A trio of teams are beginning preparation for the post season this week.

Brandywine, Cassopolis and Edwardsburg all earned spots in the 2014 MHSAA Playoffs.

Only the Eddies (8-1) will host a first round game. Edwardsburg will face Paw Paw (6-3) at Leo Hoffman Field Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Bobcats (8-1) and Cassopolis (6-3) will both hit the road Friday night.

Brandywine will travel to Watervliet (8-1) and the Rangers will make the short trip over to Decatur (8-1). Both games will kick off at 7 p.m.

 

Division 4

Edwardsburg is in the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. In four of those five years, the Eddies were eliminated in the first round.

The last time Edwardsburg and Paw Paw met in the playoffs was 2010 when the Eddies advanced to the Division 4 semifinals before being knocked out by Grand Rapids Catholic Central.

In 2010, Edwardsburg blew out the Redskins 56-21 to win the district championship.

Earlier this year, the two teams met at Paw Paw with the Eddies holding on for a wild 62-57 victory.

Edwardsburg coach Kevin Bartz said that his team is excited about making the post season again.

“After losing to Dowagiac in the first round last year and losing several key players to graduation, the 2014 team came into the season with a lot of uncertainty,” he said. “Struggling with injuries from the start of the season through game seven, we won several close games and gained confidence.

“Paw Paw is a rematch from game five in which neither team did a very good job of defending the other. The differences from this game to last are we are not going in changing what we do defensively we just need to do them better. We will have all our personnel back and we will be at home; I think both of these factors will help us.”

Region 2

District 1

Paw Paw (6-3) 58.889 at

Edwardsburg (8-1) 86.889

Three Rivers (6-3) 64.333

atVicksburg (7-2) 72.444

 

Division 6

Despite winning eight games, Brandywine will have to hit the road again in the post season.

The Bobcats, who are in the playoffs for the third straight season, were edged by Watervliet by less than a point, which allowed the Panthers to earn the home game.

“Once again they loaded up the district with some good teams — Constantine, Watervliet, Schoolcraft and us,” Brandywine coach Mike Nate said. “We got edged out by a 10th of a percentage point. It came down to pretty much one game. They beat Mendon and we didn’t. They also beat a good Decatur team.

“There is nothing we can do about it. We are excited about the match-up. They are a very good football team and we are too. We are expecting a great football game.”

This will be the first meeting between Brandywine and Watervliet since 1996. The Bobcats defeated the Panthers 40-0 in a non-league contest. Brandywine is 5-1 all-time against Watervliet.

The Bobcats and Panthers have one common opponent in Mendon.

Watervliet defeat the Hornets, who were missing eight starters, 18-13 in Week 3.

Brandywine lost to Mendon, which had all of its starters back, 27-17 the following week.

“We have to go there focused, prepared and wanting to win,” Nate said. “We cannot just be happy about being in the playoffs. It is time to win a playoff game and this is the team to do it with. We know Watervliet is a solid football team and that’s what you see in the playoffs. You see good teams each week. We are excited about the challenge.”

 

Region3

District 2

Schoolcraft (6-3) 64.111

at Constantine (8-1) 78.333

Niles Brandywine (8-1) 70.778

at Watervliet (8-1) 70.889

 

Division 7

The Rangers have reached the playoffs in eight of the last nine seasons.

In four of those appearances, the Raiders have been the opponent.

Decatur has won all three of those meeting, including last year’s 7-0 victory.

“I am proud of our guys and the work they’ve put in,” Cassopolis coach Dan Purlee said. “It was tough digging our way out of a 2-3 start and win four straight. This group is extremely unselfish with the focus always being about the team.”

Purlee said the Rangers are looking forward to facing Decatur again.

“They’re a great team and have a great program,” he said. “Ton of respect for Joe (Groh), what he’s done at Decatur and for how long. We’ll have to play a great brand of football to beat these guys.”

 

Region 3

District 1

Cassopolis (6-3) 45.778

at Decatur (8-1) 79.889

Bridgman (6-2) 52.778

at Gobles (7-2) 60.889