DAGSBORO — The Indian River High School football team put together yet another strong season in 2007, posting an 8-3 overall record and reaching the quarterfinals of the state tournament.

Over the last two seasons, quarterback Nick Kmetz changed the Indians’ traditional offensive approach from an in-your-face running game to a spread offense passing attack. But with Kmetz absent after graduating in the spring, the Indians will once again have to rethink its offensive game plans.

“I think that even though we lost a few key players, we’re going to have guys step in and do just fine,” senior Zach Kmetz said. “We’re all working hard. Everybody wants to get their spot and people are playing hard and working hard.”

Vying for the open quarterback spot are three players — sophomore Tim Bokinsky, freshman Jamie Jarmon and senior newcomer Bo Wilkinson.

Although the decision has not yet been made on who will take over the starting duties, coach Jim Bunting feels each player can complete the task at hand. The Indians, he said, will stick with the spread offense, at least for the first three games.

“Coach (Paul) Kmetz has worked too hard (for us to abandon it),” Bunting said. “Two years ago we started working it in and last year we kind of said we’re going to … live or die by it.”

To help the three potential quarterbacks during the preseason was the man whom they will replace. Bunting said Nick Kmetz worked with the boys all summer and throughout the preseason to get acclimated to the offensive schemes and the basics of being a quarterback. Now that he is off at college, he said they will have to manage on their own.

Adding to the list of players that will be missed for Bunting is Trevor Abbott. The tight end and defensive end was the epitome of what Bunting wishes every player was like.

“He was Mr. Everything. I bet if I asked him to go fill up the water bucket, he would’ve done that, too,” he said. “You don’t replace a leader like that.”

To replace these players and get back to where the team was over the last couple of years may be tough, he said. While he is confident in their skills, Bunting hopes the tradition of the program will help them through the hard times.

“Last year, you could see evidence that these guys thought that if they put on the green and gold it was an automatic win,” he said. “We have really preached … that it is your obligation to honor those boys who really busted their rear ends to get us in the program we are now.”

If the players are able to buy into that mentality, Bunting said the team should be able to return to the playoffs and possibly move farther than before.

“We’re young and we’ve got a lot of work to do, but the year looks promising,” senior Danny Bokinsky said.

For Zach Kmetz, the feeling of being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round each of the previous three seasons is a motivational factor that, he believes, will drive the team as the season progresses.

“We got a good taste of what it feels like to beat Concord because we had such a close game with them last year,” he said.

The Indians are scheduled to open the season Friday, Sept. 5, when they travel to Lewes for a matchup with Cape Henlopen High School. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

nroth@dmg.gannett.com 302-537-1881, Ext. 206