2026 Football Frenzy Preview: Metcalfe County Hornets
EDMONTON, Ky. – In today’s 2026 Football Frenzy preview, presented by Bowling Green Fireplace & Grill, we head out to Metcalfe County High School, where the Hornets have been working all summer to instill a few new looks under one of the longest tenured head coaches in the area.
“ I come home, my wife says my clothes stink, and I just tell her it’s the smell of football,” head coach LJ Harbison said. “I’ve been sweating in and out with the guys just like they are. I’m tired at night, drinking Gatorades as much as I can, so it’s just the grind of the offseason and summer camps that’s got you feeling of that glory on Friday nights that you wanna see.”
Harbison has lived and breathed football his whole life, standing out as a player and standing strong as a coach.
He now enters year 13 at Metcalfe County, and his players enjoy what he’s bringing to the table.
“He’s a great coach and he really leads our team. He’s like a father, honestly, to all of us,” senior fullback/defensive back Ethan Rakes said.
“He’s very good at X’s and O’s, and he’s also had to teach himself this year about the new offense. We’re all learning,” senior linebacker/running back Colton Devore said.
That’s right, even after a decade of working with these Hornets, Harbison is leaning into a new approach offensively.
They say you can’t teach an old Hornet new tricks, but Metcalfe County is all in on changing things up, and Coach Harbison shared that the team’s desire to bring playoff football back to town is what sparked the decision.
“Just to compete, you know, Somerset’s in our district and they reload every year. Monroe County and Green County’s always good in our district as well,” Harbison said. “We’re just gonna try to do something game plan wise that, you know, they have to spend a little bit extra time on.”
Having a new offense that’s anchored on being aggressive and a defense that’s set with depth makes things exciting for Metcalfe County as a new year approaches.
“Yeah, we’re excited, just because it feels like a new year, new team, new me, so the guys are excited, and they’ve responded well,” Harbison said.
“I feel like we’re gonna be really good this year. We all got the potential. We’ll attack downhill. I think we’ll do great,” Rakes said.
Metcalfe County is scheduled to start the season on August 22 against Nelson County at the home of the Cardinals.
