Dean represents MHS on West All-Star Football Team

Justin Dean, 2018 Mena High School graduate, took part in the 2018 Arkansas High School Football All-Star Game this past Saturday night, which was held at the University of Central Arkansas campus in Conway. Dean was one of 44 players named to the West team, which defeated the East squad by a score of 52-21.

Dean, who played on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball as a member of the Mena Bearcats football team from 2015-2017, was part of the defensive line and special teams of the West All-Star team on Saturday night. At night’s end, Dean finished the game with three solo tackles, one assisted tackle, and one forced fumble.

Dean’s senior season with the Bearcats was cut short due to a broken hand, but his time on the field was impressive and successful enough to gain the attention of other coaches around the Arkansas High School Coaches Association to be selected as a football all-star, after initially being nominated by Mena Head Coach Tim Harper. High School All-Stars for any of the sports must be student athletes who have just completed their senior year of high school.

While Dean may have played his final football game representing the Mena Bearcats, his football career isn’t over yet. Dean signed his Letter of Intent to play college football for the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers beginning this fall.

Dean was the first Mena Bearcat football player to be named an All-Star since Malachi McGee was an All-Star in 2013.