By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac varsity football team has been playing unofficial playoff football for two weeks.
On Friday night with a victory over winless St. Joseph, the Chieftains can qualify officially for the post season.
After winning its first three games of the season, the Chieftains looked like a sho-in to qualify for the post season for the first time in five years.
However, three consecutive losses left Dowagiac with a 3-3 record and the prospect of having to win its final three games in order to qualify.
The Chieftains had to play the first two games on the road - winning at Benton Harbor 22-14 and then again last week against arch rival Niles 42-27.
Dowagiac is on the brink of making those playoff dreams a reality.
The Chieftains need only to pick up a victory in the regular season finale Friday night at Chris Taylor-Alumni Field.
The Bears may be 0-8 on the season, however, the Dowagiac coach staff is not overlooking St. Joseph.
St. Joseph should have beaten Niles, a game it lost 12-7, and gave away a couple of other contests.
The Bears have a big offensive line and can move the football at times.
What the Bears have lacked has been consistency on offense.
Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger knows that St. Joseph's whole season comes down to one game.
He knows the Bears do not want to go winless this season and he also knows they would love to cap off this campaign by knocking Dowagiac out of the playoffs.
Stanger added that clinching a playoff spot at home will be something special.
St. Joseph lost another heartbreaker Friday night as it dropped a 26-20 decision to the visiting Benton Harbor Tigers.
The Tigers defeated the Bears when Eric Cohen caught his first pass of the season with 57 seconds remaining to give Benton Harbor the victory.
The win was the fifth straight by the Tigers over the Bears and left St. Joseph facing the reality that it may have its first winless season since 1915.
The Bears were 0-6-1 that season.
St. Joseph made a change at quarterback against the Tigers, starting Brandon garrison over Timothy Rumpf, who was suspended for violating team rules.
St. Joseph coach John Van Wagoner said following the game Friday night that Garrison would probably start against Dowagiac as well.
St. Joseph was held to just 175 yards in total offense by the Tigers.
Benton Harbor finished the night with 251 yards.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.