Barnette provides all-state credentials to Eagles

CLINCHPORT — The Barnette family has been good to Rye Cove football. One brother remains. There is no where else Cole Barnette would rather play. "Born and raised. It is great," said Barnette, a senior running back, defensive back and return specialist for Rye Cove. "The atmosphere here is amazing, I wouldn't change it for anything." Barnette, who has three older brothers and a cousin that played for Rye Cove, arrived after the 2021 campaign that was canceled at halftime of a game due to the lack of healthy players. Who could have guessed what would happen next? "It is definitely hard to believe because all my brothers played on those other teams that had to forfeit and go 0-10," Barnette said. "It is a blessing to be able to be where I am at today. " All Rye Cove has done over the next four seasons is win 42 games, claim three Cumberland District titles, two Region 1D championships and make one appearance in the Class 1 state championship game, falling short last December against Rappahannock. Leaving Salem without that trophy has served as motivation during the offseason as the Eagles eye another shot at claiming a state title. "It means everything to me," Barnette said. "We are out here every single day just working, getting bigger, stronger and faster to get to that point." Barnette will play a key role in whatever the Eagles do. He was a Class 1 all-state honoree last season as a defensive back and return specialist, and also ran for more than 1,000 yards. How has that happened? "Just hard work," he said. "Staying in the weight room, coming out here early mornings and late nights and putting in the work." It has paid off. Barnette runs behind a big offensive line led by 6-foot-6, 310-pound Ethan Lawson, who has committed to play next at West Virginia University. "Cole is a great athlete. He is fast, he is quick, knows how to hit a hole, a thousand yards," Lawson said. "I am hoping he will get that again and then some. He is a tough kid, he always has been. He is a great kid in general." Running behind Lawson certainly helps. "I love that," Barnette said. "Running behind 'Big E', that is the safest feeling I have ever felt." Twelve seniors departed after last season, including Will Rollins and Carter Roach-Hodge, but Barnette likes what remains. "We definitely lost a bunch of key players," he said, "but the kids we have coming up, they are ready to fill the positions so I think we are going to be OK." Ditto for Lawson. The Eagles might just look a little different in the season ahead. "We have still got the toughness. We are going to play ground and pound football. We are faster, we are better in certain areas. We are replacing that toughness and power with speed," Lawson said. "We are still strong, it is not like we are weak. We still have really, really strong kids, but we have got a lot of talent coming back this year." Barnette, who missed one game last season with an injury, passed the 1,000 yard mark last season in the Region 1D semifinals against Chilhowie, rushing for 147 yards and two touchdowns, including a 61-yard dash that even surprised Rye Cove head coach Gary Collier. "He is our guy. He is quick and shifty and he will start at corner and be one of our running backs," Collier said. "It kind of shows you his speed, real decisive, I didn't know he had that much speed. He is just hard-nosed, he is just one of those Barnette boys that just plays hard." Barnette will be joined in the backfield by speedy Cole Williams and Jordan Martin, while senior Tyler Shupe and sophomore Gage Walden are competing for the quarterback slot. Shupe replaced an injured Jacob Jessee last season and was the signal-caller as the Eagles advanced to Salem. "They are both solid kids, they are both putting in the work here every single day, throwing, getting ready," Barnette said. They don't argue with each other, they are both hyping each other up…Tyler brings a lot of lot of leadership, he is leading the team very well... "I think (the offense) will be pretty similar, but obviously we are going to use our speed to our advantage and try to widen some people out." Barnette's contributions might be even more vital on defense. Assistant coach Moe Hayes was brought in last season to shore of the secondary woes that may have cost the Eagles a trip to Salem in 2024. Apparently it worked, as Barnette, combined with the efforts of Maverick Cress and Connor Stem, made numerous big plays during last year's playoff "revenge tour" as it was called. "Coach Hayes came in and stepped up," said Barnette, who is confident that Ben McElroy and Williams will be able to fill the holes at linebacker left by the departure of Roach-Hodge and Rollins. "He teaches the basics and everything we need to know and just getting us right." Rye Cove, which will scrimmage Unaka at the Eagles' Nest on Friday and Richlands in Clinchport the following week, will open the season on Aug. 22 against Class 3 Lord Botetourt at Emory & Henry University. Expect Barnette to be ready to go. "We are all excited, especially me," he said. "I am ready to get after it. I can't wait."