intereception by Oscar Wilson in the closing moments to seal the victory.