CASSOPOLIS — For the third time in five games dating back to the 2018 season, the Cassopolis Rangers faced Centreville Friday night.

The Rangers swept the two games against the Bulldogs last season, winning 21-0 to win the Southwest 10 Conference championship, and then defeated them again, this time 35-0 to win the Division 7 district championships.

To say the two teams know each other pretty well would be an understatement.

Perhaps that is why neither team could move the football for a majority of the night, and why a safety was the only points scored through the first three quarters.

In the end, Cassopolis (3-0) was able to find the end zone twice in the fourth quarter to earn a 15-0 win over the Bulldogs (2-1) to remain undefeated. It was also the third consecutive shutout for the Rangers on defense.

For Cassopolis coach Dan Purlee, it was the kind of game the Rangers will need as they move forward in conference play and eventually the postseason.

“It is always a physical game with these guys,” Purlee said. “Their coach [Tyler Langs] has done a heckuva job turning the program around in a hurry. We knew going in these guys are as tough as anybody we are going to face. Both teams played extremely hard.”

Purlee was also pleased with another shutout for his squad, which has outscored its opponents 93-0 through the first three games.

“I would be OK going the rest of the year going with those goose eggs,” Purlee said. “The defense played well. We were disciplined and we were tough. They [Centreville] go to the whistle better than any team we will face. They get after you. I told the guys we have to be relentless with our effort and just be disciplined on defense and fly to the football.”

Neither team put up huge statistics on offense. The Rangers finished with 205 yards of total offense, including 134 on the ground, while the Bulldogs finished with 119 yards of total offense.

Cassopolis’ defense forced three Centreville turnovers, including a late interception by sophomore Daishean Jamison which helped seal the victory.

“That was huge,” Purlee said of the interception. “A young sophomore. Daishean is a heckuva talent. I think that is the type of play he needs to believe that he belongs.”

Hart led the Rangers with 82 yards rushing on 10 attempts, while Owen Gardner added 52 yards.

Defensively for Cassopolis, which travels to Bangor for another Southwest 10 Conference game Friday night, was led by Gage Collins’ 14 tackles. Kendon Williams and Matthew Anderson finished with 10 stops.