Metcalfe County Football Preview
By Perry Swack
Metcalfe County Hornets
Coach: LJ Harbison, Eighth Season
Record at School: 28-46
2020 Record: 6-3
Lost to Lexington Christian, 43-13, in the third round of the 2A Playoffs
Starters Returning: 8 on Offense, 9 on Defense
Prior to the 2020 season, the Metcalfe County Hornets had not won a playoff game since 2007. Twelve seasons had come and gone with little postseason success. However, the 2020 Hornets rewrote the history books of Metcalfe County Football. Not only did LJ Harbison’s crew win its first playoff game in thirteen years, but it also won a postseason district championship, knocking off Edmonson County in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. The party had begun in Edmonton.
How will the Hornets follow up such a strong season? With 17 starters set to return, it appears that there will be many more trips to the win column. On offense, Peyton Dial will return under center for a third-straight season after completing nearly 60% of his passes for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2020. Although the program lost leading rusher Gabe Zurmehly to graduation (125 carries 857 yards, 16 TDs in 2020), the Hornets return their next three-leading rushers including Devan Alderson (96 carries, 530 yards, 2 TD), Dial (319 yards), and Micky Bennett (110 yards, two scores).
Leading receiver Wyatt Blythe returns to the lineup after catching 40 passes for 520 yards and eight touchdowns in 2020. Blythe and eight other teammates are taking advantage of the supplemental year as provided in Senate Bill 128, and he will be a junior in 2021. Fellow receiver Mason Estes has also utilized the extra year and will be a sophomore in 2021 after catching five passes for 50 yards. Rudy Wisdom will also provide experience in the passing game after catching 10 passes for 158 yards and a score in 2020. The offensive line returns four of five starters, including three-year starter Tanner Jessie who will be playing as a junior again in 2021.
The Hornet Defense only allowed six points or less in four of their nine games last season. They will return three of their top four tacklers in 2021. Middle linebacker Bennett led the team with 66 tackles a season ago (nine for losses), including four sacks. The junior also forced three fumbles and recovered two. Luke Meadows led the team with 17 tackles for losses, totaling 47 tackles and four sacks. Blythe tallied 25 tackles on the season and intercepted opposing quarterbacks six times from his defensive back position. Returning three of four starting defensive backs, along with all four starters on the defensive line, will give the Hornets unprecedented experience in 2021.
In a span of three seasons from 2005-2007 under Coach Harbison’s dad, Larry, the Hornets reached the region championship game three times, including a trip to the state semifinals in 2007. Can the Hornets continue upon their strong finish in 2020 with a deep run in 2021? They will face the usual suspects in their district like Clinton County, Edmonson County, Green County, and Monroe County. However, there are also a few new names on the ledger. “We’ve added three new teams that we’ve never played,” explained Harbison. “Eminece, KCD, Bellevue. All of our games will be very competitive and challenging.”
Expectations are as high as they’ve been in some time in Edmonton. But it will still be a challenge to replicate the success of last season. “We return a lot of our play makers from last year’s district championship team,” Harbison said. “We will have plenty of depth at line but will be slim in depth at the skill position. We have a veteran team that’s played a lot of football.” Fans will hope that veteran experience leads the program to new heights in 2021.
