Clay Ashworth hoped to play college football at Missouri Southern. It was the only college application he submitted. When he was denied that opportunity, he applied at a second university.
Evangel wasn’t his first choice, but he said he felt at peace with a new opportunity.
“I prayed about it and told God, ‘If this is really where you want me to go, I’ll go there,” Ashworth said.
Two days after graduating from Houston High School, Ashworth received an acceptance letter from the university. That set the wheels in motion for him to join the football team as a walk-on.
Ashworth is one of four 2012 HHS graduates who will continue their careers in college. His teammate, Rodney Preheim, will be a walk-on at Central Methodist University. Haylee Kell will also play at Central Methodist after signing a volleyball scholarship with the school, and Lauren Hoover received a scholarship to play volleyball and run track at Webster University.
After he was accepted at Evangel, Ashworth inquired about joining the football team. He received contact information for an assistant coach and after exchanging e-mails and phone calls, he was invited to join the team.
Ashworth said he began thinking about pursing a college career in football midway through his senior season. He received second team all-conference honors, was a team captain and named one of the Tigers’ hardest workers by coach David Williams.
“I didn’t plan on playing college football,” Ashworth said. “People told me that I could if I worked hard, and I decided it was something I wanted to do. I realized there was a chance I could maybe make a team.”
Ashworth moves into his dorm –– where he’ll room with an incoming recruit from Texas –– on Aug. 8. Team camp begins two days later.
Ashworth said he has been told he will be part of Evangel’s defensive unit. He hopes to play defensive end.
“I plan to work hard to make the team successful,” he said. “I’ll show them what I’ve got and hopefully work my way onto the team.”
Like Ashworth, Preheim was a two-way starter for HHS his senior year. He ranked among the team leaders in tackles from his linebacker position and received honorable mention all-conference recognition.
Kell, one of two senior members of the HHS volleyball team, signed her letter of intent in March with Central Methodist.
Hoover was a first-team all-conference selection following her senior season as the HHS volleyball team’s libero. She led the Lady Tigers with 123 digs.
In track, Hoover qualified for state in the 100 meters and two relay teams her junior year. She was a member of the 4×100 relay team that made it to sectionals in 2012.