VICKSBURG — Turnovers played a key role in Dowagiac’s 35-0 loss to host Vicksburg in the season and Wolverine Conference opener Thursday night.

The Chieftains (0-1) lost three fumbles and threw three interceptions against the Bulldogs (1-0).

Both teams failed to move the ball successfully for the first 12 minutes and settled for a scoreless tie after one quarter.

A fumble midway through the second quarter by Dowagiac at the Vicksburg 15-yard line proved to be the Chieftains’ undoing as the Bulldogs marched 85 yards in six plays to take an 8-0 lead when Blake Rankin hauled in a 36-yard scoring strike from Brenden Lovell.

Lovell would hit Deondre Lovell for the 2-point conversion to score what would turn out to be game-winning with 7:44 left in the opening half.

Two possessions later, Dowagiac would fumble the ball again, this time at the Vicksburg 44-yard line.

The Bulldogs would take six plays to cover the 64 yards with Brenden Lovell hitting Deondre Lovell with a 21-yard touchdown pass and then the 2-point conversion to make it 16-0 at the half.

If Dowagiac was going to make anything happing in the final 24 minutes, Vicksburg took away with the first play of the second half.

Rankin took the opening kickoff and raced untouched 80 yards for the score. The Bulldogs failed on the 2-point conversion, but led 28-0 just 11 seconds into the third quarter.

The Chieftains’ third fumble, this one at the Vicksburg 44-yard line, would lead to another scoring drive for the Bulldogs.

Rankin capped the drive with a 12-yard reception from Garrett Ketelaar with 8:42 remaining in the third quarter as Vicksburg opened up a 28-0 advantage when the conversion run failed.

The final touchdown for the Bulldogs would also be as a result of a turnover.

Dowagiac quarterback Scott Hassle, who replaced starter Anthony Neubauer in the second half, was picked off by Seth Benson, who returned it 30 yards for the score.

“We kept put our defense in bad situations,” Dowagiac coach Mike Stanger said. “I thought they played well the first half. Two big plays were all they had. We blew a coverage on one and our guy made a mental mistake on the other one. I thought we were fine.

“We had a quarterback making the first start of his life as a senior tonight. It is going to be a growing process and that is the bottom line. We have got to get better, there is no question about that.”

Vicksburg finished with 174 yards in total offense. Brenden Lovell was 4-of-8 for 66 yards and the two touchdowns.

Ketelaar was 3-for-3 for 26 yards and a touchdown.

Lovell also led Vicksburg rushing with 21 yards on seven attempts.

Dowagiac had 105 yards in total offense.

Neubauer was 4-of-9 for 52 yards and two interceptions. Hassle was 0-for-4 with an interception.

Lazaro Piedra led the Chieftains in rushing with 20 yards on six carries.

Austin Taggart was a standout punting with five for an average of 33 yards, including a 42-yard effort that pinned Vicksburg back at its 2-yard line in the first half.

Stanger and his staff are not about the panic. They have had to rebound from a slow start before.

“We have been here before,” he said. In 13 years of coaching we have taken our lumps early and we bounce back. I believe this team has character. Our team character is not to lay down. We are going to get better. This team is going to come to film tomorrow and we are going to get better.”

The Chieftains are on the road again Thursday night as it travels to South Haven, which was a 30-25 winner over Sturgis in its season opener.

 

VICKSBURG 35, DOWAGIAC 0

At Vicksburg

 

Dowagiac        0          0          0          0 – 0

Vicksburg       0          16       19       0 – 35

V – Blake Rankin 36 pass from Brenden Lovell (Deondre Lovell pass from Brenden Lovell)

V – Deondre Lovell 21 pass from Brenden Lovell (Deondre Lovell pass from Brenden Lovell)

V – Rankin 80 kickoff return (pass failed)

V – Rankin 12 pass from Garrett Ketelaar (run fails)

V – Seth Benson 30 interception return (Joe Brady kick)