An undefeated Fair Grove football team is headed to the state semis in back-to-back seasons.
“Pure happiness that we get to advance and move on,” said senior running back/defensive back Kellen Lair. “Go back to the semifinals and do what no Fair Grove team has done before.”
That’s advancing to the state finals. It wouldn’t be possible without the senior class, including Lair, Bryden Baxter, Brock Bruner and Spensar Seiger.
“We’re really hungry for it this year and we know our coaches pound on it pound on it,” said senior wide receiver/defensive back Baxter. “Just stay locked in. Finish out the season. It’s going to be a once in a lifetime experience.”
Eagles quarterback Spensar Seiger transferred from Ava his sophomore year.
“Came to Fair Grove and I was blessed with all this family, all the players, we’ve all just really connected to each other,” said the senior quarterback/linebacker.
That connection makes the on-field connections that much easier.
“His confidence in his teammates I think makes the difference,” said Fair Grove head football coach Bill Voorhis. “Guys know that he can trust him. And that they can always count on Spensar to be that rock.”
Seiger and Baxter shared the QB role up until this season, a move that’s helped this team a ton.
“This year we made the change to put me strictly at receiver and him strictly at quarterback,” Baxter said. “I feel like it has worked to our advantage and you know me and him have had a lot of connections over the course of the season. It has paid off.”
“He’s just a special athlete,” Voorhis said. “In my opinion he is the best wide receiver in the area. He’s made some catches that literally I don’t think anybody else in the area could make.”
Baxter leads the team in receiving yards, but when the ball isn’t in the air, Kellen Lair is the one handling duties on the ground.
“His balance is pretty unreal,” Voorhis said. “He is able to bounce off of contact and keep going.”
Lair is perfecting his punt return touchdowns, he is 5-for-6 in the past two seasons.
“The best offensive player I’ve had the chance to coach,” Voorhis said. “So I’m just trying to enjoy it as much as I can while he is still here.”
The SEMO football commit Brock Bruner is a force to be reckoned with.
“Brock is just a physical football player he’s exactly if you could draw up the Madden create a player, that’s Brock,” Voorhis said.
The linebacker competes in weight lifting competitions. His work in the weight room translates on the gridiron.
“[My maxes are] nothing too crazy,” Bruner said. “I’m sitting at about a 300-pound bench. 475-squat. Power clean is what I’ve excelled at the most and what I would give a lot of my power to and speed on the field with a 325-pound power clean.”
Nothing crazy at all (that was sarcasm). Just like how this team has outscored opponents 559-165 with all four of these players playing on both sides of the ball.
“I’m still living the dream and hopefully the dream doesn’t end until December 6,” said Seiger.
