By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- The schedule will be different this year if you are a Niles, Brandywine or Buchanan football fan.
All three schools have added new teams to their 2003 schedules, but all three have also retained some familiar foes.
The Niles Vikings, which have made the playoffs the past two seasons, will have a tough challenge awaiting them when the 2003 season opens. The only non-West Division foe Niles kept on its schedule is Mattawan. The Vikings added Battle Creek Harper Creek, Battle Creek Central, Battle Creek Lakeview and Marshall. The West Divisin schedule includes Lakeshore, Benton Harbor, Dowagiac and St. Joseph. Niles opens the season at Mattawan on Friday, Aug. 29.
With the addition of Bridgman into the Lakeland Conference, Brandywine and Buchanan's schedules are new for this upcoming season.
The Brandywine Bobcats, a playoff qualifier last season, has added Lawrence and Centreville to its non-conference schedule.
Buchanan picked up non-conference games against Centreville and Bronson, both members of the St. Jospeph Valley League.
Due to the holiday weekend, Brandywine opens the season Thursday, Aug. 28, at Lawrence. Buchanan also starts Aug. 28, at home against Centreville.
Niles
8/29 Mattawan
9/5 Battle Creek Harper Creek
9/12 H Battle Creek Central
9/19 H Battle Creek Lakeview
9/26 H Stevensville Lakeshore
10/3 Benton Harbor
10/10 H Marshall
10/17 H Dowagiac
10/24 St Joseph
Brandywine
8/28 Lawrence
9/5 Centreville
9/12 H Buchanan
9/19 H Cassopolis
9/26 Three Oaks River Valley
10/3 H Bridgman
10/10 Berrien Springs
10/17 Coloma
10/24 H Edwardsburg
Buchanan
8/28 H Centreville
9/5 Bronson
9/12 Niles Brandywine
9/19 Coloma
9/26 H Edwardsburg
10/3 H Three Oaks River Valley
10/10 Bridgman
10/17 H Berrien Springs
10/24 Cassopolis