By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
PLAINWELL – Senior Mike Laylin scored a pair of touchdowns to help short-handed Dowagiac to a 34-0 victory over host Plainwell on homecoming night for the Trojans.
Laylin scored on runs of 4- and 71-yards for the Chieftains, who rushed for 404 yards.
Dowagiac (5-1) played without starters Jake Shelton, Matt Dodson and Drew Staley.
The Chieftains came out a little flat defensively against Plainwell, but still were firing on all cylinders offensively. Dowagiac grabbed a 7-0 lead on a 23-yard run by junior running back Jamie Simpson in the opening quarter.
"Offensively we were good from the get-go," Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger said. "We were starting three or four kids who hadn't started before. Defensively, they moved the ball because their offense is difficult to get penetration on with their toe-to-toe splits. But I thought we did a good job of containing it."
Dowagiac lost starting defensive back Mike Kasper early in the game due to a knee injury. Kasper did not return.
"I was happy with the kids who stepped in and stepped up, like Jordan Eby and Tyler First," Stanger said. "First moved from back-up center over to guard and did a nice job."
Dowagiac scored 12 points in the second quarter to open up a 19-0 halftime advantage.
Troy Stover hauled in a 22-yard touchdown toss from senior quarterback Nick File, while Laylin scored his first touchdown from 4-yards out.
Dowagiac's bend but don't break defense continually shut down the Trojans' offense once it got near the end zone.
All week long, Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger said it would be the defense that would win the game for the Chieftains.
"Our defensive line did a good job," he said.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, leaving Dowagiac clinging to its 19-point lead.
Then, out of the blue, Laylin struck again. This time, the running back sliced through the heart of the Plainwell defense, spun away from a would-be tackler and raced 71-yards to paydirt.
"Mike has gained something like 170 yards on just seven carries the last two games," Stanger pointed out. "We averaged 13 yards per carry because our offensive line opened up some holes and pretty much dominated just as they have all year. Our backs ran hard."
Dowagiac, which had trouble with extra points all night long, scored a two-point conversion on a Simpson run to make it 27-0.
Prak, who was replacing Shelton on offense, capped the scoring late in the game with 27-yard run.
Tony Black connected on his second extra point kick to make it 34-0.
Dowagiac's ground game was led by Simpson's 129 yards on 11 carries. Laylin finished with 97 yards on four carries for an average of 24.3 yards per tote. Prak added 75 yards on seven carries.
Dowagiac was 2-of-7 for 35 yards through the air.
Plainwell finished with 196 yards on the ground and 25 yards passing.
Kyle Bailey, who left the game with a hip injury late in the contest, led Dowagiac with 14 tackles and an interception.
Dowagiac also got 13 tackles from D.J. Edgerly, 12 tackles from Chris Primley, 11 stops by Laylin and 10 tackles each by Tim Bartee and David Sayre.
File also grabbed an interception, his fifth of the season.
Dowagiac 7 12 0 15 – 34
Plainwell 0 0 0 0 – 0
Jamie Simpson 23 yd run (Tony Black kick)
Troy Stover 22 yd pass from Nick File (kick failed)
Mike Laylin 4 yd run (pass failed)
Laylin 71 yd run (Simpson run)
Kyle Prak 27 yd run (Black kick)