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10/25/2018 12:00 AMSean Kelly has made a rapid rise up the ranks as a member of the Branford football team. After earning the job as the Hornets’ starting quarterback last year, Sean was named a junior captain for Branford earlier this season. The Hornets have already surpassed their win total from 2017, and Sean’s performance at the QB position is proving integral in their success. Thus far, Sean has thrown for 800 yards and nine touchdowns to go with 410 yards and six TDs on the ground for Branford, which has a record of 4-2.
Sean says it was a huge honor to attain the rank of captain. Setting a good example for his teammates has always been a priority for Sean. Now, he gets to do that while leading the Hornets alongside his three fellow captains.
“I feel honored and excited to be able to lead the team as a junior captain. I feel all four captains bring a unique trait. When we all come together, it really unites the team, and it’s a great thing for everyone,” Sean says. “I try to lead by example for the younger kids. They really look up to what the seniors and the captains do. If I do what I’m supposed to, then they will do what they need to do.”
Sean believes that Branford’s improvement as a squad is largely the product of his teammates’ familiarity with each other. As the Hornets matured both physically and mentally, Sean and company put in the extra effort at practice in order to see positive results come game time.
“I played with a lot of these guys since youth football. It’s been a matter of personal growth of our team since youth, and we all got bigger and stronger,” says Sean. “We put the pieces together and realized that we can have something good. Then we started to work harder and get stronger as a team.”
When Sean tried out for the football team as a freshman, he decided to give quarterback a shot. There were a few growing pains at first, but after overcoming some early jitters, Sean felt comfortable playing the position. Sean gained a wealth of playing time in his sophomore year and is now using what he learned from that experience to pilot Branford to success as a junior.
“I went to try quarterback, because I always had a good arm...My first game, I was super nervous and didn’t know what to expect. I was just trying not to screw up, but I focused on what I was taught at practice, and it ended up just working out,” Sean says. “Then starting as a sophomore, I got the whole experience there. There wasn’t first-time nerves going into the game. I knew what was expected of me, and I think it helped me produce and put out what I needed to in the game. I 100-percent knew what I needed to do.”
Sean has been helping Branford’s offense move the sticks both in the air and on the ground. Sean is a strong, hard-nosed runner who’s never afraid to put his shoulder down and break through the defensive line.
“I have more of a physical running style. A lot of people will make a cut or a juke and end up losing a yard or two. I just want to move forward and get the yards,” Sean says. “We have a lot of set pass plays, and that helps us know where to get to and move down the field. If pressure is coming and the pocket collapses, then I’m looking to run. I’d rather get back to the line of scrimmage and live to play another down.”
Head Coach John Limone praises Sean for the attitude that the captain brings to the Hornets. Limone believes that Branford benefits just as much Sean’s positive energy on the sidelines as they do from his play on the gridiron.
“Sean’s a special kid. He’s very mature for a high-schooler. You can tell through his interactions and the kind of conversations you have with him and the personality he brings to the table. He’s a consummate leader for us,” Coach Limone says. “He’s got a big arm, and he’s a gifted athlete. He’s a run-pass threat, and he can move the ball down the field with his arm or his legs. He’s the whole package. We’ve had a pretty good run of it so far this season, and I think Sean has a lot to do with that. It’s not just his play. It’s his demeanor, how he approaches practice, and how he is with his teammates.”
Sean is focused on guiding Branford to great heights throughout the rest of his high-school career. After that, he wants to go into the armed services and work toward becoming a naval officer. Sean has his sights set on playing football in college and plans on pursuing that goal in the Navy.
“I plan to play in college given the opportunity. I wouldn’t want to stop after my high-school career. I just have to have the chance to see where it takes me,” says Sean. “When I’m old enough, I’d like to go into the Navy. For college, I would like to join up through the [Reserve Officer Training Corps]. I can go in and train for the Navy and also play football.”