It has been seven years since the Brandywine football team has defeated arch rival Buchanan.

The undefeated Bobcats are hoping to do so Friday night in a key Lakeland Conference contest.

Brandywine (5-0) can lock up a share of the league championship with a victory of the Bucks (1-4). The Bobcats have been on a tear this season, outscoring their opponents 206-38.

Brandywine is averaging 41.2 points per game and almost 400 yards a game in total offense.

But you can throw those statistics out the window because this is Brandywine and Buchanan.

The last time the Bobcats defeated the Bucks was 2005. Since that time, Buchanan has outscored Brandywine 290-89. Last year’s game was competitive with the Bucks pulling out a 28-22 victory.

A win by the Bobcats Friday would also give Brandywine a state playoff berth for the second straight season.

If the Bobcats are going to snap the streak, then it will have to stop the Bucks’ Doug Freeman. The talented running back has already scored 10 touchdowns and has 757 yards rushing.

But the Bucks are having trouble stopping their opponents this year, so the balanced attack of the Bobcats could cause them more problems.

Brandywine can move the football, and score, on the ground and through the air.

Marty Ward is the top rusher with 621 yards and nine touchdowns, while quarterback Andrew Duckett has thrown for 452 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His favorite targets are Trent Moshwinski, Austin Knapp and Alec Nichols. The three have combined for eight touchdowns.

Kickoff at Selge Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.

 

Portage Central at Niles

The schedule isn’t getting any easier for the Niles Vikings.

Niles (2-3) is coming off a 55-26 setback at the hands of undefeated St. Joseph.

Now the Vikings must take on perennial powerhouse and undefeated Portage Central for its homecoming game.

The Mustangs have steamrolled Sturgis (54-0), Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (49-7), Mattawan (34-8), Lakeshore (38-28) and Portage Northern (49-7).

Portage Central has a two-headed rushing attack in Jacob Allan and Jerrod Davis.

Allan rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries with a pair of touchdowns against the Huskies, while Davis ran for 102 yards on 13 carries with a pair of scores.

Niles should be able to load up against the run because Portage Central has not thrown the ball much this season.

Despite a losing record, the Vikings have been wracking up some pretty impressive offensive stats.

Quarterbacks Sean Craig, Alex Harpenau, Darek Bullock-Mills and Joe Avance havethrown for 1,360 yards and 12 touchdowns. Niles has also thrown 13 interceptions so far this season.

On the ground, Craig leads the team with 159 yards and three scores. Ra’Quon Glenn has 147 yards and three scores. Bullock-Mills has added 137 yards on the ground and is the top receiver for Niles with 28 catches for 389 yards and three scores. Glenn had 26 receptions for 362 yards and four scores.

Defensively, Braulio Sosa leads the team with 25 tackles. Jason Taylor and David Kennedy both have 22.5 stops. Warren Smith leads the team with a pair of interceptions.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.