Lair TD catch makes win against Skyhawks extra special

SPRINGFIELD, Mo–Missouri State will kick off Missouri Valley Conference play Saturday when Youngstown State comes to town.

But the Bears will always remember their 31-24 win at UT Martin.

It evened up the season record at 2-2 but was special in another way.

Last year when Mo State went to play the Skyhawks, running back Connor Lair had just discovered he had stage four Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Lair underwent treatment and the cancer is in remission.

The West Plains product returned to the Bears football team.

And in the fourth quarter Saturday, Jacob Clark hit Lair with a touchdown pass.

“There was never a doubt in his mind that he was going to play again. He was going to beat cancer and he was going to play again. And again with a heart full of Jesus, anything is possible. It was a challenging day about a year ago when we were heading up to Tennessee Martin,” said Mo State coach Ryan Beard.

“When I threw it and he caught it, and he scored and I was running up to him, that’s when it all started to click in my mind. How awesome of a story. And how full circle it was. The type of person he is. And for him to be able to overcome that. And then to be able to score at UT Martin. I get chills just thinking about it,” said Bears quarterback Jacob Clark.

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