Justin Haddix welcomes the high expectations even as he tries to ignore them.

As larger trophy cases are installed and additions are made to championship banners, the buzz surrounding Boyle County is perhaps louder than ever.

It’s impossible to tune out the talk of a fifth consecutive championship that would put the Rebels in rare company among the state’s prep football dynasties, yet it’s exactly what Haddix wants his players to do.

The Rebels once again enter the season as the favorite to win Class 4A, and Haddix knows they are good enough to do so. But he also knows nobody is going to mail the trophy to Boyle, and he said his players can’t get caught up in all that has been said or written about them.

“The outside people talking about this team say, ‘Oh, well, they’ve already won or they’ve already done this or that. We haven’t accomplished anything,” Haddix said. “We’ve got a lot to work on and a lot to do, and high expectations are something we like, but we’ve got to continue to work and get better.”

Boyle has a chance to become the first school to win five straight state titles on two separate occasions – the Rebels were the first to do it from 1999-2003 – and only the second school to do it at all, along with Highlands from 2007-11.

But Haddix said the previous four championships have little to do with the one he and the Rebels are trying to win this season.

“I’m not worried about trying to win five in a row; I’m just trying to win this year,” said Haddix, who is 53-3 in his four seasons at Boyle. “That’s hard to handle, so we talk a lot about handling that success, about blocking out everybody else outside this locker room and everybody telling them how good they are.”

Haddix hears it often, sometimes even in his own home.

“I deal with it at my house: ‘Well, what if you win this?’” he said. “We’re just worried about this week. I’m worried about this day, about this (game). It’s day by day.

“You’ve got to block all that out. It takes what it takes to be a champion, and we’re going to hold them to that standard.”

Boyle is in its familiar No. 1 position in pretty much every Class 4A preseason ranking you can find, and Haddix said the Rebels will in many ways look like the team that went 15-0 and outscored its opponents by 509 points a year ago.

“I think the style, the standard of play is what it is, and we’ve kind of got a recipe for success,” he said. “Obviously, every recipe is a little different, but hopefully we get the same result.”

The most significant change might be in the sheer amount of speed Boyle can put on the field at any one time.

Start with Montavin Quisenberry, the Mr. Football candidate who is running faster than ever. Quisenberry, who accounted for 1,744 offensive yards and scored 35 touchdowns, committed to West Virginia this summer.

He will again be featured as a rusher and receiver and will also take snaps, and he’ll return to his roles at free safety and on kickoff and punt returns.

“He’s the best one that I’ve had in my 17 years of doing this,” Haddix said. “He could get satisfied (but) his goal is to win another state championship and be the best player on our team at running back, receiver, quarterback, free safety, wherever we’ve got to have him. He just wants to win, and I think that competitiveness sets him apart.”

Another speedy senior, Demauriah Brown (243 rushing yards, 3 TDs) will move into a featured role at running back and will also catch some passes, and he’ll play safety as well.

Senior Geordon Brown (570 receiving yards, 9 TDs), who has starred on the track at Boyle, is getting back up to speed after an injury. Senior Brock Driver (76 tackles, 5 sacks), an Eastern Kentucky commit, is the top returning tackler and has added speed that will make him a force at linebacker.

Senior Gage Feltner will again be a factor at running back and linebacker, Senior Jaysia Richards will play tight end and linebacker, junior Jakeem Ray is expected to step up on both sides of the ball and junior JiDyn Smith-Hisel will add to a deep stable of running backs.

“We’ve got a lot of different guys that can run, and that makes us dangerous,” Haddix said. “You’re just one play away.”

The large number of rapid Rebels – the list above was by no means exhaustive – and the depth Boyle has so many positions are assets few teams can match.

“We’ve got a lot of quality depth, and it’s made practice really good and really competitive,” Haddix said. “That’s something I feel like is an advantage that we have, as we go against a really good team every day in practice. And there’s days if you don’t have good practice, you’re not starting the next day.”

The question of who will start at quarterback won’t be answered until Boyle takes the field Saturday in Bowling Green for its opener against Lexington Christian.

Junior Baylor Murphy (307 yards, 6 TDs), the backup last season, and sophomore Guy Turner have been battling for the open job.

“Baylor is probably leading right now, and Guy is … a leader who works really hard, a good athlete. And then you’ve got Montavin, who can make something happen with the ball in his hands, and he’s played quarterback before,” Haddix said. “People are going to have to see when it all comes out.”

Senior Paul McClure returns to anchor the offensive line from a tackle position, and junior Colt Kelly will be a factor on both the offensive and defensive line.

The O-line will also feature senior Samuel Wade, who enters his third year as the starting center and could include senior Cole Andrews and junior Briley Burris, as well as senior Isaac Doneghy and freshman Christian Bryant. Senior Bryce Bullock returns at defensive end, and junior Clifton Yocum is expected to step up on the defensive line.

Seniors Jax Crowe and Lyndon Smith will add to another strong linebacker corps – Smith is also a threat at receiver – and sophomore Kain Logan could emerge at that position as well. Senior Austin Bodner returns to the secondary and could catch passes as well.

Another player expected to have a breakout season is sophomore Seneca Driver, who didn’t play last season due to injury but is healthy again and will be used extensively at tight end and defensive end.

Boyle also has two capable kickers in Andrews, who kicked in 2022, and Andrew Carr, who took over last year when Andrews was injured.

They are among 16 seniors who will provide leadership for the Rebels.

“I think their leadership is a little bit different, not a whole lot of talkers, they just like to play,” Haddix said. “They play with a swagger, and when we challenge them they answer that call, so we’re excited about them.”

Boyle’s first game

Boyle will face LCA for the third time in four years when the teams face off Saturday in the Rafferty’s Bowl at Western Kentucky University. The Rebels won 47-38 last season, while the Eagles won 35-28 in 2021.

LCA must replace 19 seniors from last season’s 11-2 team but figures to again be a factor for the Class 2A title.

The Eagles feature a large, talented offensive line and a standout receiver in senior Saxton Howard.

The Rebels’ typically tough schedule also includes 6A runner-up Bryan Station and semifinalist Frederick Douglass, 3A semifinalist Lexington Catholic and Ohio powerhouse Lakewood St. Edward.

“We’ve got a very tough schedule. It’s going to challenge us each week, and that’s something I know as coaches, we look forward to that, and I think the kids do, too,” Howard said.

 

Boyle County at a glance

Coach: Justin Haddix

2023 record: 15-0

Top returnees: Cole Andrews, Sr. OT-K; Austin Bodner, Sr. WR-DB; Demauriah Brown, Sr. RB-S; Geordon Brown, Sr. WR-DB; Bryce Bullock, Sr. OT-DE; Andrew Carr, Sr. K-P; Jax Crowe, Jr. TE-LB; Brock Driver, Sr. RB-LB; Gage Feltner, Sr. RB-LB; Colt Kelly, Jr. OT-DT; Paul McClure, Sr. OT-DT; Baylor Murphy, Jr. QB-P; Montavin Quisenberry, Sr. WR-DB; Jaysia Richards, Sr. TE-LB; Lyndon Smith, Sr. WR-LB; Samuel Wade, Sr. C-DT.

 

Schedule

Aug. 24 x-Lexington Christian 6:00

Aug. 31 BRYAN STATION 8:00

Sept. 7 at Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward 1:00

Sept. 13 at Scott County 7:30

Sept. 20 TAYLOR COUNTY 7:30

Sept. 27 at Lexington Catholic 7:30

Oct. 11 RUSSELL COUNTY 7:30

Oct. 18 at Lincoln County 7:30

Oct. 25 at Wayne County 7:30

Nov. 1 FREDERICK DOUGLASS 7:30

x-at Western Kentucky University