2025 Team Snapshot: Piqua
- Updated: June 29, 2025
Piqua LB John Hess (photo from X: @JohnHess35)
There are going to be a lot of angry chiefs on the warpath at Piqua this fall. For the first time in the 21st century. The Indians have suffered back-to-back losing seasons. To add ire to the fire, the team was the first team left out of the Region 8 playoffs a year ago. This senior class wants nothing more than to end the skid and with six returning starters on both sides of the ball the foundation is there to see their wishes come to fruition.
The schedule is loaded with tough games through the first six weeks. In that span, Piqua will face four teams that finished above .500 in 2024 including three squads that won at least nine contests. There are opportunities for the Indians to make noise here but they will need to take their level of play up more than just a notch. Turning things around won’t be easy. The program hasn’t beaten a team that has finished the regular season with a winning record since knocking off Troy (who finished 7-4) on September 2nd, 2022.
Piqua has a tough road ahead in 2025, expect head coach Bill Nees and his staff to have the Indians more than well prepared to get back to their winning ways. This program has always responded well with its back up against the wall under Nees.
Division II, Region 8
2024 RECORD: 4-6, 4-5 MVL
COACH: Bill Nees (237-11 at Piqua, 33 years; 237-11 overall)
HONOR ROLL
Zaydyn Allen, Sr, LB – A three-year starter and leader of the defense. Allen was named Honorable Mention All-MVL as a junior. He has recorded 117 tackles, 11.0 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and two recoveries in his career.
OTHER RETURNEES
Senior returning starters OG Tony Gardener (6-1/300), C Maddox Kotchka (6-0/262) and OG Ryan Earick (6-2/261) will set the tone and provide the leadership needed for Piqua and its young and “green” backfield especially early on.
Piqua OG Tony Gardener (photo from X: @TonyGardener5)
Sophomore QB/P Chris Davis gets the nod at quarterback. As a freshman, he averaged 34.1 yards on 25 punts and placed six punts inside the opponents 20-yard line with a long punt of 57-yards.
Davis’ top targets will be seniors WR/DB/RS Ray Garrett and WR Debo Knisley. Garrett has 36 receptions, 484 yards receiving, five touchdown catches, 1,044 all-purpose yards (520 ret), 66 tackles and two interceptions in his career. In brief but promising action a year ago, the lightning fast Knisely saw three of his 11 touches on offense go for 30-yards or more with six receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown catch.
Senior LB John Hess teams with Allen in the middle of the defense for a third straight season. He has 84 tackles, a sack, 4.0 tackles for losses and an interception at the varsity level.
In the secondary, Garrett (two), classmate DB Keaton Bolden (three) and junior DB Jay’zil Hancock (two) have combined for seven career interceptions. Bolden also had 38 tackles, 10 receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown catch a year ago. All three players will play prominent roles on offense as well.
The Indians special teams are very good with the accurate leg of senior K Gavin Larger, Garrett returning kicks and Davis handling punting duties. Larger connected on 22/25 extra points, 4/5 field goal attempts (long of 30-yards) for 34 kicking points as a junior.
NEWCOMERS
Sophomore DT Landen Brown B (6-3/266) has a tremendous upside. He will be a load for opposing o-lines to deal with.
Piqua C Maddox Kotchka (photo from X: @MaddoxKotchka56)
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(14 appearances, 24-13) – 2022, 2021, 2020, 2015, 2007, 2006 (State Champion), 2001, 2000 (State Runner-Up), 1999, 1994 (Regional Champion), 1993 (Regional Champion), 1992 (Regional Champion), 1991, 1990 (Regional Champion)
2025 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/22/25 – LIMA SENIOR (9-2 in 2024) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/29/25 – at Tippecanoe (11-1) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/05/25 – GREENVILLE (1-9) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/12/25 – at Troy (6-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/19/25 – at West Carrollton (1-9) – 7:00 PM
Th – 09/25/25 – XENIA (10-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/03/25 – FAIRBORN (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/10/25 – at Stebbins (4-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/17/25 – BUTLER (9-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/24/25 – at Sidney (5-6) – 7:00 PM
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