Top ranked Dowagiac Chieftains look for revenge in sectionals rematch against Berrien Springs

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- This Friday means it's another week of high school football in Michiana.

For our Michigan teams it's week one of playoffs, so a loss Friday night means the season's over.

This week's Game of the Week takes us to a battle within the Lakeland League, #1 Dowagiac versus #3 Berrien Springs.

Chieftains head coach Duane Davis says despite their number one spot in the conference, history shows they have a weak spot for the Shamrocks, and this time they're coming for revenge.

"We've had battles with them for years now, I mean since we got in the conference the last three years, I think it's been tough games every time we play them," says Davis

It's a battle these Dowagiac Chieftains know all too well and they are not going to let history repeat itself.

The Chieftains are 0-5 against conference foe Berrien Springs over the past three seasons. Last year, the Shamrocks ended the Chieftains' season in the first round of playoffs. Then, just a few weeks ago, the Chieftains were left scoreless in a 21-0 loss to the Shamrocks.

"Berrien came here and we weren't, we didn't play our type of football the first time we played them, and the kids took it to heart and wanted to make those changes and fix those mistakes."

Dowagiac head coach Duane Davis says the key to a well-deserved victory will be to slow down the Shamrocks' explosiveness by keeping them in a box, as well as minimizing missed opportunities.

Both sides of the ball will need to pack on the physicality, and the well-oiled machine of an offensive line will need to keep doing what they do best.

"You just need commitment with your players and just great teamwork. I mean, all of the guys get together and we're all friends so that really helps," says senior offensive lineman Cole Wimberley.

Coach Davis says while motivation is through the roof, they can't let pressure get to them. They're keeping the same '1-0 mindset' going into the post season.

"There's definitely pressure, but we just try to take it week by week and worry about ourselves, not worry about any other team. Just us," says Wimberley

The Chieftains are ready to defend their number one position in the Lakeland Conference, and offensively, one key stands out: 'impose their will.'