By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
They say a team makes its most improvement between its first and second games.
Tonight the Chieftains hope to improve on last week's victory while Portage Central will be looking to break into the win column.
Dowagiac hits the road for the first time this season, fresh from a 37-0 victory over Coldwater.
Portage Central is playing its second straight game at McCamley Field, hoping to erase the memory of a 7-6 loss to Battle Creek Lakeview in Mustangs coach Brett Foerster's debut.
Lakeview scored on a 21-yard interception return in the first quarter to account for its scoring.
Portage Central scored with 9:21 remaining in the contest on a 78-yard touchdown run by Jared Sherrod. The extra point kick, however, sailed wide.
The Mustangs had a touchdown called back by one of nine penalties and were intercepted at the 10-yard line with less than a minute to play.
Sherrod finished with 138 yards on 21 carries. Quarterback Jeremy Trinkle added 103 yards on 13 totes.
Portage Central allowed just 91 yards rushing and 154 yards in total offense to Lakeview.
Dowagiac finished with 291 yards in total offense, all but 10 of which came on the ground.
Junior David Sayre rushed for a team-high 90 yards and two touchdowns in his varsity debut. Jamie Simpson, a sophomore, added 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his debut.
Junior Nick File was 1-for-1 with a touchdown to Chris Primley. File, who is the back-up quarter, was rushed into duty when senior starter David Stuppy broke his thumb in the first quarter.
Stuppy has been cleared to play tonight and has been taking snaps in practice.