AUGUST 21, 2004 – PIQUA, OHIO
NYou can look at the schedule each and every year and expect Piqua to have a tough road ahead. In 2004, there is no exception. The Tribe has grown to expect a tough schedule and they look forward to the challenge of playing some of the best competition available.

Each time the Indians take the football field, they expect to win. It doesn’t matter who they are matched up against. You never want to lose a football game and at Piqua, you don’t expect to lose.

The Indians play in the Greater Western Ohio Conference Western Division which combined with the GWOC Eastern Division, forms one of the toughest, if not the toughest, conferences in the Dayton area and possibly the state of Ohio. It won’t be an easy task with some very strong competition ahead but the Tribe will be doing all it can to make sure the race for the Western Division title comes through Alexander Stadium/Purk Field in 2004.

The Indians will travel to Grove City on August 27th to kickoff the 2004 season. The Indians won the battle last season, 27-14, to earn head coach Bill Nees his 100th win as the Indians leader. Grove City lost some key players but they have experience and a quality coaching staff so beating the Dawgs for the second consecutive year to start the season will be a tough task.

Division III power, Columbus Bishop Watterson will travel to Piqua on September 3rd to battle the Indians. The Eagles won 22-0 last season on a rainy evening in Columbus. Watterson returns a large nucleus of talent and will be a very big challenge for the Indians. The Tribe is hoping to start off the home portion of it’s schedule with a victory over the Eagles but it won’t be an easy task by any means.

The Indians snuck by Fairmont, 7-6, in 2003 on a blocked extra point. Fairmont is a young team but they have a strong history and plenty of tradition to uphold. The Firebirds will look to reverse their fortune against the Indians when the Tribe travels to Fairmont on September 10th.

Northmont will feature one of the best quarterbacks in the state of Ohio in senior Tyler Horner. The Bolts were fortunate enough last year for Piqua to fumble at the goal line in the closing minutes of the game to escape with a 28-27 victory over the Indians. This week four showdown will kickoff the GWOC West portion of the schedule for both teams and looks to be a battle until the end when the Bolts travel to Alexander Stadium/Purk Field.

Piqua will travel to Butler Memorial Stadium in week five and will be looking for revenge after the Aviators won 31-30 in 2003. These two teams have met six times since the 2000 season. You can always expect a well played game when the Indians and Aviators lock up on the gridiron. The Aviators have won the last three meetings with the Indians and the Tribe will be looking to change that.

October 1st is a date on the calendar that everyone will be looking forward to. It’s the annual meeting and renewal of Ohio’s oldest rivalry. Piqua leads the all-time series, 57-56-6 after beating the Trojans in 2003, 10-3, in a two day affair. The Trojans will invade Alexander Stadium/Purk Field and attempt to end their three game losing streak against the Indians.

Piqua will travel to Huber Heights on October 8th to take on the Wayne Warriors. Wayne boasts one of the best wide receivers in the state, Greg Orton. Orton will lead the Warriors and look to beat the Indians for the second straight season. In 2003, the Indians fell 16-14 to Wayne at Alexander Stadium/Purk Field.

The Rams of Trotwood-Madison will travel to Piqua for an October 15th showdown. The Indians led for all but :11 of the 2003 contest when Trotwood scored a touchdown to take the victory 22-21. Trotwood head coach Maurice Douglass has the Rams believing they can win every time they step on the field...the Indians want to prove him wrong for one evening.

Piqua will make its first appearance at newly opened Sidney Memorial Stadium in week nine. The Battered Helmet will be on the line when these long time rivals lock horns. Piqua won 13-0 last season at Alexander Stadium to close out the home portion of its regular season.

The Tribe will close regular season at home on October 29th when Greenville marches into town. The Wave suffered a 55-6 defeat at the hands of the Indians to close out the 2003 season. Greenville has a new head coach in Doug Zimmer who looks to restore some pride to the Wave in 2004 and for many years to come.

The Indians have a long road ahead of them if they wish to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2001 season. It is a task that the Indians are capable of but will have to prove it on the field that they are worthy of a spot in the Division II playoffs. No team will back down from the Indians in 2004, as expected, which may prove to be a long road home for the Indians but not necessarily in a negative way.