By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Mental mistakes proved to be costly Friday night for the Dowagiac varsity football team.
The Chieftains dropped a 27-21 decision to host Sturgis, the third consecutive loss for Dowagiac.
The victory was the third straight for the Trojans. Both teams now stand at 3-3 on the season.
Sturgis took a 7-0 lead on its opening drive as Dan Cotton scored on a 12-yard run and Shane Eagan added the extra point.
Dowagiac took its opening drive and scored on a two-yard Jake Shelton run.
The extra point, however, was no good.
Dowagiac grabbed a 14-7 lead in the second quarter as Chris Primley hauled in the lone completion of the night by David Stuppy for a 65-yard touchdown pass.
The Chieftains went for two on the play and scored.
Dowagiac then upped its advantage to 21-7 when Shelton scored on a one-yard run and Tony Black added the extra point.
But it was all Sturgis the remainder of the fourth quarter as the Trojans scored three times.
Dustin Cox cut the Chieftains' lead to 21-14 on a one-yard run.
The Trojans, who defeated Marshall last week in the closing seconds, then tied the game at 21 with a 25-yard Cox pass to Bo Felt.
Cox then hit Raju Armster with a seven-yard touchdown pass with less than 10 seconds remaining to give Sturgis the victory.
Stanger said he was pleased with how the offense executed for most of Friday night, but disappointed that it could not move the ball when it needed to in the fourth quarter.
Dowagiac finished with 171 yards rushing and 65 yards passing. Sturgis rushed for 175 yards and threw for 233 yards with a pair of quarterbacks.
The loss now leaves the Chieftains with the reality that it must win their final three games to qualify for the playoffs.
Dowagiac 6 8 0 7 - 21
Sturgis 7 0 0 20 - 27
S – Dan Cotton 12 run (Shane Eagan kick)
D – Jake Shelton 2 run (kick failed)
D – Chris Primley 65 pass from David Stuppy (run good)
D – Shelton 1 run (Tony Black kick)
S – Dustin Cox 1 run (Eagan kick)
S – Bo Felt 25 pass from Cox (Eagan kick)
S – Raju Armster 7 pass Cox (kick failed)