By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
With nearly three weeks of practice under its belt and a successful scrimmage last Friday night, the Dowagiac varsity football team is ready to open its season.
The Chieftains will entertain Coldwater at Chris Taylor-Alumni Field on Friday night with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
The Chieftains, who were 1-8 last season, will be starting their final campaign in the Big 16 Conference.
Dowagiac would love nothing more than to get that final season off on the right foot with a victory over the visiting Cardinals.
Not only would Dowagiac be picking up its first win of the season, but it would also be the first victory at home for head coach Mike Stanger.
The win would also help erase the memory of a tough 15-13 loss to the Cardinals last season.
The Chieftains gave up all 15 points to Coldwater in the first three quarters and then came charging back with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns.
The rally was stopped about a half a yard short. Brandon McCuddy, who scored the second touchdown to cut the lead to 15-13, was stopped a half a yard short of the goal line on the two-point conversion attempt.
Coldwater recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to preserve the victory.
Ryan Gleeson, who returned a fumble 87 yards for the second Coldwater touchdown, returns for the Cardinals, as does kicker Ricky Cole, who kicked a 26-year field goal which gave Coldwater its margin of victory.
Coldwater is a young team with only 12 seniors listed on its roster.
Dowagiac is also a young team with only seven returning letterwinners.
Getting the start for the Chieftains offensively against Coldwater will be quarterback David Stuppy, fullback Jake Shelton, running backs Mike Laylin and David Sayre, tight end/split end Chris Primley, Josh Cross and Matt Dodson at guards, Tony Stewart and Ryan Casey at tackles and DJ Edgerly at center.
Also expected to see a lot of action as the Chieftains platoon will be Jamie Simpson and Russell Sizemore at running backs and Brandon Simmons at tight end.
Defensively for the Chieftains, Steve Wisniewski, Dodson and Cross will get the start up front with Ryan and Mike Laylin playing outside linebackers. Kyle Bailey and Simmons will start at inside linebackers.
The cornerbacks will be Sayre and File with Mike Kasper and Simpson opening at safety.
Dowagiac will not have the same line up starting in the opener that played in the scrimmage last Friday night as guards Nate Behnke and Jordan Huey are both out with injuries.
The Chieftains had already lost Jordan Eby in preseason drills and will be without Kevin Simpson for the entire year as he will have surgery in September to take care of a shoulder injury sustained last season.
According to Stanger, Dowagiac must execute on both sides of the football to be successful Friday night.
Offensive execution is also a must for the Chieftains against Coldwater.
Defensively Coldwater will run an odd-man front and blitz early and often.
Dowagiac's kicking chores will be handled by Tony Black and Stuppy. Black will be kicking off, as well as handling the field goals and extra points. Stuppy will do the punting. Simpson could also see some action kicking off and on extra points.