SALYERSVILLE — The Hornets’ 4-7 record is deceiving.
Magoffin County showed much more potential for the future than its record for the 2023 season would indicate.
Under the direction of Coach John DeRossett, Magoffin County battled through a season which included several injuries. Junior athlete Aden Barnett was among the Hornets who suffered a season-ending injury during the second half of the 2022 high school football season. One of the state’s top high school athletes, Barnett led the Hornets in both passing and rushing. Prior to suffering a season-ending injury at Floyd Central on Thursday, Oct. 6, Barnett scored 82 points in seven games. Barnett rushed 83 times for 908 yards and 11 touchdowns. Delivering on the ground and through the air, Barnett completed 44 of 95 passes for 747 yards and nine touchdowns.
Curtis Jenkins and Ian McCarty will be among the most experienced players returning for Magoffin County in the 2023 high school football season. Jenkins and McCarty each contribute on both sides of the football.
The Hornets notched wins over Knott County Central, Bellevue, Floyd Central and Morgan County during the 2022 high school football season. Magoffin County dropped games to Breathitt County, Prestonsburg, Lawrence County, Belfry, Pike County Central, Clay County and Ashland during its latest gridiron campaign.
In 11 games, Magoffin County managed to score 282 points, suffering only one shutout loss.
Ashland pulled defeated visiting Magoffin County 49-6 during the first round of the Class 3A UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals on Friday, Nov. 4. The loss to Ashland eliminated Magoffin County from the Class 3A State Playoffs.
The Hornets are preparing to return to work in the offseason. Several eighth graders will be making the move up to the high school varsity level for Magoffin County in the 2023 season.
Magoffin County will finalize and release its schedule for the 2023 season at a later date.
