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Bullitt East (13-1)
Head coach: Mike Settles
2005: Lost to Bowling Green 42-14 in the Class AAA state semifinals

Bullitt East quietly put together a memorable year and ended Boyle County’s region hold by defeating the Rebels for their first region title since 1998.

The Chargers won’t be sneaking up on many people in 2006.

Mike Settles’ club has only a few returning starters, but they appears to be in the right spots to make a serious run at consecutive region titles.

Travis Broughton (6-2, 190, Sr.) returns at quarterback after completing 59-percent of his passes for 2,059 yards and 32 touchdowns. Broughton also showed the ability to get the job done on the ground, rushing for 538 yards and nine touchdowns.

Broughton ranks fourth on the school’s career yardage list and enters the 2006 season with a streak of ten straight games with a touchdown pass.

The elusive quarterback was helped last year by an experienced line that allowed just three sacks the entire season. However, only James Bozarth (6-2, 260, Sr.) returns from that unit.

“Our offense will need to rebuild itself,” Settles said. “We scored 44 points a game but only return one starter on the line.”

A steady rotation of underclassmen last year should pay dividends this year. Settles expects Michael Bozarth (6-0, 200, Soph.) and Zach Aubrey (6-0, 190, Jr.) too see time on the offensive line.

Tony Knox (5-9, 180, Jr.) is ready to take over the backfield load left vacant by the graduation of Corey Rakes. Knox rushed for 418 yards and two touchdowns and caught two more scores out of the backfield last year.

Settles has three starters returning on a defensive unit that allowed just 15 points a game.

Linebacker Jake Henry (6-2, 200, Sr.) had 90 tackles last year, while defensive end Jesse Vincent (6-2, 215, Jr.) had 70 tackles, including 14 for loss.

Bozarth is the lone returning starter on the defensive line, but Settles said many of the players returning there played as reserves in their rotation.

Nick Miles (6-0, 185, Sr.) returns as the team’s kicker after booting 70 extra points and two field goals last year.

One area where the Chargers don’t have a lot of experience is the receiver position where Nate Hanson (5-11, 180, Jr.) and Brian Thornsberry (5-6, 170, Sr.) are expected to compete for a starting job.

Bullitt East will have to contend with Central in the District 3 race and could meet Boyle County once again for the region title.



Okay we have our first game Friday night. Last Friday we had our preseason game.

Nate went 5-6 for 42 yards, a td. His only miss was a drop pass over the middle late in the game, he got drilled and dropped it. The other receiver (they are splitting time right now in a one WR set) was 1-2 for 12 yards. The one he missed was over his head. Wouldn't have been over Nate's head. He did have a nice 40 yd gain called back on a penalty.

We looked young esp. on the offensive line. Fortunately our first three games are against teams that combined to go 4-26 last year. We should get some experience there.