By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The goal this season is a simple one for the Dowagiac varsity football team - make the playoffs.
The Chieftains are half way to the goal following Friday night's 40-25 victory over visiting Kalamazoo Central.
Dowagiac (3-0) will face its biggest challenge of the season this coming Friday night when it hits the road against undefeated Marshall.
Chieftain coach Mike Stanger, who saw his squad win its second straight home game after not winning a single game at Chris Taylor-Alumni Field the previous two seasons, knows that Marshall is the best team his squad has faced this season.
Stanger also said that Marshall will have the best defense his team has seen this season.
This will be a true test of the Chieftains' offense, which is averaging 39 points per game. Dowagiac has scored 40 points in back-to-back contests and is averaging better than 268 yards per game on the ground.
Dowagiac's balanced attack has left opposing defenses grasping at air over the first three weeks.
That balanced attack is exactly what Stanger and his coaching staff have been trying to accomplish the past two seasons.
Part of that balance will be lost for at least two weeks as Jake Shelton will not return to the starting line up. Shelton, who had issues with the heat during practice last week, collapsed on the field Friday night.
Shelton was feeling better following the game, however, Stanger said that he will not return to the line up until the situation has been corrected.
Jamie Simpson will move to fullback for the Chieftains this week, while Mike Laylin, David Sayre and Russell Sizemore will share time in the backfield.
Dowagiac did get good news recently as Jordan Eby returned to the line up on special teams.
Eby suited up against Portage Central, but didn't see significant action until the Kalamazoo Central game. He has been recovering from a dislocated elbow sustained during preseason practice.
Dowagiac's defense has helped the Chieftain offense out tremendously over the first three weeks.
Dowagiac has forced 13 turnovers, including six on Friday night.
On the the other side of the ball, Dowagiac has turned it over just twice.
Statistically speaking
Dowagiac is led offensively by Simpson, who has 217 yards rushing on 28 carries.
Sayre is next with 173 yards on 26 carries, while Shelton has 118 yards on 30 carries in what amounts to about two full games. Laylin has rushed for 91 yards on just nine totes.
Stuppy is 8-of-14 for 135 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Nick File has three interceptions, including two last Friday night. He also picked off a pass in the season opener and recovered a fumble.
Opponents are averaging just over 19 points per game on the Chieftains' defense.
Getting noticed
Dowagiac is ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press Division 4 poll which was released this morning.
The polls are divided into divisions, however, the Chieftains may not actually be in Division 4 when the state playoffs roll around.
Correction
Simpson, a sophomore, scored four touchdowns Friday night against Kalamazoo Central. A cutline in Monday's Daily News inadvertently said he scored three touchdowns. Simpson scored on runs of two- and five-yards, caught a pass for 18-yards and returned a kickoff for 89-yards.
We regret the error.