Well the first loss of the season was a bit stunning.

Not on my life did I think Dowagiac would lose to Vicksburg, let alone do it in the final minute of the game on a long touchdown pass.

But they did.

However, after my first three weeks of picking high school games I am 14-1 and feeling pretty good about myself.

But like I said last week, perfection meant nothing as teams are now heading into the meat of their schedules.

The division and conference races are now under way and this week will go a long way toward figuring out who is for real and who is a pretender.

Brandywine at Berrien Springs

The Bobcats are 3-0 for the first times since 1998 and they are facing a Berrien Springs team that is a surprising 3-0.

Many people felt that the Shamrocks were in a rebuilding year, but Berrien is undefeated heading into the conference opener against the Bobcats.

Brandywine will be without two-way standout Jacob Frazier, who was ejected from last week’s win over Bridgman.

This puts a serious hurt on the Bobcats, especially on the defensive side of the football.

Stone Hadley is having a great year at quarterback and Dustin Sater is off to another good start in the backfield, but it won’t be enough to keep Brandywine undefeated.

The Bobcats are going to come up a bit short in a 20-14 loss to the Shamrocks.

Allegan at Dowagiac

This is a much improved Tiger squad, which has won two of its first three games.

Allegan defeated Three Rivers in its opener, dropped a 17-14 decision to Vicksburg two weeks ago and blew out Comstock last week.

Dowagiac  is trying to shake off the effects of losing a heartbreaking to the Bulldogs and the loss of two starters.

Both Troy Butcher and Grant Hatch are out indefinitely for the Chieftains, which will be a key.

Dowagiac needs to regroup quickly if it is going to keep its Wolverine Conference title hopes alive.

I see the Chieftains squeaking out a 21-20 win over the Tigers.

Niles at Portage Central

Like Dowagiac, the Vikings are coming off their first loss of the season and it came in a hard-fought game against St. Joseph.

The Niles defense showed that it is much improved from a season ago, but the Vikings must find a way to generate some offense.

Next up for Niles is No. 7 ranked Portage Central, which is undefeated following its win over arch rival Portage Northern last week.

The Mustangs have scored 37 or more points in all three games this season. Opponents are scoring just 20 points per game.

Niles’ defense has allowed a total of 34 points, so something has to give tonight.

If the Vikings can generate enough offense, they could give Portage Central a run for its money.

But after seeing Niles struggle to move the ball last week, they will not be able to pull off the upset against the Mustangs.

The Vikings fall to 2-2 with a 28-14 loss to Portage Central.

Cassopolis at Edwardsburg

Two neighbors are going to strap it up tonight and find out just who is going to contend for the Lakeland Conference championship.

The Eddies are 3-0 for the first time in 12 years, while the Rangers are looking to inch a step closer to qualifying for the post season and moving to the top of the conference standings.

Both teams are playing well on both sides of the football.

Former Dowagiac head coach Bernard Thomas, now the head man at Cass, will square off against former assistant Randy Brooks, who is the defensive coordinator at Edwardsburg.

Brooks has the Eddies playing well defensively this season, while Thomas appears to have got his team to buy into a new philosophy on both sides of the football.

The two teams will come into the contest missing some key players.

Speed could be the difference as the Rangers have plenty of it. Special teams will also play a key role in tonight’s outcome.

The Eddies were a bit embarrassed by the Rangers last season, but will respond tonight with a 35-28 victory over Cassopolis.

— Scott Novak