By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
A better effort didn't translate into a victory Friday night for the Dowagiac varsity football team.
The Chieftains played better on both sides of the football during the Homecoming contest against visiting Kalamazoo Loy Norrix.
Dowagiac made things interesting at the end, but still wound up on the short end of a 38-30 Big-16 Conference non-divisional contest.
Dowagiac (0-4) scored the last 16 points of the contest to turn a 38-14 deficit into a thrilling finish.
Junior quarterback Jesse Cox hit senior receiver Andrew Cummings with a five-yard pass with just 43 seconds remaining to give the Chieftains a shot at tying the Knights.
The onside kick, however, failed, and Loy Norrix was able to run out the clock and escape with its second win of the season.
Loy Norrix jumped out to a 17-0 lead on the Chieftains, scoring 17 points in the opening quarter and then the first touchdown of the second quarter.
Dowagiac got on the scoreboard with 10:53 remaining in the first half when Bryan Powell scored on a one-yard run to cap off a nice scoring drive.
Hillary Bisnett connected on the extra point kick to cut the Knights' lead to 10.
Dowagiac's defense forced Loy Norrix to punt the ball on its next possession, however, the Chieftains fumbled the ball back to the Knights.
Dowagiac's Robbie Ferrier then picked off his second pass of the night at the Knight's one yard line.
On the ensuing play, Powell was tackled in the end zone for a safety.
Instead of perhaps cutting into the Loy Norrix lead, the Chieftains gave up another touchdown before the half and trailed 25-7 at the intermission.
Loy Norrix outscored Dowagiac 13-7 in the fourth quarter to open up the 38-14 lead.
Powell cut the lead to 38-22 with 2:41 to play on a four-yard touchdown run and a Bisnett kick.
Dowagiac forced a three and out by the Knights and Cox connected with Cummings for the final points.
Dowagiac went for two on the play and scored when Powell ran it in for the two-point conversion.
Powell finished with 201 yards on the night. Brandon Dawson led Loy Norrix with 93 yards rushing and 229 yards passing. Jamar Tabor had six receptions for 97 yards.