They say the odds of winning the Powerball lottery or getting hit by lightning are millions to one.

“I'd like to know what the odds of two football captains from the same class and school getting accepted to a military academy are,” said Campbell of Litchfield head football coach Marc Prindiville. “My guess is it probably doesn't happen very often.”

John Houston and Charles Neild, just weeks apart, were recently notified by New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte that they were selected to attend a service academy.

Houston, a linebacker/running back who ranks second in his class with a 4.40 GPA, was accepted by the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He is a two-time Division V All-State first-team football selection.

Neild, a defensive end and left tackle who serves as senior class president and carries a 3.99 GPA, is heading to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. He was chosen to the Division V All-State first team last fall.

“It's a proud moment for our school, community and really the entire state,” said Prindiville. “Both of them are members of the national honor society, top young leaders and, more importantly, great individuals who will do anything they can to help others.”

Houston attended a week-long boot camp last June, getting his first look at the Naval Academy up close.

“The whole experience was incredible,” said Houston. “I met many people including officers, got the tour and actually was within walking distance of (former) President (Jimmy) Carter, who was surrounded by bodyguards. I came back home deciding that's (the Naval Academy) where I wanted to be after high school.”

Houston got his paperwork in order and was interviewed with Congressman Charlie Bass in Concord and Sens. Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen in Manchester last summer. He said the interviews went well, he was very optimistic afterward, but he wasn't going to assume anything until it was official.

“I was on the bus with my teammates to a road game (against Prospect Mountain on Jan. 20),” said Houston, a 6-foot-1 basketball forward. “My mother called to tell me Senator Ayotte called the house and told her I was accepted. It was pretty neat to hear the news. No one from our school had ever been accepted to a military school and it started sinking in that this doesn't happen very often.”

Neild was naturally happy for Houston, but he said the news was also “reassuring for my chances of getting accepted at West Point. I mean, I had done just about everything John had done.” But weeks went by and the phone call had yet to come.

“It was getting nerve-wracking,” said Neild, who was at basketball practice 11 days ago when Ayotte placed the official call to his home.

“I get home and my family is in the kitchen,” said Neild. “My mom said a college called leaving a message, wanting to interview me. Then she pushed the (voice mail phone) button and I start hearing the senator's (Ayotte) voice congratulating me. I got to admit it was a pretty good practical joke by my family. We ended up going out to eat that night and celebrated the news.”

Neild said the next day everyone in school heard the news when Campbell principal Robert Manseau made the announcement over the intercom system.

Neild and Houston both said they will pursue football careers at their academies, but academics will come first. Neild is planning to pursue a career in math and physics while Houston is focusing in biomedical engineering.

In recent weeks, the Houston-Neild relationship turned into a Navy-Army battle for bragging rights.

“I don't like boats,” said Neild, poking fun at Houston when he was asked why he didn't apply for the Naval Academy.

Prindiville said last Friday Neild was wearing a West Point sweatshirt he received as a gift from his family last Christmas, anticipating he'd get accepted in February.

Houston in turn wore his Navy “hoodie,” showing his pride for the Midshipmen.

“Everything is cool, everything is great actually,” said Neild. “I mean we both made it.”

Houston, the varsity club president for the school's booster club for senior activities, has also been named to the inaugural CHaD New Hampshire East-West High School Football All-Star Football game. “John was also picked to play in the New Hampshire Shrine game and he's been nominated for the Joe Yukica (student-athlete scholarship) award. That's a pretty good trifecta,” said Prindiville. “I gave him a buck and told him to go buy me a lottery ticket.”

Houston praised the school administrators, Prindiville and his entire coaching staff for making his high school experience a memorable one.

“We have an after-school program just for football players who need help with their studies,” said Houston. “Chuck, myself and others spent an hour just helping anyone who is struggling with a subject. This year we had 20 to 25 football players who reported to the cafeteria for work study. It just showed how much the school wanted us to succeed off and on the field.”

While Houston and Neild are enjoying the spotlight, football captain Dylan Andrews, a fullback-linebacker, is awaiting word for acceptance at either Maine Maritime, Norwich or Plymouth State. “He is carrying a 3.50 GPA and like John and Chuck, has worked hard in the classroom and on the football field,” said Prindiville. “All three captains will be remembered for the special bond they created in the four years they were together at Campbell.”