Piqua football coach Bill Nees is doing something right with the "Indian Nation". For the third straight season coach Nees has led his team to the state playoffs and has racked up a 32-5 record in a three-year span.

This year's group of Indians had the weight of an entire city on their shoulders as expectations were high after a State Runner-up performance of a year ago. Plus, they were the first team to play in the newly constructed Alexander Stadium.

Despite the pressure of outside expectations and a season-opening loss to Grove City, the 2001 Indians added another successful capture in the storied history of Piqua football.

Piqua won nine straight games to finish the regular season at 9-1 and captured their first ever GWOC West Division Championship. To top it off, the Indians made it back in the playoffs.

“I can’t imagine a better way to go into the playoffs,” Piqua quarterback Tyler Haines said after the regular season finale against Northmont, “then to win the league title in the first year of the league. That was a big goal from the start of the season.”

Throughout the regular season it was clear the Indians would go as far as their "D" would take them. Led by one of the state's premier defensive players in Quinn Pitcock, Piqua only surrendered 59 points and recorded five shutouts throughout the entire regular season. This, while the offense managed to tally 183 points.

Piqua was as dominating as any team to ever where the blue, red, and white throughout a five-game stretch in the middle of the season. In those games the Indians outscored their opponents 95-6 and recorded four shutouts against the opponents of Troy, Springfield South, Trotwood Madison, Sidney, and Greenville.

The Indians then closed out the regular season with a 14-11 victory over pre-season favorite, Northmont, 14-11 to set up a home playoff game against Edgewood.

In front of a packed house at Alexander Stadium, Piqua totally dominated Edgewood 21-0 for their first ever playoff win in their new stadium.

The dream of returning to the state finals ended for the Indians in the second round of the playoffs in stunning fashion. Rival, Vandalia-Butler, stunned Piqua by scoring virtually at will on the Indian's dominating defense. All the while, the Aviator defense turned the tables on the Piqua offense by holding them scoreless for a 30-0 victory.

The playoff loss didn't diminish from the outstanding season the Indians had. Faced with numerous injuries and a reshuffled offensive line, Piqua still managed to put together one of the most memorable seasons in school history and start a new tradition of excellence at Alexander Stadium.