Three months ago, Alessandro Clementi wasn’t very familiar with Texas high school football. He was living in Acona, Italy, where soccer is the sport of choice for many young athletes. So when Clementi’s exchange-student program brought him to Newton High School just as football season was getting started, every sight at Singletary Stadium brought a new experience.

The pop of the pads. The roar of the crowd. Clementi wanted to be a part of it all. “The football team looked like fun, and I’ve played soccer for 10 years, so I thought kicker would be a good spot,” Clementi said. “They didn’t have one, and I figured why not me?”