By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Playmakers. Hybrids. Offensive weapons.
Whatever term you want to use, the Fair Grove Eagles have plenty of options for where the ball goes and how it gets there.
Fair Grove’s dynamic offense and stifling defense overwhelmed Mountain Grove in a 38-0 home victory on Saturday night.
Fair Grove juniors Bryden Baxter, Spensar Seiger and Kellen Lair had a hand in all five touchdowns.
“We think we’re pretty multiple and hopefully hard to defend,” said Fair Grove coach Bill Voorhis. “We’re not there yet. We have a lot of stuff we’re hoping to get in. We want to make sure we’re good at our base stuff.”
Fair Grove answered a big offseason question – who will play quarterback, Baxter or Seiger? – with Option C: Both.
The two alternated at the position throughout the game, with the non-quarterback on the particular play shifting to running back or splitting out to wide receiver.
Seiger threw a pair of touchdown passes to his quarterback counterpart. Both netted over 50 combined rushing/receiving yards as well.
“Some teams may see it as something that’s hard to do, but we’re blessed to have that wrinkle,” Voorhis said. “Those two kids are selfless and they root for each other. It’s on me to find a way to get both of them the football.”
And then there’s Lair, who earned all-state honors last season as a kick returner. He tallied 90 total yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on Saturday night.
His biggest play occurred via special teams, when he returned a kickoff 64 yards for a touchdown to give Fair Grove an early 16-0 lead.
“Thanks to my teammates, we had everyone blocked. I had a clear, open shot,” Lair said. “It was wide open to score a touchdown.”
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Lair splits time in the backfield and on the perimeter for Fair Grove’s offense. He also handles kickoff duties.
“I would have to say slotback,” Lair said of his favorite position. “I can score touchdowns, but I also get to show people I’m a threat and defenses will double-team me, which leaves my teammates open. When they score, it’s the best feeling in the world. You get to go up to them and hype them.”
Said Voorhis of Lair: “You wouldn’t think it looking at his size, but he’s a physical player. His balance is unreal. He can take a solid hit and somehow find a way to stand up because his balance is so good.”
Fair Grove’s defense was even more dominant, holding Mountain Grove to just seven first downs in eight series. The Panthers didn’t reach Eagles territory until late in the fourth quarter.
“It feels great. My teammates played great tonight. It was a total team effort,” said Fair Grove senior linebacker Sawyer Haskins. “We’ve been practicing for this night for a long time, waking up before 5 a.m. and working.”
Fair Grove also recorded two safeties, which scores huge in the Voorhis household.
“It’s my wife’s favorite play,” Voorhis said. “My wife sits right over there on the goal line for that reason, so she can see the safety if it happens. She was very happy tonight.”
Haskins had the first safety, as he sacked the Mountain Grove quarterback on a play-action rollout to the right.
“They had to double-team my teammates, so I got free,” Haskins said.
Added Lair: “He’s got great instincts.”
Fair Grove led 23-0 at halftime and maintained that lead into the fourth quarter. If not for penalties and a pair of turnovers, the Eagles could’ve put the game away much earlier.
“Up front, we played really well tonight,” Voorhis said. “I think our problems were from our guys in the backfield just not trusting it enough and not hitting the hole.”
Due to excessive heat during the week, Fair Grove held its practices at 5 a.m. leading up to the game.
“Our thing this summer has been about being tough,” Voorhis said. “Getting up early every day is tough. Practicing at 5 a.m. wasn’t an issue. Our kids were there early, just like they had been all summer. We were able to practice the way we needed to.”
Fair Grove will play at Springfield Central on Friday, Sept. 1 for its Week 2 matchup. Mountain Grove travels to El Dorado Springs the same night.
Fair Grove held its season opener on Saturday night due to a shortage of available referees in the area.
“I like the (win), but I want to play on Friday nights,” Haskins said of playing a Saturday night game. “As long as we get the win, that’s all that matters.”
Fair Grove 38, Mountain Grove 0
Mountain Grove 0 0 0 0 — 0
Fair Grove 16 7 0 15 — 38
First quarter
Fair Grove – Baxter 24 catch from Seiger (Brock kick)
Fair Grove – Safety
Fair Grove – Lair 64 return (Brock kick)
Second quarter
Fair Grove – Lair 4 run (Brock kick)
Fourth quarter
Fair Grove – Safety
Fair Grove – Baxter 20 catch from Seiger (Brock kick)
Fair Grove – Lair 5 run (kick blocked)
