The Blue Devils are striving to bring home a state championship to Winter Haven. A task that has yet to be accomplished in school history. The Blue Devils have been the district champions the last 6 years and have been to the post season every year but one since 2005.

One player who represents the passion and dedication of the Winter Haven football program is junior Jarrod Kelley. In his second year as a starter, Kelley has developed into one of the most dependable players on the team. He has played every position in the secondary and has found a home a safety. An accomplished student athlete who has the good of the team above all as you will find out below in our interview.

What was one of your “worst” games of your high school football career?
One of my worst games was probably the Auburndale game at the end of this season. Despite the score, I missed several tackles with many being on third downs allowing them to gain the first.

What was one of your “best” games of your high school football career?
My best game… Definitely Ida Baker last week. A year made all the difference from the game coming down to the last play to a 40 point difference. I had 2 INT’s (double career total) and 5 or 6 tackles.

What has been one of your biggest disappointments as an athlete?
Not getting moved up to varsity after my freshman season killed me because I felt that I could even then, bring an asset to the team and help in their playoff run at the time.

What has been one of your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?
My biggest accomplishment, being one of the team captains and someone that the younger players on the team could look up to even as a junior. It shows that the player’s really trust in my ability and leadership to make us better as a team.

What was the last thing you saw someone do that really impressed you?
The last thing that really impressed me was Tyrann Mathieu’s return from his torn ACL and college setbacks and how it didn’t lower the level of his game at all. The way he keeps exploding back has shown me that whatever adversity you may go through in football has made him a stronger person because ‘football is a microcosm of life and what you learn in football can help you through life…’ and he keeps finding ways to better himself as a man through his many adversities.

In 3 sentences, How would you describe Winter Haven football?
Winter Haven Football is a first class program starting with Coach Charlie Tate. Not only does he want us to be great athletes, but more importantly, great men and he presses that on us that being great men is the important part. After all, ‘football is a microcosm of life and what you learn in football can help you through life if you pay attention’ and what we are taught, whether it be on the field, or in life, we are always shooting to the biggest obstacle.

In 2 sentences, is the team ready to climb this playoff mountain?
It is long overdue for us to make a State Title run and do something that has never been done before at WHHS. We have trained too hard and long for us to not show that we are among the elite in the state.