By Staff
High school football season is in full swing and there have been a few surprises through the first three weeks of the season.
All of our area teams have been working hard to improve each week.
There are a few of our teams, however, that warrant special recognition.
The Dowagiac Chieftains, to no one's surprise, are undefeated heading into their second home game of the season tonight against Allegan.
The Chieftains returned a bevy of talented players from last year's 6-4 playoff team. Dowagiac joined the Wolverine Conference, where it was immediately picked as the favorite to win the title by the league's coaches.
Dowagiac started out 3-0 last season and then promptly lost its next three games, which forced the Chieftains to win their final three contests to qualify for the playoffs.
The Dowagiac coaching staff has warned its players that there are no awards for going 3-0. They continue to work hard in practice every day to improve each game.
We fully expect the Chieftains to qualify for the postseason and remain a factor in the Wolverine Conference championship chase.
The Brandywine Bobcats are looking to take their second step toward a Lakeland Conference championship tonight when they face arch rival Buchanan on the road.
The Bobcats are 1-0 in the league and 2-1 overall. Buchanan enters the game without a victory.
You can throw out the records when the Bobcats and Bucks get together because this is a backyard brawl.
This is what high school sports is all about: Two communities separated by just a few miles competing on the field for bragging rights.
Another of the Lakeland Conference unbeatens is the Cassopolis Rangers.
The Rangers are 3-0 overall and averaging more than 50 points per game. Cassopolis is also 1-0 in the Lakeland Conference heading into tonight's showdown with another league unbeaten – Bridgman.
The Mike Nate (former Dowagiac and Niles assistant)-coached team heads into the contest with an identical record as the Rangers.
This should be a good one with the winner moving into the driver's seat for the league championship.
Finally, the Niles Vikings are showing steady improvement under first-year coach Dan Brawley.
The Vikings are 1-2 on the season, but have been in every game. Niles is playing an exciting brand of football and should be a factor in the Big 16 Conference West Division race when it begins a week from tonight against Benton Harbor.
If you haven't been out to support your local high school team yet this season, get in your car and head on over to the field. It will definitely be worth your time and there isn't a better value in entertainment.