By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Fair Grove got a preview of what awaits on the road to Columbia.
Low scoring games, physical defense, and plenty of adversity.
Against their archrivals on Friday night, the Eagles won this battle with championship resilience.
“Both teams needed this before you head into the postseason,” said Fair Grove coach Bill Voorhis. “At some point, you’re going to run into this again. It was good for us to have some adversity and play a full four quarters.”
In a showdown of small-school powers, Fair Grove controlled the second half and pulled away to beat Strafford 26-11 at home in front of a capacity crowd.
The victory clinches a second straight Mid-Lakes Conference championship and sends the Eagles into postseason play with renewed confidence and focus.
“This was amazing for us. We needed this. We needed a close game, a wakeup call,” said Fair Grove senior linebacker Brock Bruner. “We needed to know that we’re not just going to roll through everything in the postseason.”
The Eagles still have a very long way to go before a potential state title game in Columbia – they finished one win shy of making it there last season – but Friday showed they can win in more ways than just pure domination.
“I wouldn’t say it’s our first test of the season, but it’s definitely our first full game,” said Fair Grove quarterback Spensar Seiger. “It’s great. It’s good to test our abilities and test how far we can go for four quarters.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
As expected, it was a struggle from start to finish on Friday night.
Strafford (8-1 overall, No. 5-ranked in Class 3 state poll) scored the game’s first touchdown and never trailed by more than one possession until the final two minutes.
The Indians limited Fair Grove – which entered the night averaging 46 points per game – to its lowest point total of the season.
Fair Grove leaned on its senior playmakers to pull through.
Seiger connected with wide receiver Bryden Baxter for a pair of second-half touchdowns. Dynamic all-purpose back Kellen Lair added a touchdown and over 100 total yards from scrimmage.
Lair’s long kickoff return to begin the second half started Fair Grove in Strafford territory and set up a short touchdown drive. Seiger would connect with Baxter for a 13-yard touchdown pass that put Fair Grove ahead 19-11.
But on Fair Grove’s next drive, Baxter couldn’t haul in a would-be touchdown catch on 4th and 4.
The Eagles were not deterred.
“Baxter came over and said, ‘Hey, I’m not going to drop another one,’” Voorhis said. “That’s the benefit of having seniors who have been there before.”
Said Seiger: “I knew he was going to catch the next ball I gave him”
Coach and quarterback were right.
As Fair Grove was looking to seal the game with about two minutes to go, Seiger found Baxter for a 13-yard touchdown pass on 4th and 4 from Strafford’s 13-yardline.
“We just have a really good trust with each other,” Baxter said.
Fair Grove’s defense, after a shaky first half, smothered the Indians over the final two quarters. The Eagles didn’t allow a first down until Strafford’s fourth and final drive of the second half.
CLICK HERE FOR EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS
Strafford running back Ryder Ross, who entered the game with 1,801 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns, finished with just 64 yards on 19 carries.
“We didn’t tackle very well in the first half, and (Strafford) had a lot to do with that,” Voorhis said. “The Ross kid is a special athlete. Our tackling got better. We said at halftime, ‘If the defense can do their job, we don’t have to score any more points.’ Our kids rose to that challenge.”
The Eagles (9-0 overall, No. 1-ranked in Class 2 state poll) addressed their first-half issues with an inspiring halftime talk in the locker room, Bruner said.
“It woke us up and made us realize that we weren’t completely in the game,” Bruner said. “We’ve struggled with tackling high and stuff at times this season. That was our focus in the second half: Tackling below their hips.”
Seiger had a redzone interception in the first half that maintained Fair Grove’s early lead (8-3). The Eagles finished with two takeaways and no giveaways.
“With the athletes we have, if we don’t put the ball on the ground or throw it to the other team, then eventually our guys will find a way to do what we need to do,” Voorhis said.
Strafford and Fair Grove will go their separate ways for postseason play.
The Indians are locked in as the top seed for the Class 3 District 5 Tournament. They’ll have a bye next week, then host the winner of Cuba-St. James on Nov. 8.
Fair Grove is also the No. 1 seed in its district tournament: Class 2 District 4. The Eagles will host 8-seed Willow Springs next week.
Fair Grove 26, Strafford 11
Strafford 8 3 0 0 — 11
Fair Grove 7 6 6 7 — 26
First quarter
Strafford – Edelstein 44 run (Ross run)
Fair Grove – Seiger 2 run (Brock kick)
Second quarter
Fair Grove – Lair 10 run (kick failed)
Strafford – Voysey 35 field goal
Third quarter
Fair Grove – Baxter 16 catch from Seiger (kick failed)
Fourth quarter
Fair Grove – Baxter 13 catch from Seiger (Brock kick)
STAT LEADERS (unofficial)
Strafford passing: Edelstein 7/17, 113 yards, 1 INT
Fair Grove passing: Seiger 13/20, 128 yards, 2 TDs
Strafford rushing: Edelstein 7/92, 1 TD; Ross 19/64
Fair Grove rushing: Lair 12/88, 1 TD; Seiger 15/53, 1 TD
Strafford receiving: Mullins 4/61; Voysey 2/52
Fair Grove receiving: Klindworth 4/53; Baxter 3/46, 2 TDs
