Warren East linebacker Isaiah Boards brings down South Warren’s Kam Namvong on Oct. 7 last season at South Warren. Boards is back after leading the Raiders in tackles last season.

A new era began for the Warren East football team last year, with the Raiders opening a new facility and the only blue turf field in Kentucky.

It will be another new era this season for Warren East with former Barren County coach Jeff Griffith at the helm. Griffith inherits a team that went 3-8, although three of the losses were by seven points or less.

Griffith, who was hired to replace Justin Chaffin in May, said the transition has been smooth.

“I was familiar with some of the kids, mainly because I knew their parents,” Griffith said. “The transition has gone about how I expected it to. We are a little further ahead defensively because there is a familiarity with what I want to do defensively and what they have done the last two years.”

Senior Isaiah Boards will be the defensive leader after recording 160 tackles last season.

Junior Allen Embry will line up beside Board with Trebor Bunton, and Jerako Graham is also expected to be a part of the linebacking corps.

Junior Matt Mellencamp will be part of the defensive line. Sophomore Jordan Brown could also see time on the line.

Offensively, Warren East will have more questions to answer – mainly replacing quarterback Chauncey Greer and top playmaker Patrick Satterfield.

Senior Trevor Naftel, who led the Raiders in rushing with 575 yards last season, is expected to see the bulk of the carries this season.

Senior Dwayne Cook will be asked to fill the void at quarterback replacing Greer. Cook will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, including senior Caleb Huskey – who was second in receiving for Warren East last season.

Junior Jastin Proctor will be the slot receiver, while junior Jason Pearson will be the X-receiver.

Griffith said Warren East will hang its hat on the offensive line, with Mellencamp and senior Brandon Hughes expected to lead the way after seeing plenty of time last year.

If the Raiders can answer the questions they have heading into the season, Griffith said the transition could yield positive results in a district that loses South Warren at 5A.

Griffith added if you can have success in this district, it should translate to success in the postseason.

“That has certainly played out the last two or three years,” Griffith said. “Losing South Warren, that is a heavyweight we are losing right there. Franklin-Simpson was the state runner-up last year. Allen County-Scottsville has been very strong in the district the last couple of years. Last year East was competitive in the district and this year Warren Central will be much improved.

“I think Franklin is the leader of the district … but I think it is going to be competitive from top to bottom.”

Naftel said the Raiders are determined to turn the tables on last year’s close losses, with Warren East eager to be the next 4A, District 2 team to make a deep postseason run.

“Last year we were a second-half team,” Naftel said. “This year I think we need to work on being a first-half team and be able to continue until the fourth quarter and keep playing hard.”

2017 Warren East schedule

8/18 – Portland (Tenn.)

8/26 – vs. Greenwood (at WKU)

9/1 – Wayne County

9/8 – at Edmonson County

9/15 – Glasgow

9/22 – at Monroe County

9/29 – at Warren Central

10/13 – Allen County-Scottsville

10/20 – at Franklin-Simpson

10/27 – Bardstown{&end}