By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Dowagiac 42, Niles 27. End of story.
A strong second half comeback for Dowagiac's varsity football team and crucial errors on Niles' side allowed the Chieftains to walk away from Friday night's contest with a 42-27 Big 16 West Division victory and bragging rights for years to come.
For the second week in a row, and the third time this season, the Vikings carried a 14-0 lead, only to watch it quickly dissappear after the first quarter of play and wind up in the hands of their defenders by the end of the game.
Early in the first quarter, Dowagiac was the team causing problems on the field, stirring up unwanted penalties and having a player, Brandon Simmons, ejected from the game.
The Vikings hit paydirt early, when Lyle Watson, who had 85-rushing yards for 32 carries on the night, ran in an eight-yard touchdown 1:40 into the game to put the Vikes on the board. Blaise Nsengiyumua added the extra point, to give Niles a 7-0 lead.
Dowagiac had only completed three plays on its first possession of the game when Niles senior Marcus Aldridge intercepted a pass from Dowagiac's Jamie Simpson, who had seven carries for 94 rushing yards. A five yard-penalty on Niles put the Vikings on the 49-yard line.
Nine plays and over six minutes later, Watson was in the endzone again for another Niles touchdown. Nsengiyumua kick was good, giving the Vikes a 14-0 lead.
Just when things started looking up for Niles, the Chieftians put their first seven points on the board when David Stuppy scored on a one-yard touchdown from a quarterback sneak. Black added the extra point for the Chiefs, bringing the first quarter score to 14-7.
The Vikings had possession entering the second, but Dowagiac put the ball back in its hands when Nick File intercepted a Messner pass, to put the Chiefs on the 37-yard line.
A penalty pushed Dowagiac back five yards, but a completed pass from Stuppy to Simpson put the Chiefs on the nine-yad line.
Another penalty put Dowagiac back to the 14, when Jacob Shelton ran in the touchdown with 6:08 on the clock. Black added the extra point to tie the game at 14.
A little over five minutes and nine plays later, Watson scored his third touchdown in a row from the two-yard line, with Nsengiyumua adding the extra point to give Niles a 21-14 lead enter halftime. Unfortunately, that's the last time Niles would see the end zone until the final quarter.
Dowagiac's Shelton opened
the scoring in the second half when he broke open for a 22-yard touchdown less than one minute into the third. Black again added the extra point to tie the score at 21.
On Dowagiac's kick-off return, Nate Orr was unable to gain yardage, putting the Vikings on the 14-yard line.
On Niles' first play, a fumble forced by the Chiefs' Simpson allowed Michael Laylin to run in an 18-yard touchdown at the 10:16 mark to put Dowagiac in the lead for the first time. The extra point was good by Black, giving Dowagiac the 28-21 lead.
Almost seven minutes later, when Dowagiac regained possession after a Viking fourth down, Simpson found a gap and ran tha ball 93-yards for another Chieftain touchdown at the 3:28 mark. Black's extra point kick was good, bringing the score to 35-21 heading into the fourth and final period.
The Vikes ran out of options as time winded down, forcing them to play a passing game in hopes of gaining big yards, but another Dowagiac touchdown from Shelton extended the Chiefs' lead to 42-21.
Messner's passes fell incomplete six times in the final minutes of the game, until Nick Etzcorn was able to complete a pass and run it in for Niles' last touchdown, unfortunately, with no time left on the clock.
Mason Stephenson ended the night with 15 carries for 55-rushing yards.
Dowagiac's Shelton had 10 carries for 93-rushing yards, while David Sayre ended with six carries for 43-rushing yards.
Niles, now 4-4, will face Lakeshore next Friday at home at 7:30 p.m. Dowagiac, now 5-3, will take on St. Joseph for a shot at advancing to the playoffs.