By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The domination of Dowagiac against Three Rivers in regular season match-ups since 1950 continued Thursday night at Chris Taylor-Alumni Field.
Playing its first home Thursday night football game, Dowagiac blanked the visiting Wildcats 25-0 to improve to 2-0 in Wolverine Conference play.
The Chieftains are now 19-5 against Three Rivers during the regular season and 20-8 all-time against the Wildcats since 1950.
Dowagiac used old-time Chieftain football to pick up its second win of the season.
The Chieftains hammered the ball at the Three Rivers (1-1) defense with a punishing running game. Dowagiac amassed 358 yards on the ground and had three running backs rush for more than 60 yards.
"The kids came out and rose to the challenge," Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger said. "I think the offensive line and the running backs took it personally, the way we didn't get started last week. They came out and I give the offense line all the credit they deserve. They came out and got off the ball. Our backs were really hitting the holes and punishing the Three Rivers defenders."
Junior Jamie Simpson led the way with 141 yards on 15 carries. Simpson scored on a 19-yard run in the third quarter to stake the Chieftains to a 22-0 lead.
Jake Shelton finished with 89 yards on 13 carries and scored the first two Dowagiac touchdowns. Shelton gave the Chieftains a 7-0 lead with 4:51 remaining in the opening quarter on a 9-yard run. Shelton then made it 13-0 on a 4-yard run through the heart of the Wildcats' defense.
Tony Black connected on the first point-after-touchdown (PAT), however, following an off-sides penalty on Three Rivers following Shelton's second touchdown, Dowagiac decided to go to two points.
Despite trouble on the hand-off, Jamie Simpson cleared the right end of the Three Rivers defensive line and raced into the end zone for the two-point conversion.
The score remained 15-0 throughout the rest of the opening half and well into the third quarter.
Three Rivers moved the ball on the Chieftain defense, but once inside the red-zone the Wildcats ran into some trouble.
Dowagiac stopped Three Rivers on downs inside the 15-yard line in the opening half, but their stop of the Wildcats at the goal line in the third quarter was the turning point.
Three Rivers got the ball down to the one yard line, but were turned away by the Chieftains' defense, which eventually forced an incomplete pass on fourth down.
"The goal-line stand was huge," Stanger said. "If I had to pick a highlight, it would be the goal-line stand. Because I think that broke their will."
Dowagiac then drove the length of the field to make it a 22-0 contest on Simpson's touchdown. The key play in the drive was a 19-yard pass from senior Nick File to senior tight end Chris Primley on third down and nine.
Unlike the previous week, Dowagiac got off to a quick start against Three Rivers.
The Chieftains rolled up 119 of its 350-plus yards rushing in the opening quarter. Dowagiac was tremendously consistent with its running game over the final three quarters.
The Chieftains rushed for 81-, 76- and 82-yards in the second, third and fourth quarters. Sustained drives kept the Three Rivers offense on the sidelines and allowed the Dowagiac defense to rest.
That freshness allowed the Chieftains to fly to the ball all night long. Dowagiac's defense made the Wildcats pay for every yard they gained.
Three Rivers finished the night with 208 yards in total offense. Tim Dyer rushed for 70 yards on 17 carries. Wildcats' quarterback Alan McEnroe was 12-of-25 for 58 yards and an interception.
Besides Simpson's and Shelton's rushing totals, Dowagiac got 63 yards on two carries from senior David Sayre. Senior Mike Laylin added 29 yards on five totes.
File was 2-of-5 for 26 yards and an interception.
Dowagiac returns to action next Friday night as it travels to Vicksburg for the Bulldogs' home opener.
The Chieftains and Vicksburg (0-2) will kick things off at 7 p.m.
Three Rivers 0 0 0 0 – 0
Dowagiac 15 0 7 3 – 25
D – Jake Shelton 9-yard run (Tony Black kick)
D – Shelton 4-yard run (Jamie Simpson run)
D – Simpson 19-yard run (Black kick)
D – Black 19-yard field goal