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Wlaf1450TOP PHOTO: WLAF’s Jake Miller speaks with Jellico Coach Brent Peel during Friday’s media day
By Clayton Carroll
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Jellico High head football coach Brent Peel and quarterback Jace Rowe took part in the annual KFOA Media Day at Three Ridges Golf Course in Knoxville on Friday morning.
Last year was a season of heartbreak for the Blue Devils. Four of the Blue Devils’ six losses came by fourteen points or less, with three of those defeats being one-possession games.
“We have a lot of returners this season…and these guys know that we were close in a lot of ball games last year that we felt like we let get away. These guys understand that and have stepped up and put in a lot of work in the summer,” said Coach Peel.
High school football season is just over a month away in East Tennessee. “Our skill guys are competing in some 7-on-7’s, and we are working hard in the weight room,” Peel said.
Jellico is in a unique position, where a lot of the Blue Devils playing high school football are playing the game for the first time. Peel continued to say, “We love doing as much football stuff as we can. It helps with our football IQ. The more we can do, the more it helps cause a lot of our kids have a late start.”
The Blue Devils have one goal in mind this season, and that goal is a playoff spot. “We want to win the region. That’s our goal. We want to be in the playoffs. We’ve been fortunate to be in the playoffs several years and came close to winning a game a couple years ago, but we must get there first,” Coach Peel stated.
That close loss in the playoffs Peel was referring to came to Rockwood 28-21, when Jellico was ruled just an inch short of the goal line to knot the game up.
Coach Peel also spoke on the community atmosphere at Jellico. “Anytime you are in a small community, they play a huge impact on the culture of athletics. We are very appreciative of our community showing up on Friday nights. Our crowd is a lot better than other places we go.”
Jellico begins its 2026 football campaign on August 21st at home against the Lynn Camp Wildcats of Kentucky.
(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 7-13-2026 6AM)