Orange County Community College Football : Fullerton Sophomore Plays in Pain

Scott Fairfield, a sophomore at Fullerton College, is willing to put up with plenty of pain to play football this season.

Fairfield, who plays defensive end and outside linebacker, had surgery on both shoulders last winter to repair muscle damage that caused his shoulders to pop out of joint from time to time. The injuries resulted from the pounding his shoulders have taken from tackling ballcarriers since he was in high school.

He missed most of practice last spring and still hasn’t regained full movement in either shoulder five weeks into this season. But he has started all five games.

“I knew I would be able to play this season. I checked with the doctors. But there were some coaches (at Fullerton) who didn’t think I’d be back this soon,” Fairfield said.

“But I couldn’t sit out again. I would have just got a job or something to stay busy, and then I don’t know if I would have wanted to go through all the conditioning again. I can put up with the pain. The games are worth it, but I don’t know about practice.”

Fairfield played inside linebacker at El Dorado High School and came to Fullerton in 1985 but couldn’t get much playing time and sat out most of the season.

“That was tough,” he said. “Being one of the better players in high school, it was tough not to start here. Friends would come to the games and see me just sitting there.”

Fairfield earned a starting spot by the third game last season and stayed there the rest of the way.

Fairfield will start again tonight when Fullerton (3-2, 2-0) travels to El Camino (5-0, 2-0) for a South Coast Conference game at 7:30 p.m.

El Camino is the top-ranked team in the Southern California sports information directors’ poll and defeated the preseason conference favorite, Cerritos, 21-18, last Saturday.

“If you went to war, you would want him right next to you,” said Fullerton Coach Hal Sherbeck about Fairfield. “He’s that type of person. He is willing to play no matter how much pain he is in. But most recruiters will overlook him because of his size.”

Fairfield is listed in the program as being 5-feet 10-inches tall and weighing 200 pounds, but he says he weighs closer to 190.

In other South Coast Conference games:

Golden West (3-2, 2-0) at Compton (2-3, 0-2), 1:30 p.m.--Golden West has won three consecutive games, thanks in part to the play of its punt return team. Golden West has blocked the kick or tackled the punter 10 times. Mike Babb has blocked four punts and Jeff Darling two. Babb also leads the team with four interceptions.

“When you block that many punts in a year, you’re ecstatic,” said Golden West Coach Ray Shackleford. “We’re at the halfway point and have 10. It’s been a big part of our success.”

Golden West will be without its leading running back, Blaise Bryant (448 yards) who injured his ankle two weeks ago. He may return next week. Golden West might have its other leading back, Tony Garrett (361 yards). He sprained his ankle in the 23-14 victory over Long Beach last Saturday and is doubtful for today’s game.