FOOTBALL | JEFF CLEGG | WESTERN RESERVE

111“You almost felt like a hometown celebrity,” Clegg said. “It was great feeling. It really felt like the whole community was pushing for you.”

Clegg was the quarterback for the Blue Devils and racked up 1,934 yards passing and was second on the team in rushing behind the powerful Donnie Bolton en route to being named the Associated Press Player of the Year in Region 21.

It almost didn’t happen.

Until seventh grade, Clegg had played just about every position on the field. He was thrown into the QB position and when he threw more interceptions than touchdowns that year, he hated being under center.

“I wanted nothing to do with [being the quarterback],” he said.

Quickly, those feelings changed.

SDLqMy dad talked me into keeping with it, fighting through and trying hard,” Clegg said. “I had great coaches in junior high that pushed me and eventually loved being quarterback. From that point on in my eight grade year I knew I was a quarterback and that’s what I wanted to play.”

He says playing under Reserve coach Andy Hake over the past three years has made himself, and everybody on the team, better players and people.

“What he did for our program, he deserves all the credit because he is a great, great coach,” Clegg said.

His skills aren’t limited to offense. He had some key interceptions in the postseason with one securing momentum in the regional final against Shadyside and one that set up a potential game-winning drive versus Buckeye Central in the state semifinals.

Clegg hopes to play football in college. Academically, he’s thinking about double majoring in business and education.