Ranking no big deal for semifinal

The defending state champs are two-point favorites according to calpreps.com, and the Buccs aren’t going to let the stage get too big when they line up against the Tribe.
“I think we understand how big of a game this is,” said Tyler Cates, Covington’s first-year coach who inherited a team that reached the playoffs in each of the last 11 seasons. “They will have some confidence on their end. I think we just play football (and) don’t let the moment get too big. Just prepare like we have every other week.”
That’s the same approach the Indians are taking — one week at a time. Niekamp said he felt the Indians put together their best overall game last week in a 58-21 crushing of fourth-seeded Ada, during which junior running back Will Homan rushed 21 times for 275 yards and had six total touchdowns. 
The shifty tailback also set the career-rushing record — he now has 2,587 yards in essentially two seasons — on his final carry of the opening half, and is just 49 yards shy of breaking the single-season rushing record of 1,456 set by 2014 graduate Cole Hull.
Stopping Homan is the main focus defensively for the Buccs, who give up an average of 14.2 points per game and are coming off a 49-0 thrashing of eighth-seeded Hillcrest in the playoff opener.
“Definitely a difficult team to plan for,” Cates said. “We have to be very sound on defense. Everybody has to know assignments. We have to contain (Homan).
“Quarterback (Caleb Martin) is a really nice athlete, makes a lot of plays. We can’t let him sit back there and have all day to throw. Can’t make it easy on the running back.”
Niekamp said having Martin, a University of Toledo commit who torched Mogadore for 375 passing yards and five touchdowns in the state title game, provides a nice complement to Homan if defenses decide to stack the box.
“Being balanced means being able to take advantage of what we need to do when we need to,” Niekamp said.
Statistically, Martin hasn’t been able to match his passing efficiency of last year, completing just 50 percent of his passes for 1,346 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. 
Niekamp and the rest of the coaching staff are hoping Martin can shake it off and have a solid game if need be.
“Last week we didn’t have to throw to score enough to win,” Niekamp said. Martin was 6-for-18 passing for 59 yards and two touchdowns against Ada. “This week we might have to. We just have to be ready to take advantage of those opportunities as they come up.”
The Indians’ strength on defense is hands down its front seven, and that group will have to be stellar once again to slow down Covington. The Buccs have amassed 2,513 rushing yards, 37 touchdowns and average an even 43 points per game.
“We think they are a very good running team and that is what we want to focus on first,” Roessner, a linebacker, said. Lance Miller leads the Buccs with 1,043 yards and 16 touchdowns on 123 carries. “I’m expecting our defensive linemen, who are very good players, to have a good week this week. They are strong, they are smart and we think the are going to be able to play Covington really well up front.”
Defensive tackle Andrew Stocker is fourth on the team with 61 tackles, but his 11 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks are team highs. The junior has 18 sacks in his career, and he is 1.5 shy of tying 2015 graduate Adam LeFevre for the school record.
Covington and Fort Recovery have one common opponent in the St. Henry Redskins, who play 2015 Division VI runner up Marion Local in the Region 24 semifinal tonight in Sidney. 
The Buccs beat the Redskins 27-13 in the first game of the season, and Fort Recovery lost to St. Henry 35-21 Oct. 28.
“The biggest thing we can take is that we have beaten a (Midwest Athletic Conference) team so we have confidence to beat a MAC team,” Cates said.
But Niekamp once again feels, as the 2015 postseason proved, playing hard-nosed, four-quarter football week after week against the MAC gives his team a bit of an advantage in the postseason.
“I think the edge comes from our resume of our schedule,” Niekamp said. “Hopefully the fact that makes us adjust and forces us to get better throughout the course of the year makes us prepared for this game.”