The Boone County Rebels aren't satisfied with just making the playoffs. They want to host one.
Head coach Dan Court returns five starters on each side of the ball from a team that ended a six-year postseason drought in 2025, and the mission for his third season in Florence is clear: finish in the top two of Class 5A, District 6 to earn a home game in November.
"They got a taste for what the playoffs are. And now they want more of it," Court told the NKY Tribune.
The offense starts with senior running back Malik Johnson, who rushed for 1,188 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. In the playoff-clinching 36-25 overtime win over Scott, Johnson carried the ball 35 times for more than 200 yards and scored four touchdowns, as reported by The Rebellion, the BCHS student newspaper. Court said the 2026 scheme will get Johnson the ball in multiple ways beyond traditional handoffs.
QB competition wide open
The biggest question is under center. Senior Micheal Chiasson threw for 1,389 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, but senior Asa LeGrand missed the entire season recovering from a broken collarbone.
"(LeGrand) was in a QB competition with Michael throughout the summer last year until his injury," Court said. "This summer has been another QB competition … where a starter will be named sometime after our scrimmages."
Whoever wins the job will have weapons. Junior wide receiver Amare Newberry caught 23 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns last year. Senior William Randall is back from an ACL injury that limited him to four games, but he averaged a team-high 57 receiving yards per game in those contests. Court called Randall an explosive receiver "able to take the top off of a defense."
Defense built around Diaz
Senior linebacker Javier Diaz anchors the defense after posting 117 tackles, eight sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2025. Senior defensive end Hunter Rose is the lone returning starter on the front line, while the secondary returns three varsity veterans: senior Ryan Scott, junior Jeremiah Sanchez, and sophomore Liam Kolks.
The challenge
The Rebels went 4-7 in 2025 and lost 54-7 to Woodford County in the first round of the playoffs. The offensive line remains the program's biggest question mark. Boone County averaged 276 yards per game last season and scored only two touchdowns across three losses to district opponents. Court is 6-15 in two seasons leading the program.
The district includes Conner, Cooper, Dixie Heights, and Scott. All four games against those rivals fall in October, starting with Conner at home on Friday, Oct. 2.
2026 schedule
The season opens Friday, Aug. 21, at Holmes with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Key district dates: home vs. Conner (Friday, Oct. 2), at Scott (Thursday, Oct. 8), at Dixie Heights (Friday, Oct. 16), home vs. Cooper (Friday, Oct. 23). The regular season closes Friday, Oct. 30, at home against Lloyd.
