Upon taking the Indianapolis Colts head coaching job in January, Tony Dungy decided to leave franchise quarterback Peyton Manning alone.

        Manning was coming off his worst season since his rookie year in 1998, having thrown just three more touchdowns (26) than interceptions (23) while leading Indianapolis to a 6-10 record. The Colts missed the playoffs after making it in 1999 and 2000.

        Instead, Dungy did what he knows best. He put his energy toward fixing the Colts' 29th-ranked defense and let Manning and offensive coordinator Tom Moore get the offense back together. The result so far is a 2-1 record with the NFL's ninth-ranked defense and a 93.1 quarterback rating for Manning entering Sunday's game against the 0-4 Bengals.

        “For the offensive guys, it was just a matter of getting back to the offense and doing things the way they're used to doing them,” said Dungy, who is known for the defensive-minded teams he coached at Tampa Bay from 1996-2001. “I think after the way things went last year, we had a lot of guys who were anxious to get this year started. They just had to learn what I expect and how we were going to do things.”

        When Dungy first met with Colts players, he insisted rebuilding wasn't part of his plan. He said he wanted to win this year.

        “Players like to hear that,” Manning said. “Sometimes you see a new coach, and you think rebuilding. That's kind of a scary word, especially in this day and age with free agency and injuries. This isn't a rebuilding year. It was more like, "Let's fix a few things, and let's take advantage this year.”'

        Last season, the Colts were 3-3 when All-Pro running back Edgerrin James suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Miami Dolphins. Though Manning and receiver Marvin Harrison still hooked up for 15 touchdowns and 1,524 yards, Indianapolis' one-dimensional offense couldn't make up for defensive shortcomings.

        “I think to be a good team, you have to have good players,” Manning said. “That's what I believe. We've had a good offense the last couple years because we've had good players.”

        Now a healthy James is seventh in the NFL with 325 rushing yards and the Colts are tied for first in the AFC South. Manning said his relationship with Moore, who he has worked with for more than four years, has more to do with this season's start than Dungy's presence.

        “Sometimes, change isn't always the best answer,” Manning said. “When you have a 6-10 season and you have a coach (Dungy) change jobs, you think it's going to be better all of a sudden. Well, you still have to work. All we are is 2-1. That's all we are.

        “I think the one thing people tend to forget when you talk about Dungy, and that defense is going to be better, is that Tony isn't out there making any tackles. Players still have to go out there and make tackles and execute the defense. So far, they're doing a good job.”

        That's all Dungy asks them to do. He said the Colts won't win any championships trying to make spectacular plays on defense or playing for individual goals.

        “I think football is about fundamentals,” Dungy said. “Teams that can execute their system do very well. Whatever you sell your team on, you can win with it if they execute.”

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Aiken 27, Belmont 6
Anderson 37, harrison 34
Batavia 44, Williamsburg 0
Bethel Tate 35, Clermont NE 0
CCD 55, Landmark Christian 28
Chaminade-Julienne 57, Purcell Marian 13
CHCA 37, Columbus Bishop Hartley 0
Clinton-Massie 33, Blanchester 0
Colerain 31, Oak Hills 13
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Dayton Dunbar 46, Western Hills 18
Dixie Heights 24, Conner 6
East Central 31, Lawrenceburg 7
Glen Este 21, Winton Woods 14
Goshen 14, Hillsboro 7
Holy Cross 36, Bellevue 6
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Indian Hill 19, Wyoming 0
Indiana football scores
Kentucky football scores
Kettering Alter 28, Badin 14
Kings 42, Ross 13
Lakota West 33, Milford 21
Lebanon 7, Carroll 0
Lemon-Monroe 17, Talawanda 14
Lloyd 37, Newport 7
Loveland 35, Norwood 13
Madeira 29, Finneytown 0
Mason 39 , Northwest 21
Meadowdale 34, Jacobs 6
Middletown 14, Fairfield 6
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NewCath 48, Ludlow 0
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Ohio football scores
Princeton 42, Lakota East 21
Reading 34, Deer Park 0
Ryle 24, Boone County 9
Scott 56, Grant Co. 6
Simon Kenton 26, Campbell County 22
St. Xavier 35, LaSalle 7
Sycamore 49, Hamilton 7
Taylor 17, Mariemont 14
Turpin 20, Amelia 12
Wilmington 6, Little Miami 0
Woodward 26, Shroder Paideia 0

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