Tigers’ Fair Earns Success Through ‘Thankless Job’

Justin Fair, a Bentonville senior defensive lineman, dives to attempt to tackle Fayetteville senior quarterback Austin Allen on Nov. 2 at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.
Justin Fair, a Bentonville senior defensive lineman, dives to attempt to tackle Fayetteville senior quarterback Austin Allen on Nov. 2 at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.

— The thought has been a constant one inside Justin Fair’s mind since the start of football season.

He knew the time would eventually come when he stepped on the football fi

Profile

Justin Fair

CLASS: Senior

Height: 6-0

Weight: 255

Notable: Leads Bentonville's defensive linemen with 51 tackles (22 solo, 26 assists, two tackles for loss and one quarterback sack) and is fifth on the team overall ... HIs personal-high was eight tackles in in the class 7a state quarterfinal game against West Memphis ... Had a key fourth-down pass breakup to help Bentonville take a 24-17 victory over Fayetteville on Nov. 2

eld for the final time. It becomes a reality Saturday night when Bentonville’s senior defensive lineman takes the field for the Class 7A State Championship.

“I’ve thought about it the whole season,” he said. “I thought it just about every day. It made me think I need to go out and play as hard as I can on every play.”

Fair (6-foot, 255 pounds) has done just that, even though the statistics can’t illustrate it enough what he has done for the Tigers this season. He had only four tackles in his final game at Tiger Stadium last week against Fort Smith Southside, but his 51 total tackles are tops among Bentonville’s defensive linemen.

Most of the time, though, the soft-spoken Fair performs what defensive lineman coach Tony Cherico considers “a thankless job.”

“I’ve been blessed to have some great noseguards, and Justin is going to rank among them,” Cherico said. “He may not make a lot of tackles, but what he does is allow our linebackers, Garrett Kaufman and John Donald, to run free.

“He was taking on doubleand triple-teams because he knows his job and he does it. I know Garrett and John are appreciative of the job Justin does up front. Justin totally understands the concept of our defense.”

Fair has been a two-year starter on the defensive line and has seen action in all 38 games during his three-year high school career. He is considered the leader among Bentonville’s defensive linemen, and it’s his duty to make sure the Tigers are in their proper position.

He is the one that Cherico depends on to inform him of what blocking schemes the opposing off ense is using, in case adjustments need to be made. That sense of leadership has made Fair’s senior season a more enjoyable one.

“It’s been a blast, probably one of the most fun years,” he said. “Being a senior, you have to take on the role of a leader, and you start to build those relationships with the younger players.

“The biggest difference has been our knowledge. We know more now, with the experience under our belt.”

Fair has been consistent with his play that Cherico admitted it’s diftcult to pick out one play or one game that stood about above the rest. He had a season-high eight tackles in Bentonville’s playoff win against West Memphis and had six on two occasions, including the Nov. 2 game at home against Fayetteville with the 7A/6AWest Conference championship on the line.

What Cherico said will remember most about Fair, other than his sense of humor, was the hard work the senior has put in to be successful.

“He had to overcome a lot, not only in the classroom but in football,” Cherico said. “He stuck with it, and he’s been a great success.

“He’s a better person for it, and he’s also a leader. He’s not a big rah-rah type, and he’ll never get on another kid. He’s always got positive feedback for his fellow teammates, but he’s the type everybody looks at and just watches. He leads by example.”

Upcoming Events