In 2020, Outside the Huddle started an award for someone who the editors of Outside the Huddle deemed an ideal student athlete on the gridiron, one who really showcased the virtues we appreciate most in a high school football player.
Those virtues: discipline, work ethic and spirit were also three of the qualities most highly displayed by Clayten Stuart. A football player at Bishop Dwenger, Clayten passed away in November 2020. It is in his honor and with the blessing of the Stuart family that Outside the Huddle is proud to be able to annually present the Clayten Stuart Award.
“Clayten arrived to practice everyday with a joyful spirit. I never saw him without a smile on his face. He loved being with his friends and he loved to play football,” Bishop Dwenger football coach Jason Garrett said. “As soon as the helmet went on, he was a tenacious, physical player. No one outworked Clayten; a young man of great joy and tenacity.”
For the 2025 season, the editors of Outside the Huddle felt that there was no person for the honor other than Angola senior Hawk Hasselman.
When it came time for his senior season with Angola, Hasselman didn’t just show up — he showed out. Hasselman turned a season full of doubts and underestimation into a showcase of versatility, heart, and pure grit.
He was a swiss-army knife on the field — rushing, receiving, throwing, kicking. By season’s end, his stat line told only part of the story: 1,329 rushing yards at 102.2 yards per game, 367 receiving yards, and a total of 24 offensive touchdowns, which led the Hornets and ranked among the best in the region. On many Friday nights, when Angola needed a spark, Hasselman was the man to deliver.
But Hasselman wasn’t only about raw numbers. As he described it, “a big part of my life that has allowed me to be physically and mentally tough is my faith. I know that who I play for gives me a purpose … growing up with two older brothers who constantly pushed me and challenged me developed me in many ways.”
That faith, paired with a competitive upbringing, forged a mindset that carried through every down for the Hornets.
“The mindset for this season was to be who I knew I could be. People always overlooked me and Angola as a whole. We embodied that mindset that we weren’t going to back down to anyone, and that we had something to prove every game,” Hasselman said. “It was never intentional to be a diverse player, but I am always willing to do whatever it takes to win. If playing offense, defense, and special teams with no breaks is what it takes to win, then I’m all for it.”
That willingness to do “whatever it takes” resonated with his coach, Andy Thomas, who praised Hawk as a tough kid and a hard worker.
“There is nothing he cannot handle,” Thomas said. “Hawk is an elite competitor. One of the most intensely competitive kids we have ever had. He wants to be great in everything he does.”
The season had its bumps. Angola dropped a few games they felt they shouldn’t have, setbacks that might have broken lesser teams. But instead, those losses fueled something deeper — a collective resolve that led them to a Sectional title win over Garrett in one of the greatest finishes to a game in recent memory.
The win gave Angola a title, a Regional meeting with hard nosed Knox and their fourth win in five games. It was a a welcome change of momentum for the Hornets after dropping three of their first five games. And Hasselman was a massive part of that win, as he was all season for the Hornets.
“Our team embodied the spirit of Angola by responding to adversity. We dropped a few games that we shouldn’t have, but it only made us better. Bouncing back and continuing to work hard even after losses is how the team embodied Angola’s spirit,” Hasselman said.
In that Sectional final, Hasselman made one last major stamp on his career and Northeast Indiana. He hauled in a big touchdown reception late, threw a touchdown pass earlier in the quarter, and then in the final moments delivered that dagger: a field goal as time essentially expired to seal the sectional championship.
“Hitting the field goal at the end of the game was an awesome experience. Seeing the community, students, and my family all rooting for us was very special,” he said.
In a season where many players specialize, Hasselman embraced variety. Quarterback, running back, receiver, kicker, even special teams and defense at times — he embodied the kind of all-around athleticism and selfless drive coaches dream of.
“There is nothing he cannot handle,” Thomas noted.
Hasselman was also named IFCA Class 3A Senior All-State. He finished his senior season 3-of-3 passing the ball, with a touchdown. He ran 279 times for 1,329 yards and 17 scores and caught 25 balls for 367 yards and six more touchdowns. He had 24 total scores, as noted above, while Angola scored just 10 offensive touchdowns that Hasselman was not part of.
On the other side of the ball, Hasselman had 89 tackles, a sack and an interception. He was 28 of 31 on extra point kicks and just one of two on field goals. That one make? 20 yards against Garrett to secure Angola their first Sectional crown since 2018 and fifth of all-time.
But of course Hasselman made that kick. His life and career were forged in hard work and big moments. In one of the biggest moments he ever got, Hasselman made good.
PREVIOUS HONOREES
2024 Clayten Stuart Award – Kimar Nelson, Wayne
2023 Clayten Stuart Award – Kobe Meyer, Heritage
2022 Clayten Stuart Award – Josh Arntz, Columbia City
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