For the first time this season, the Dowagiac varsity football team will face an unknown opponent.

The Chieftains (6-3) will travel to Kalamazoo United (7-2) to face the Titans in the opening round of the Division 5 playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday night.

Veteran Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger said that the team is thrilled to be back in the postseason for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons.

“The team is pretty excited,” Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger said. “It is something you never want to take for granted, only 256 out of 585 schools qualify. It is fun for the guys watching our team called on the selection show.”

Stanger said that playing its first non-Wolverine Conference team this season will help with keeping the team focused.

“I think it does just for the simple fact we have not seen them (Kalamazoo United) before,” he said. “The guys are working hard to study formations and tendencies. We have exchanged the last two game films with Kalamazoo United (mandated by the MHSAA). Sunday was a late night of breaking down film. We should be as prepared for this game.”

Kalamazoo United is the combination of Kalamazoo Christian and Kalamazoo Hackett.

The two schools combined its football programs in 2014 due to a lack of numbers.

The Titans were 7-2 this season having defeated Saugatuck (34-21), Gobles (49-14), Lawton (45-21), Fennville (34-26), Coloma (28-27), Constantine (32-30) and Schoolcraft (31-28).

United’s two losses were to Watervliet (52-34) and Delton-Kellogg (35-32).

Dowagiac and Kalamazoo United are playing in Division 3, Region 3, District 1.

The other half of the bracket has Berrien Springs (6-3) traveling to four-time defending state champion Grand Rapids West Catholic (7-2).

The District 2 pairings are Ovid-Elsie (7-2) at Portland (8-1) and Lansing Catholic (7-2) at Olivet (8-1).

Kalamazoo United play their home games at Mayor’s Riverfront Park. The park is located at 251 Mills St. in Kalamazoo.