By Staff
There has never been a bigger weekend of football in southwestern lower Michigan than this year.
Not only are the Dowagiac Chieftains and the Niles Vikings meeting for the 102nd and final time, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are playing home to the two-time defending national champion USC Trojans.
While a nation will turn its eyes to South Bend, Ind. on Saturday, two communities will turn their attention to Niles on Friday night.
In one of the state's most storied rivalries, the Chieftains and Vikings will strap it up one more time with bragging rights hanging in the balance, not to mention playoff hopes.
Both teams enter the contest at 4-3 and need to win out in order to qualify for the post season.
No matter what happens on Friday night the Vikings will win the overall series.
Niles holds a 49-47-5 lead heading into the last chapter of this epic story.
I have had the privilege of covering this series since 1981.
That first game left a lasting impression on me.
Dowagiac was 8-0 heading into the 1981 contest and was looking to complete the school's second undefeated season.
The Vikings had won the previous six meetings, so the stage was set.
Dowagiac captured that contest 16-0 and captured my heart.
I have enjoyed each and every Niles-Dowagiac game since then. It didn't really matter who won the game to me.
Dowagiac has pretty much dominated the series during my tenure as sports editor.
The Chieftains ran off 11 straight wins and won 15 out of 16 games dating back to the 1985 season, which was Dowagiac's third undefeated campaign.
The Vikings have had the best of it lately, going 3-2 against Dowagiac since current Niles coach Dave Janicki took over.
Another game I will never forget is the 1990 contest.
The Chieftains were on their way to winning the Class BB state championship and squashed Niles 65-12 in the regular season finale.
The greatest game I never got to see came in 2003 when the Chieftains and Vikings squared off in the 100th meeting.
Junior placekicker Hillary Bisnett, the only female to don a Dowagiac varsity football uniform, kicked the winning field goal in double overtime.
I expect Friday night's game to be a classic.
I encourage everyone who has ever been a part of this game to come out and support their favorite team.
This truly is an end to an era.