By Jake Dickman
NKyTribune sports reporter
Forty years ago, Boone County’s football team made its first appearance in a state championship game and the Rebels reached the Class 4A final three more times over the next eight seasons.
Those were the glory days for the program. Last season, Boone County made its first postseason playoff appearance since 2018 and lost in the first round to finish with a 4-7 record. But it was a step forward that gives coach Dan Court something to build on.
“They got a taste for what the playoffs are,” Court said of his players. “And now they want more of it.”
The Rebels return five starters on both offense and defense from last year’s playoff team. One of them is senior running back Malik Johnson, who rushed for 1,188 yard and 12 touchdowns.
“Our offense is going to not fully rely on Malik, but kind of flow with him,” Court said. “We’re going to look to get him the ball, not just handing it to him in the backfield, but in multiple different ways.”
One of those ways will be through the passing of Micheal Chiasson or Asa LeGrand, two seniors competing for the quarterback position. Last season, Chiasson threw for 1,389 yards and 11 touchdowns while LeGrand was recovering from a broken collarbone.
“(LeGrand) was in a QB competition with Michael through out the summer last year until his injury,” coach Court said. “This summer has been another QB competition … where a starter will be named sometime after our scrimmages.”
Boone County’s top pass receiver last season is also returning. Junior wideout Amare Newberry put up a respectable 417 yards on 23 receptions with four touchdowns. William Randall is working his way back from an ACL injury to rejoin the receiving corps.
Court said Randall is an explosive receiver “able to take the top off of a defense.” He was limited to four games last season, but he finished with a team-high 57 receiving yards per game.
The Rebels’ top returning defensive starter is senior linebacker Javier Diaz, who made a team-high 117 tackles with eight quarterback sacks and three forced fumbles. Senior defensive end Hunter Rose is the team’s only returning starter up front.
In the secondary, senior Ryan Scott, junior Jeremiah Sanchez and sophomore Liam Kolks are all varsity veterans.
Building an offensive line seems to be the main task for Court and his staff if the Rebels want to improve on last year’s average of 276 yards per game. In three losses to Class 5A district opponents, they had only two touchdowns. They pulled out a 36-25 win over Scott in overtime to earn a playoff berth.
The top two teams in the district standings are awarded home games in the first round of the playoffs. That’s the goal for Boone County this coming season.
“We want to host playoff games,” Court said. “That’s the motivation amongst the players.”
BOONE COUNTY REBELS
2025 SEASON: 4-7 record, lost to Woodford County, 54-7, in first round of Class 5A playoffs.
STARTERS RETURNING: 5 offense, 5 defense.
DISTRICT: Class 5A, District 6 with Conner, Cooper, Dixie Heights, Scott.
HEAD COACH: Daniel Court (6-15 in two seasons at Boone County).
2026 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 – at Holmes, 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 – at St. Henry, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 – NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 – WALTON-VERONA, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 – at Mason County, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 – CONNER, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 – at Scott, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 – at Dixie Heights, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 – COOPER, 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 – LLOYD, 7 p.m.