Veteran North Fayette Valley football team eyes deep playoff run this fall

WEST UNION — Experience, depth and skill.

These are the ingredients North Fayette Valley hopes will propel it to a deep postseason run in 2024.

The TigerHawks’ last two football seasons ended in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. This year, powered by 10 returning starters — six of whom are key skill players — NFV is primed to take the next step.

“We’re basically bringing everyone back,” quarterback Decklyn Heins said. “That’ll be huge when we get to the playoffs and hopefully push to make a pretty big run there.”

This will be Heins’ third season as the starter under center.

“We always want the quarterback to control the huddle and own it in that way,” Coach Justin Heins said. “He’s been doing a really good job this year.”

Veteran backs Ayden Burrow, Kyler White, Tate Germann and Lincoln Aeschliman will all see reps in the backfield alongside Heins.

“I just need to get my playmakers the ball,” Decklyn Heins said. “We have all sorts of great skill guys that are capable of doing big things with the ball in their hands.”

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An area of emphasis for the TigerHawks in 2024 is being more effective through the air — particularly in the red zone.

“I think Decklyn had four passing touchdowns last year,” Coach Heins said. “It just shrunk the field. We did a good job in the open field, but when we got down there, we just couldn’t find our way into the end zone.

“We want to be a controlled offense and take some shots when we can.”

Senior end Cael Reichter, a 6-foot-8 target, will play an instrumental role in what NFV hopes is an improved passing attack.

“We have to be able to throw and pass the ball,” Reichter said. “I think that’s probably one of the biggest factors, if we can move the ball not just by running.”

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Defensively, Justin Heins expects linebacker to be a position of strength.

“Our linebacking corps should be a really athletic group for us — they can stop the run and cover the pass,” Justin Heins said. “With (Ryan) Griffith, Aeschliman and Burrow, it should be a really good group.”

Another focus for NFV will be starting strong. The TigerHawks began last season 0-3 before finding their stride.

“We don’t want to start like we did last year, but we were in those games,” Justin Heins said. “These first three games, I want to see us battle and do the things we need to do and get better for district play. And when we get to district play, we expect to be battling for the district championship.”

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NFV will have its hands full out of the gate, facing three playoff teams from a year ago.

Its season starts Friday on the road against Class 3A Independence. Then, the TigerHawks host rival Sumner-Fredericksburg before traveling to Denver.

“I think the opening game versus Independence will probably be our toughest,” Reichter said. “A 3A team that didn’t lose much last year … it’s on the road, I’m sure they’ll be fired up for it.”

The TigerHawks know it’s not where the season starts; it’s where it ends.

“I think we're capable of making it to the (UNI-)Dome this year,” Decklyn Heins said. “And once we get there, making a push for that final game, getting the whole season rounded off with the big one.”