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Tuesday night, Jamestown Chiefs head coach Brendan Carter was doing what he could to improve his team from the comfort of his own home.

''I just signed a kicker,'' Carter explained. ''I've been on the phone all night and I have to recharge the battery before it dies.''

Now that's dedication.

After a four-game road trip to start the inaugural season for the Chiefs of the Northeastern Football Alliance, a much-welcomed home game at Strider Field at 2 p.m. on Sunday against the Monroe County Sting should prove to be exactly what the Chief's staff is looking for.

The 1-3 record to start the season doesn't even begin to tell the story.

Two of those losses were by one point. On the season, the Chiefs are averaging a respectable 17 points per game while giving up just 14.

That would be confusing to many number enthusiasts once presented with the Chiefs overall record.

Still, they're playing well near the midpoint of the 11-game season. Carter likes the improvements he's seen, but he knows the problem areas they need to address.

See CHIEFS, Page B-2

''Our special teams we need to improve on,'' Carter said. ''We're taking a guy out of the game and making him kick. That's a difficult thing to do.''

In the Chiefs' recent 14-13 loss to the Buffalo Gladiators, it was hard to ignore the poor execution in the special teams.

Jamestown was forced to punt out of its own end zone. The kick was shanked out of bounds, giving the Gladiators spectacular field position at the Chief's six-yard line.

That was one easy touchdown.

''We fumbled inside of the 20 - that was their other score,'' Carter added. ''We absolutely dominated the game against Buffalo, but lost because of rookie mistakes. There are only two guys on the team with any experience at this level.''

Aside from Brian Hardy and Jamestown graduate James Dickey, the Chiefs' 30-plus man roster is comprised of all rookies. Mistakes are expected.

''We're going to make mistakes,'' Carter said. ''We just need to learn from them. We need to come to practice prepared.''

It's not difficult for even the rookie squad of the Chiefs to get prepared for their first home game. In fact, this first home game at Strider field at 2 p.m. Sunday is something the players, coaches and the administration have been looking forward to since the Chiefs were founded merely months ago.

''The guys are very excited, to say the least,'' Carter said. ''They want to show what we're capable of to our hometown crowd. I hope we fill those stands to overflowing. They're going to see a good football game.''

What the Chiefs lack in experience, they make up for in talent.

The one-two backfield punch of the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Dickey and the smaller, quicker Frank Vicary has been a force to be reckoned with this season. Dickey has rushed for 513 yards and four touchdowns on 75 carries while Vicary has 237 yards and two touchdowns on just 25 touches.

Unfortunately, injuries happen.

Vicary is sidelined with a knee injury, changing the dynamics of the Chiefs' backfield, so Sunday it will be Dickey's turn to take over.

''He's more of a power, downhill runner, but if he gets outside he can take it all the way,'' Carter said of Dickey. ''When Frank went down, we went to more of an I-back. We put Chad Slade in there from Randolph and he basically became a blocking back for James, but he's dangerous when he gets the ball.''

Slade was a first-team all-state running back when he was in high school, according to Carter, which proves the Chiefs have depth at a key position.

On the defensive side of the ball, playmaker and Jamestown graduate Ricky Gonzalez has stepped up this season. Gonzalez has also been a factor in the return game.

''He's been one guy away like four times,'' Carter said of Gonzalez. ''The returns have a lot to do with blocking. He's making the right decisions and the right reads. Having the speed doesn't hurt, either.''

Against the Southern Tier Diesel team, Gonzalez returned an interception 101 yards for a touchdown. That's just a small sample of the explosiveness he can bring to defense and special teams.

In four punt returns, Gonzalez is averaging 29 yards per return. In six kickoff returns, he has an average of 29 yards per return. That big-play ability can help the Chiefs get on a winning streak in a hurry.

''The biggest positive thing so far, is we've stayed together as a team,'' Carter said. ''Our family unit has stayed together. We're not pointing fingers, we're taking responsibility. We're all a bunch of rookies and we're all in this together.''