HEREFORD, Texas (KFDA) – Ruben travels to Hereford where he meets up with a former football star honored with a key to the city and shares his journey to winning a gold medal in flag football.

“I came to Herford one day to be known. They gave me the key to the city and honored me in front of the few people I knew,” said Ja’Deion High School, the US Boys Flag Football Team gold medalist.

High says love is always appreciated. He states that he does not express this much because he does not talk much, but he definitely makes people feel that he values ​​their love.

“No matter what, I appreciate all the support. This is always felt. I hear this all the time. I hear that from everyone,” High said. “If you think I don’t hear you or your congratulations or anything, I always do.”

“You know, Ja’Deion is special and he’s someone who’s come this far throughout the program here, done a great job and then defended himself,” former Hereford Whitefaces head coach Don Delozier said.

Delozier says everything he does and works for is thanks to his work ethic and talent.

“And he’s someone we’re really, really proud of,” Delozier said.

High says small town pride is real.

“I mean, you come from a small town, your back is already against the wall, the odds are against you, there’s no one looking,” High said.

High accommodations that you need to make people watch. You need to do something to get people watching, and hard work really gets their attention.

“And as long as you’re persistent and you work, as long as you trust yourself and whatever it is, as long as you pray, talk to God, whatever you need to do, He’ll get you there and you’ll get there, but really it’s just hard work,” High said.

Delozier says High had a mother and father who supported him relentlessly and continue to support him today.

“They love him so much, and that shows as they raise him,” Delozier said.

Delozier describes High as a player who always plays extremely hard, no matter what you ask him to do.

High says recognition means a lot.

“Honestly, I didn’t know how many people would come. I thought this would just be a small event. But it meant a lot, especially in Hereford,” High said.

High says he plans to return to Hereford more.

“I’ve been to a few football games, I’ve been to places where it’s nothing crazy, but I make sure I talk to people here every once in a while to keep in touch,” High said.

High says this is very important. He’ll take West Texas with him wherever he goes.

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