Photo by John Lee
Every Friday evening in the fall you will see a player wearing #32. This number is special in Pampa High School Football history as it is the jersey number worn by Pro Football Hall of Fame member, Zach Thomas. As a tribute to Zach, the Pampa High School football program will be retiring #32 from the jersey circulation. From this day forward, jersey #32 will be worn every Friday night by a different individual. That individual embodies that competitive spirit which Zach Thomas displayed every Friday night in the fall. The individual will be voted on by the coaching staff.
The next individual to be selected by his coaching staff for this 2025 season to have the honor of wearing #32 will be Clayton Ward, senior linebacker and tight end. He normally bears #18 but for the Borger rivalry game he will be wearing the Zach Thomas #32.
How does it feel for Ward to be the next one selected?
“It is an honor to be chosen by the coaches to wear it. It obviously means a lot to me, as this was once Zach Thomas’s number,” Ward said. “He was an underdog in his career, and I feel that we as a team have been an underdog these last few years, and we are ready to show everyone how far we’ve come.”
Ward can also be found on the basketball court in McNeely Fieldhouse come basketball season for the Hustlin’ Harvesters. He also throws the discus in track in the spring. He plans to play football in college.
“I don’t know where I will be playing yet but I do have a few options,” Ward said.
In his free time he likes to spend time with friends and family outside of school. He is undecided on a major yet but he would like to be a coach after he attends college.
Head Coach Floyd White is also the linebacker coach. He had this to say about Ward:
“Clayton is a true definition of what a ‘Harvester man’ is all about. He is a tireless worker. He is normally the first player in the office every day. He comes in and meets with me on a regular basis just to make sure that he can put people into the right positions. He is a top-notch student as well as a great person on and off the field. I look forward to seeing what is in store for Clayton in the future,” White said.