Dowagiac earns 63-0 homecoming win over Brandywine in game called after halftime

Published 11:57 pm Friday, October 4, 2024

By Max Harden

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DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac football team only needed to play two quarters on Friday to earn a homecoming win against visiting Brandywine. 

After the Chieftains jumped out to a 63-0 halftime lead, the short-handed Bobcats chose not to go on with the game. Dowagiac led 35-0 at halftime. The Chieftains’ 63 points were their most since the 2017 team defeated Otsego 67-7 and its 63-point win margin was the most since 1999, a 70-0 win over South Bend La Salle.

Emma Stanger and Kaleb Smith were crowned homecoming queen and king.

According to Brandywine head coach Justin Kinzie, the Bobcats had six players leave the game with injuries, including two who were hospitalized. Kinzie said two two-way starters were injured on the first two plays of the game.

“It was a tough night,” Kinnzie said. “I’m proud of how many freshmen and sophomores stepped up. But there comes a certain point where you have to look on the field and recognize, we can’t continue to safely play this game.”

Kaleb Smith, who was crowned homecoming king at halftime, tallied three rushing touchdowns and Isaiah Fitchett was 3 of 4 passing for 53 yards and 3 touchdown passes. Skyler Vincek returned a fumble on the kickoff for a touchdown, Devin Rock scored a touchdown run and Jamal Williams caught a touchdown and had a 52-yard interception return touchdown while LaMone Moore Jr. also found the end zone twice.

“We were not worried about what they did, it was about us,” said Dowagiac coach Duane Davis. “I was so proud of them because they kept coming to me and they tapped on their chest ‘It’s all about us, coach.’ They don’t care who lines up across from; they have to worry about themselves and the team and we move on.”

According to records dating back to 1950, the Chieftains have scored more than 60 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 1990, the year the Chieftains won the Class B state championship. The 1990 Chieftains had a stretch of four straight games of 60-plus points.

Davis was proud of his team’s performance from the top-down but said that freshman nose guard Khalif Renya’s performance stood out.

“We just brought him up this week and he took care of the center of the field for us,” Davis said. “Their running back’s good – I’ve seen them for three years. Sobecki, that kid is legit and he did a good job against him and I was proud of him. The freshman kid stepping up was big.”

As for the Brandywine, the 0-6 Bobcats are hoping to be able to play against Benton Harbor next week. The Tigers are 0-6 on the season.

“We might have to convert some guys to other positions but obviously we couldn’t do that mid-game,” Kinzie said.

The Chieftains are 5-1 for the first time since 2013 and hope to lock up a postseason berth next week against Berrien Springs. The Shamrocks defeated Buchanan 31-6 in their quest for a Lakeland Conference title.

“That’s a tough team we’re going against, I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” Davis said. “But we’re gonna get back to work Sunday, early and go right to the weight room and watch film and get going. That’s our goal right now is next week. We’re 1-0 and moving on. That’s all it is.”

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