Tribe gridders have sights on playoffs

"Our goal this year is the playoffs."

That's a big statement from Fort Recovery football coach Brent Niekamp.

The Indians have finished .500 just once since becoming a full member of the Midwest Athletic Conference, which is widely considered the best small-school conference in Ohio. They have never made the postseason.

But there are definitely reasons why the Tribe thinks this is the year they can break into the top eight in the computer rankings in Ohio's Division XI Region 24.

Greg Kahlig is perhaps the biggest one.

The senior quarterback returns for a third season under center with an impressive resume. After throwing for 2,804 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, he is already the most prolific passer in school history as he owns the FRHS record for career passing yards.

"He makes it easy for us offensively as far as the coaching goes and calling plays. He can make you look pretty smart," said Indians' coach Brent Niekamp, who begins his fifth season at the helm. "He has the ability to make about any throw ... and he also runs pretty well and is pretty physical.

"He brings several dimensions to that offense. Having done it for a couple of years now, he feels comfortable and understands what we're trying to do."

Although Kahlig loses one of his top weapons, Frank Thien (48 receptions, 781 yards and eight touchdowns), he brings back his other three favorite targets.

Leading the returning group is Craig Tobe, who caught 51 balls for 795 yards and six touchdowns. Nathan Keller (28 receptions, 383 yards) and Michael Gaerke (25 receptions, 312 yards) are also back in Fort Recovery's spread formation.

And, Cody Fiely rounds out the starting receiving corps after catching 17 passes for 246 yards last season.

Niekamp points out that a year ago teams tried to take away Thien. That opened the door for Tobe. And when teams tried to limit him as well, the remaining three players cashed in.

"They have all caught plenty of balls in varsity games and are comfortable doing it," said Niekamp of his expectations for this season. "It'll really be interesting to see who people try to zero in on because I feel like all four of those guys are legitimate threats."

Perry Hull will be a newcomer to the running back position, and he'll try to get his yards behind a mostly inexperienced offensive line. The only returning starter is tackle Mark Mattraw. Tackle Alan Lennartz, guards Jordan Bechtol and Adam Rohrer and center Jacob Whitacre will join him up front. Adam Guggenbiller could also see time on the offensive line.

Most of the offensive linemen will play on the defensive side as well, with Kyle Schmitz, Elliott Post, Ryan Link and Aaron Wilker all rotating in as well. Whitacre and Kenny Wenning will play the inside linebacker roles, and Kahlig and Fiely will roam the outside.

Two more linebackers who have been injured for much of the preseason, Shane Stein (outside) and Brian Keller (inside), will also see their share of playing time.

Ryan Schoen and Ethan Schoenherr will play the corners, and it'll be Derek Gaerke's job to fill Thien's shoes at free safety.

"Frank really was a presence in that spot," Niekamp said. "I think Derek is going to be that kind of player down the road. ... He has a lot of natural instincts for that position."

Niekamp added that his defensive leaders are the older players along the defensive line, "and then Greg and Cody Fiely on the edges are also guys who have ... played a lot of ball.

"The other guys look up to them."

As has been the case during Niekamp's tenure, his first focus was on how his team plays rather than the number of wins.

He wants a squad that plays with class all the time, battles in every game and stays focused on executing correctly.

But this season, he followed up those goals by saying his team is eyeing the postseason.

Making that goal a reality will take "consistency of play in all three phases of the game," said Niekamp. "Last year we really looked pretty potent offensively at times ... Defensively we weren't as good and on special teams we weren't as consistent as we needed to be. If we can play solid in all three areas that's going to be the thing that makes the difference."[[In-content Ad]]