Bruce Hardin knows he has a difficult job.

But when he took the reins of the Providence Day football program in 2008, Hardin wanted the challenge of trying to build the Chargers into one of the best teams in the state.

To do that, Hardin and company first must win in their own conference, the Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA), which boasts the last nine state champions. The CISAA has been so dominant that both teams in the title game have come from the conference the last seven championship games.

Only once in that span has Providence Day been in the final game, in 2005.

The Chargers now hope their time is coming.

"Playing Country Day, Latin and Christian every year in the our conference makes it kind of like playing in the SEC or ACC," Hardin said. "We know it is going to be brutal. But we feel like this could be a breakout year."

If the Chargers are going to challenge for conference and state bragging rights, it will start with all-state tailback Josh Covington. Covington, a senior being recruited by Georgia Tech, the Citadel, Elon and Wofford, rushed for more than 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns last season and could eclipse those numbers this year.

Covington has been training with Carolina Panthers' tailback DeAngelo Williams for more than a year now and should reap even more benefits from his tutelage.

Covington "has been motivated by DeAngelo (Williams) a lot," Hardin said. "I think the most important thing he's learned is work ethic. That has made (Josh) a lot better player all-around."

Covington's presence should make life easier for senior quarterback Price Litton, who struggled with interceptions in his first year as the starter in 2009. Litton will look for senior wideouts Mike McConoughey and Mark Young when he isn't giving it to Covington.

A veteran offensive line should give Litton more time as well, as Sam Frye, Alan Marshall and Jack Taylor all return as starters.

The defense also returns a solid group led by linebackers Robert Stack, Will Smith and Jake Flynn, who have started before and should make it tough for opposing offenses on the ground. Three-year starter Sam Scott will shoulder a lot of the burden on the defensive line.

The Chargers' secondary will also be a big factor as sophomore Bryon Fields, who started as a freshman, returns at one corner while Mac Sanders mans the free-safety spot.

The offense and defense will also have to recover from the loss of coordinators Adam Hastings (offense, to Ardrey Kell) and Bobby Collins (defense, to Hough High), who both left to take on head coaching jobs. Offensive coordinator Tim Nichols and defensive coordinator Ben McGarrity have big shoes to fill.

But no matter how experienced Providence Day looks on paper, they must stay healthy to have a chance. Hardin hopes to have a roster of 34 players, which doesn't afford much depth, especially in the CISAA.

"We feel like we have the players to be good, but you also have to be lucky," said Hardin, whose team lost several starters to injury last year. "I think we've made a lot of progress, but we will have to go out and prove it."