The drive for the post season officially started for the Dowagiac football team at its homecoming game Friday night.

Standing at 2-3, the Chieftains cannot afford another loss if they wants to make the playoffs.

Dowagiac stepped up its game against visiting Plainwell en route to a 30-12 Wolverine Conference victory.

Dowagiac continued to use its spread offense that the Chieftains unveiled the previous week against Edwardsburg.

The spread worked well once again as Dowagiac threw for 162 yards and ran for another 122 yards.

While the offense provided the fireworks against the Trojans, it was the Chieftains’ defense that held Plainwell to a pair of first-half touchdowns and pitched a shutout in the final two quarters.

Most of Plainwell’s 266 yards of total offense came in the first half, and the Trojans were able to grab the early lead on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Mark Andrysiak to Ryan Topp.

Dowagiac blocked the extra point attempt, but trailed 6-0 with 8:15 to play in the opening quarter.

The Chieftains would respond before the end of the opening quarter as Brenden Dudley connected with Caleb Murphy on a 10-yard touchdown pass.

The Chieftains had to settle for a 6-6 lead with 1:16 to play in first quarter as Plainwell returned the favor and blocked the extra point.

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, Dowagiac would turn to the big play to get on the scoreboard.

After Plainwell turned the ball over on downs as the Chieftains’ 36-yard line, Dudley hooked up with Erik Walker on the next play for a 64-yard touchdown.

Dowagiac went for the 2-point conversion and scored as Walker ran it in to give the Chieftains a 14-6 advantage with 10:36 to go in the first half.

Plainwell marched 60 yards on its next possession to cut the Dowagiac lead to 14-13.

The seven-play drive ended on an Andrysiak to Amir Lewis 10-yard touchdown pass with 7:14 to go before halftime. The Trojans failed on the 2-point conversion pass.

Neither team found the end zone in the final seven minutes of the opening half, but the Chieftains took the opening second half kickoff and drive down the field to gain control of the contest.

Dowagiac needed just five plays to cover the 56 yards as Walker scored again, this time on a 4-yard run to make it 22-12 after he also scored the 2-point conversion.

The Chieftains defense took it from there.

Plainwell’s best drive of the second half ended on a Kyle Theis interception. The Trojans never crossed midfield again in the final 24 minutes of the contest.

Dowagiac tacked on a 2-yard touchdown run by Hunter Ayers to open the fourth quarter and picked up a safety when Plainwell snapped the ball out of the end zone on a punt.

Murphy had a big game for the Chieftains on both sides of the football.

He played a few snaps at quarterback, gaining seven yards on a pair of runs. He also had five passes for 48 yards and the score.

On the defensive side of the football, he finished the night with five tackles, two for loss, and a sack.

“I work hard with my team on conditioning,” Murphy said about staying fresh despite all the snaps. “I just turn it up and think about where we need to be. We need to win the next three. We had to win this one so I just work hard for my team.”

Dudley also turned in a good performance for the Chieftains as he was 8-of-15 for 162 yards and the two touchdowns.

Walker led the team in rushing with 56 yards on 10 carries and had the one reception for the touchdown.

Dowagiac continues its march toward a playoff spot Friday night when it travels to Sturgis to face the Trojans.

 

DOWAGIAC 30, PLAINWELL 12

At Dowagiac

Plainwell        6          6          0          0 – 12

Dowagiac        6          8          8          8 – 30

P – Ryan Topp 55 pass from Mark Andrysiak (kick blocked).

D – Caleb Murphy 10 pass from Brenden Dudley (kick blocked).

D – Erik Walker 64 pass from Dudley (Walker conversion run).

P – Amir Lewis 10 pass from Andrysiak (conversion failed).

D – Walker 4 run (Walker conversion run).

D – Hunter Ayers 2 run (kick blocked).

D – Safety.

Varsity records: Plainwell 2-4, Dowagiac 3-3.