Card to Watch - Preview for Halloween

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By Charlie Sorrells

Web Prep Writer

MONTGOMERY – Fairmont football mentor Mat Mahoney does not mind being labeled as the underdog heading into Saturday’s 2 PM Section 3AAA semifinal kickoff against Tri-City United in Montgomery.

Ironically, the 20-year head coach somewhat relishes the role as his No. 5-seeded Cardinals (5-4) look to avenge three consecutive losses – dating back to the 2025 regular season and playoffs – to the current No. 1-seeded Titans (7-1).

“Our approach heading into Saturday’s game is we have nothing to lose. They beat us by one point during Week 7, and they’re the top seed in our section, so most people would consider them (Titans) as the favorite in our upcoming game,” said Mahoney, whose team lost both a 35-7 Week 7 decision and a 21-14 sectional quarterfinal to TCU in 2025. “At the end of the day, we’re just going to go out and play as hard as we can and don’t overthink the game.”

Fairmont flipped its late-season script this fall, eliminating No. 4-seeded Belle Plaine by a 22-21 decision in Tuesday night’s sectional quarterfinal after falling 15-14 to St. Peter during Week 8 on the heels of a 26-25 defeat at TCU’s hands on Oct. 14.

“For the first time in 20 years, we’re physically beat up going into the second round of the postseason,” said Mahoney, who lost senior wideout Travohn Harvey to a knee injury suffered during the narrow playoff win over Belle Plaine. “We’ve got a number of guys who are banged up and not playing at 100%, but they’re going to give it all they have on Saturday.

“Our players’ dedication and commitment have been incredible since the first day of practice this fall and they’re still improving and working together during our 50th practice (Friday afternoon).”

Quarterback Jensen Livesay, who completed 9 of 12 passes for 155 yards, utilized his tuck-lean-and-push rushing style to generate both the Cardinals’ third touchdown and game-winning 2-point conversion with 53 seconds left in Tuesday night’s sectional quarterfinal on the road. The 6-foot-4 Livesay tops Fairmont’s offensive charts with 10 TDs on the ground to complement 994 passing yards and nine more scores during his varsity debut season.

While Livesay triggered the Cardinals’ offensive performance in the postseason win over Belle Plaine, Fairmont’s defense limited the No. 4-seeded Tigers to a mere 19 yards on 19 carries behind hard-charging ends Vincent Schultz and Reed Johnson – along with the sure-handed linebacking core of Aaron Becker, Boe Kolbe, Caiden Utesch and Mason Bicknase.

The Cardinals’ defense will look to put the clamps on TCU quarterback Kellen Jirik and the running back tandem of Parker O’Malley and Keegan O’Meara when the two squads square off in a rematch of this season in a Halloween havoc game in Montgomery.

Jirik passed for 190 yards including a 57-yard TD strike to O’Meara, O’Meara also contributed 63 yards and one score on the ground, O’Malley rushed for 44 yards and two TDs – including the game-tying 6-yarder – before Chase Miller kicked the winning PAT kick during the Titans’ Week 7 clash with the Cardinals.

So, what will it take to advance to the Section 3AAA championship game against either No. 2-seeded Waseca or No. 3-seeded Luverne at 7 PM Friday, Nov. 6, in New Ulm?

“I’ve said it before, but you have to maximize every single play – one mistake can sink the ship,” said Mahoney. “We have to make TCU work for everything and not give up the big play.”

FAIRMONT STARTERS

OFFENSE

QB: #14 Jensen Livesay, 6-4, 205, Senior

RB: #30 Keyon Schutz, 5-11, 190, Junior

WR: #7 Brayden Williamson, 5-9, 155, Senior

WR: #5 Mason Bicknase, 6-2, 185, Junior

LT: #51 Vincent Schultz, 6-4, 175, Senior

LG: #59 Craig Schultze, 6-1, 255, Junior

C: #55 Reed Johnson, 6-5, 200, Senior

RG: #69 Luther Malo, 6-2, 240, Junior

RT: #70 Max Nielsen, 6-3, 275, Senior

TE: #81 Preston Geerdes, 6-4, 210, Junior

WR: #6 Owen Terfehr, 6-2, 180, Senior

DEFENSE

DE: #51 V. Schultz

DT: #69 Malo

NG: #74 Ethan Farnum, 6-2, 350, Senior

DE: #55 R. Johnson

OLB: #5 Bicknase

MLB: #31 Aaron Becker, 6-3, 220, Sophomore

OLB: #19 Caiden Utesch, 5-11, 175, Senior

CB: #7 Williamson

CB: #13 Carter Hanson, 5-11, 135, Junior

SS: #6 Terfehr

FS: #10 Landon Traetow, 6-0, 155, Senior

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TRI-CITY UNITED

(PROJECTED STARTERS)

OFFENSE

QB: #12 Kellen Jirik, 6-2, 170, Senior

FB: #6 Ty Smith, 5-8, 180, Junior

WB: #26 Parker O’Malley, 6-0, 195, Senior

WB: #4 Keegan O’Meara, 5-9, 170, Senior

LT: #76 Kale Tisdel, 6-3, 260, Sophomore

LG: #65 Tucker Skluzacek, 6-0, 185, Senior

C: #75 Matthew Farr, 6-1, 290, Senior

RG: #68 Colton Dorweiler, 6-3, 220, Sophomore

RT: #64 Tyson Sladek, 6-4, 290, Sophomore

TE: #85 Ethan Holicky, 6-2, 170, Junior

SE: #8 Brody Factor, 6-0, 170, Senior

DEFENSE

DE: #6 Smith

DT: #76 Tisdel

DT: #64 Sladek

DE: #44 Corday Freeman, 6-0, 205, Senior

OLB: #26 O’Malley

MLB: #25 Toren Kelly, 6-0, 210, Senior

OLB: #20 Eric Borchardt, 6-0, 185, Junior

CB: #4 O’Meara

CB: #12 Jirik

S: #3 Skluzacek

S: #8 Factor