By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
PAW PAW - The roller coaster ride of the Dowagiac football team came to an abrupt end here Friday night as the host Redskins eliminated the Chieftains from the Division 4 playoffs, 49-15.
Paw Paw (10-0) set the tone on the first play from scrimmage when standout running back Kyle Galbraith raced 68-yards to set up the first Redskins' touchdown.
Paw Paw would open up a 21-0 lead on the Chieftains, who were making their first playoff appearance since 2000, midway through the second quarter.
Dowagiac would respond with an 88-yard kickoff return from sophomore Jamie Simpson to help turn the tide.
The Chieftain defense then sent Paw Paw to the sidelines after just three plays on offense and got the ball back.
Dowagiac reached the Redskins' five-yard line before its drive stalled.
The Chieftains had two chances to cut into the Paw Paw lead.
Senior tight end Brandon Simmons dropped a pass in the end zone and junior placekicker Tony Black misfired on his second field goal of the night on fourth down.
Paw Paw would then take the ball and drive down the field to make it 28-7.
For all practical purposes, the game was over at that point.
Despite the lopsided loss, Stanger and staff can be proud of the way the team continued to battle despite being down by more than 30 points much of the second half.
Galbraith opened the scoring with a one-yard run in the first quarter. Paw Paw made it 7-0 on Justin Warner's extra point kick.
The Redskins increased their lead to 14-0 on a 12-yard run by Matt Buskirk and a Warner kick.
Galbraith scored on his second one-yard run in the second quarter and Warner's kick was good again to increase the Paw Paw lead to 21-0.
Following Simpson' touchdown, Paw Paw scored on a 14-yard pass from Brett Geschke to Buskirk to complete the first half scoring following Warner's extra point.
Paw Paw recovered an onsides kick and eventually scored on a 38-yard pass from Geschke to Buskirk to make it 35-7 following Warner's extra point.
Alex Buskirk made it 42-7 on a 12-yard pass from Geschke and a Warner kick before Matt Fronfelter completed the scoring for Paw Paw when he recovered a Redskins' fumble in the end zone.
Dowagiac finally got on the scoreboard late in fourth quarter when senior quarterback David Stuppy hit senior receiver Chris Primley on a five-yard pass.
Stuppy then connected with Simmons for the two-point conversion.
Paw Paw finished with 493 yards of total offense while it held Dowagiac to just 161 yards.
Paw Paw will take on Comstock on Friday night at 7 p.m. The Colts defeated Edwardsburg 45-12 on Friday night.
Dowagiac 0 7 0 8 - 15
Paw Paw 14 14 21 0 - 49
PP – Kyle Galbraith 1 run (Justin Warner kick)
PP – Matt Buskirk 12 run (Warner kick)
PP – Galbraith 1 run (Warner kick)
D – Jamie Simpson 88 kickoff return (Tony Black kick)
PP – M. Buskirk 14 pass from Brett Geschke (Warner kick)
PP – M. Buskirk 38 pass Geschke (Warner kick)
PP – Alex Buskirk 12 pass from Geschke (Warner kick)
PP – Matt Fronfelter fumble recovery in endzone (Warner kick)
D – Chris Primley 5 pass from David Stuppy (Brandon Simmons pass from Stuppy)