High school football has been the end of the line for most area athletes for a long time. Those who had wished to continue their football careers after graduating had to move away to play at the college level or give up playing altogether. That has now changed with the addition of a semi-pro football team in Jamestown this year.

The Jamestown Chiefs are in the midst of their inaugural season as part of the Northeastern Football Alliance and have already exceeded the expectations of some by reaching the win column against the Southern Tier Diesel and nearly winning several other games.

"For a first year team I’m ecstatic with what we’ve been able to do," said running back James Dickey.

"We hadn’t played together and we’ve had a lot of mental mistakes," Henry Leeper said. "For a first year team I think we’re doing alright," he added.

The Chiefs plan to be back and much improved next season.

"Next year, I think, will be better," Dickey said. "We can recruit some more players, get our line stacked up, things like that," he added.

For this season, the team has provided many former players around the area to continue playing the game they have loved throughout their lives.

"We’ve got a good home here. It’s definitely a good option," said Dickey. "I thought that it was great that the local community opened up a team to give other people a shot. It’s just a good opportunity all the way around," he added.

Both Dickey and Leeper have returned to their football roots at Strider Field, where they played their high school football as Jamestown Red Raiders.

"It’s good to come back home and play some ball," said Dickey, a 2003 graduate of Jamestown High School. Leeper, a 1999 graduate, said that playing at Strider Field is one of the things that he enjoys most about playing for the Chiefs.

Some players are using their time as Chiefs as a stepping stone to prepare them to move up to the next level. Others are just out there having fun.

"I’m looking to open up some doors other than just this league," said Dickey, who is getting his first taste of competitive football since playing for ECC for one season at the college level. "It’s been a goal of mine to reach the next level. I think this is a good opportunity to do that."

Dickey has racked up 781 total yards through six games this season. He has reached the end zone five times on the ground and leads the Chiefs in total points.

"Personally, I’m happy with where I’m at," he said.

Dickey recognizes that there are things that he needs to improve on to reach the next level, though. "I stress my speed to get to that next level," he said, noting that there are other technical things such as ball handling that could use slight improvement.

As for what the next level is, Dickey believes that the CFL is an option and possibly even the NFL. "The NFL could be an option. I still go to combines," he said. "It could be any door," Dickey said of options opening up. Although Dickey is looking to get some footage of his play in the NFA this season out to other teams in various leagues, it’s possible that he could be back in Jamestown next season. "Right now I’m training to come back. I’m looking forward to a good season," he said.

Leeper, who played two years of college football at Hobart, is just enjoying his time back out on the field as a Chief. "I figured it would be fun to get out there and go at it again," said Leeper, who ran for 148 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries as well as caught 12 balls for 166 yards and two scores, while also completing eight passes. "It’s been a great time," he said of the season so far.

Although he is out there to have fun, Leeper still recognizes that there are areas in which he could improve upon. "I could’ve done better in a couple of the losses," he said, noting that there are just little things, like blocking, that he feels he could do better on. Leeper plans to return to the Chiefs next season.

As for the team, Leeper thinks they’re getting better.
 

"I think we should win every game. So hopefully we do," he said of the season’s final three contests. The Chiefs have a rematch against the Lyndonville Tigers this weekend. The game is slated for a 5 p.m. start Saturday at Strider Field.

"They were our first game and we weren’t really together," Leeper said. "I think we’ll give them their money’s worth this next time."