The Bair necessities
ADAMS TWP — Most high school running backs strive for 1,000 rushing yards in a season.
Bill Bair is shooting for 2,000.
Judging by his performance last year, don't bet against him.
The senior fullback at Mars rushed for 1,928 yards and scored 28 total touchdowns. in 2006.
"Going into last year, I really wasn't looking to gain 1,900 yards, but, at the same time, I knew I was capable of it," Bair said. "And since I got so close to 2,000, that's my goal for this season."
His 25-regular season touchdowns earned him the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy with 150 points.
If he successfully defends his title this year, he will become the fourth player in the trophy's 17-year history to win it in back-to-back seasons, joining Freeport's Ron DeJidas (1991-92), A-C Valley's Mike Leach (1998-99) and Karns City's Josh Fiscus (2003-04).
Bair admits he'd love to end up in that exclusive group.
"That would be awesome," he said. "It would be one of the greatest things I've ever done."
It will be interesting to see who steps up to challenge Bair for the trophy in 2007.
The two players who finished second and third last season — Moniteau's Adam Cousins and Mars' Josh Keil — both graduated.
But players who finished in spots four through eight return, and that group includes Seneca Valley's James Daniels, Karns City's Matt McConnell, Grove City's Chris Clark and Dwayne Martin and Knoch's Alex Whisler.
The Planets recently lost D.J. Cannon to graduation after the quarterback passed for more than 1,000 yards two straight seasons.
Bair is confident Cannon's replacement, junior John Brake, will be able to shoulder the load in the passing game.
"Having a good passing game definitely helps me out, just so defenses can't load up at the line of scrimmage," Bair said. "John has looked good in practice and he should be fine."
Opponents should have an even tougher time this season bringing down Bair, who spent the offseason helping the Planets' boys track team capture the WPIAL Class AA team title.
He spent a lot of time in the weight room and added a few extra pounds — all of it muscle. He now stands 6-feet-1 and weighs nearly 200 pounds.
"Nothing this kid accomplishes this season will surprise me," said Mars running backs coach Scott Pfeiffer. "He's bigger and better."
Bair hopes to play Division I college football.
Knowing scouts will be keeping an eye on him and fans will look for an encore of his incredible junior campaign, Bair is staying grounded.
"I'm not thinking of this season as anything out of the ordinary," he said. "We just want to go out and play well and win as many games as possible."
