After putting up 51 tackles – eight for loss – four sacks and one fumble recovery, Dalton Hornback was named second team defensive lineman in the AVCTL as a junior at Derby, as well as an all-state honorable mention and an all-state non-senior team member.
As great as the accolades are for the senior, none of that matters if he doesn’t go out as a winner.
The Panthers played for a title in 2023, Hornback’s sophomore year. But they haven’t won a title since 2020, which was their sixth 6A championship in eight years.
“The most important goal is, by far, to finally win a state championship,” Hornback said. “It would mean so much to the team and community, so I’m doing everything in my power to help get us there.”
Hornback has always stood out because of his leadership and willingness to get guys to play just as hard as him. But now, as a senior, he will be given even more rein as the senior leader.
“It is a great honor to be considered one of the leaders of the team,” Hornback said. “I am thankful to have received the position of the team’s spiritual leader, which is given to one senior a year. So it means a lot that the coaches see me in that way. I am also one of the most experienced guys on the team, so a leadership role naturally comes with that.
“But I am always trying to be the absolute best I can be for my team and teammates.”
With his future up in the air in terms of continuing to play football at the next level, he is going to give it his all no matter what, just like he does every single play.
“I am currently pretty undecided on what my future holds,” Hornback said. “I have some interest from some schools, but I’m gonna see how my senior season goes before I make a decision of what I want to do.”
