Playoff Recap - TCU 20, Fairmont 13

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By Charlie Sorrells

Web Prep Writer

MONTGOMERY – Fairmont cornerback Brayden Williamson’s clutch pick-6 late in the opening quarter established a defensive tone for the No. 5-seeded Cardinals during Saturday’s Section 3AAA semifinal football clash with the No. 1-seeded Tri-City United Titans in Montgomery.

Ethan Holicky, Eric Borchardt, Toren Kelly, Parker O’Malley and Ty Smith, however, usurped that trend for TCU during the second half to set up teammate Keegan O’Meara’s go-ahead rushing touchdown with 65 seconds remaining to fuel an eventual 20-13 playoff victory over upset-minded Fairmont.

TCU (8-1) advances to square off against No. 2-seeded Waseca (9-1) for the sectional championship at 7 PM Friday, Nov. 6, on the artificial turf at New Ulm High School. The high-powered Bluejays eliminated No. 3-seeded Luverne, 42-21, to gain the sectional finale.

“Every one of you players should walk off this field with your heads held high today,” said Fairmont mentor Mat Mahoney, whose team ended the season with a 5-5 overall record. “I’m guessing a number of people thought TCU – who’s the top seed – would run away with the win without much of a challenge from us, but we proved them wrong.

“We matched them play-for-play for 47 of the 48 minutes and nearly pulled off the win, but we fell just a little short. I’m extremely proud of the effort that our guys gave today.”

Williamson delivered the Cardinals’ initial momentum-seizing play by stepping in front of a TCU receiver in the left flat, pocketed the interception and outsprinted the Titans’ offensive unit 60 yards to the end zone for a pick-6. Boe Kolbe kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 2:52 left in the first quarter.

Smith answered the challenge for TCU by tipping away a Fairmont pass on third-and-14 to force a Cardinals’ punt early in the second frame. Kellen Jirik generated 27 of his 32 passing yards on the playoff game with one flick of the wrist to O’Meara to convert a third-and-13 to reach Fairmont’s 38. O’Malley’s clutch 13-yard rumble eventually set up O’Meara’s first of three TDs – this one from 16 yards away – before Chase Miller kicked the tying extra point for a 7-all score at the 5:13 juncture.

Quarterback Jensen Livesay – who eclipsed the 1,000-yard passing seasonal mark with a 165-yard performance – worked his aerial connection with Williamson to account for 70 of the Cardinals’ ensuing 72-yard scoring drive to grab a 13-7 lead with 24 seconds to go before intermission. Livesay lofted a spiral to a sprinting Williamson along the Titans’ sideline and the fleet-footed senior receiver accelerated by the TCU defense for a go-ahead 53-yard TD catch. Borchardt tipped the PAT kick to keep the Titans’ differential at 6 heading into the lockerroom.

Kelly later delivered his second QB sack of the section semifinal and the fourth of TCU’s game-high five to slam the brakes on Fairmont’s first possession of the third quarter. O’Meara’s 16-yard punt return to the Cardinals’ 44 helped set up his second TD of the outing to knot the game at 13-all. O’Malley – who generated 93 of the Titans’ 196 rushing yards – hammered out a pivotal 36-yard tackle-breaking sweep run to gain the Cardinals’ 8. O’Meara later converted a clutch four-and-goal run from the 2 to tie the score with 7 minutes remaining in the third.

Three Fairmont series later, Holicky literally stole the football out of the Cardinal QB’s hand from the shotgun to halt the visitors’ march to the Titans’ 38 with 6:42 left in the fourth quarter.

A procedure penalty and ensuing ineligible player downfield infraction forced a TCU punt before Smith answered by delivering a clutch 6-yard sack on third down to create another Fairmont punt with time winding down.

O’Meara’s rugby-scrum run that covered 13 yards for a first down was followed by an unsportsmanship penalty on Fairmont to chew up 15 more yards to reach the Cardinals’ 25 with less than 2 minutes showing. O’Meara covered the rest of the distance – capped by a 6-yard end-around TD run – to put TCU in front at 19-13. Smith kicked the PAT for a seven-point edge at the 1:05 mark.

Livesay zipped completions of 11 to Preston Geerdes and 20 yards to Williamson, respectively, to venture into Titans’ territory at the 49, but Borchardt knocked the football loose on second-and-15 before Holicky recovered his second fumble to seal the Titans’ triumph with 28 seconds to go.

Williamson closed out his outstanding football career with a game-high seven catches for a game-best 132 yards and Fairmont’s only offensive TD.

FAIRMONT 7-6-0-0–13

TRI-CITY U 0-7-6-7–20

SCORING PLAYS

1st Quarter

FHS: Brayden Williamson 60 interception return (Boe Kolbe kick), 2:52.

2nd Quarter

TCU: Keegan O’Meara 16 run (Chase Miller kick), 5:13.

FHS: Brayden Williamson 53 pass from Jensen Livesay (kick failed), 0:24.

3rd Quarter

TCU: Keegan O’Meara 2 run (kick failed), 7:00.

4th Quarter

TCU: Keegan O’Meara 6 run (Chase Miller kick), 1:05.

TEAM STATISTICS

First Downs: Fairmont 10; TCU 10. Rushing: TCU 36-196; Fairmont 25-14. Passing: Fairmont 11-21-0-188; TCU 3-10-1-32. Fumbles-lost: TCU 0-0; Fairmont 5-3. Penalties: TCU 7-45; Fairmont 5-31.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Parker O’Malley (TCU) 10-93, Keegan O’Meara (TCU) 14-79; Ryder Thate (FHS) 4-17, Keyon Schutz (FHS) 6-12. Passing: Jensen Livesay (FHS) 10-20-0-165, Brayden Williamson (FHS) 1-1-0-23; Kellen Jirik (TCU) 3-10-1-32. Receiving: Brayden Williamson (FHS) 7-132, Preston Geerdes (FHS) 2-29, Jensen Livesay (FHS) 1-23, Chase Birr (FHS) 1-4; Keegan O’Meara (TCU) 2-31.

Defense: Interception: Brayden Williamson (FHS) Pick-6. Fumble Recoveries: Ethan Holicky (TCU) 2, Tyson Sladek (TCU) 1. QB Sacks: Parker O’Malley (TCU) and Toren Kelly (TCU) 2 each; Ty Smith (TCU) 1.

By Charlie Sorrells

Web Prep Writer

BELLE PLAINE – Less than 48 hours prior to Tuesday night’s Section 3AAA football quarterfinal, Fairmont mentor Mat Mahoney did not know if injured tight end Preston Geerdes would receive a doctor’s clearance to return to the starting lineup.

Mahoney and his No. 5-seeded Cardinals realized the 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior’s full impact after Geerdes received a medical OK and delivered a pivotal 35-yard catch on a convert-or-exit-the-playoffs fourth down-and-7 situation at No. 4-seeded Belle Plaine’s 37, trailing by seven points with 1:27 remaining in regulation.

Geerdes’ long-distance reception from Jensen Livesay set up the senior quarterback’s 2-yard touchdown keeper and Livesay’s ensuing decisive 2-point conversion on a sneak run to stake Fairmont to a 22-21 lead with 53 seconds left in regulation in Belle Plaine.

Carter Hanson intercepted Tiger quarterback Reed Creighton’s fourth-and-19 ‘Hail Mary’ launch at the Cardinals’ 38 with 25 seconds to go to ice Fairmont’s one-point triumph over Belle Plaine in the postseason’s opening round.

Fairmont (5-4) advances to face No. 1-seeded Tri-City United (7-1) in the sectional semifinals at 2 PM Halloween Saturday in Montgomery. The Titans earned a first-round bye in the seven-team playoff bracket.

“Two of my favorite plays are trap (running) and Y-delay (passing), and we utilized both tonight to come away with a one-point section win,” said Mahoney, who ironically lost his first-ever playoff game as a head coach to Belle Plaine on the Tigers’ home field 20 seasons ago. “I have to give credit to (offensive coordinator) Brian (Wille) for reaching into our playbook and making the call of a Y-delay pass to Geerdie to move the football down the field with time running out on us.

“I told him (Wille) after we score, we’re going for two on a run sneak no matter what Belle Plaine’s defense does. The offsides penalty on them did help reduce our distance to the end zone and Jensen delivered the go-ahead 2-point conversion.”

Ahead 22-21, Cardinal linebacker Boe Kolbe sacked Creighton for a 9-yard loss on second down following a first-down incompletion with time elapsing to less than 40 seconds. Creighton tossed a third-down incompletion before Hanson leaped high in the secondary to corral the game-clinching interception at the 25-second juncture.

“Our guys really showed their determination, especially after being up 14-0 early in the game before Belle Plaine responded by scoring three unanswered touchdowns to take the lead late in the second half,” said Mahoney. “They (the Tigers) produced a huge turnover with 9 minutes to go in the game to overtake us on the scoreboard.”

A blitzing Boden Siegle jarred the football loose from Livesay before the Tigers’ trio of Riley Arbuckle, Will Posthumus and Mason Bungarden smothered the Cardinals’ fumble at the Fairmont 23 yard line at the 8:43 juncture.

Creighton, who completed 19 of 32 passes for 170 yards and all three TDs, zipped a 10-yard strike to Chaz Iovino to convert on third-and-9 before a Fairmont facemask penalty cut the distance to the goal line in half at the 7. Creighton converted a third-and-3 situation by spotting Landon Wadsley on a 5-yard post route to give Belle Plaine a 20-14 lead. Adrian Grilla kicked the PAT for a 21-14 lead with 5:10 left in the game.

Livesay, who finished with 155 yards on 9-for-12 passing, fired a clutch 22-yard pass to Geerdes to convert a key fourth-and-1 situation midway through the Cardinals’ first possession of the playoff clash. Livesay later threaded a 15-yard toss to Brayden Williamson to gain the 4 before Livesay rumbled across the goal line from 1 yard out two snaps later. Kolbe kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead at the 6:09 mark of the opening quarter.

Linebacker Aaron Becker and Fairmont’s defense forced a three-and-out series by Belle Plaine before Livesay chewed up 35 of the ensuing 65-yard scoring drive with one flick of the wrist on a throw to Mason Bicknase to gain the Tigers’ 30. Ryder Thate and Keyon Schutz handled the ground game from there, with Schutz scoring on a 3-yard run. Kolbe kicked the PAT for a 14-0 lead at the 10:24 mark of the second quarter.

Iovino’s strip-and-recLver defensive gem with 2:27 left before intermission set up Creighton’s 13-yard rifled completion to Caden Koepp for a score before Grilla kicked the extra point to pare Belle Plaine’s deficit in half at 14-7 at the 16-second juncture.

Creighton rocketed a key 39-yard completion to Evan Cahalan to eventually lead to the junior quarterback’s 6-yard scoring fade to Wadsley. Grilla nailed the PAT kick to knot the game at 14-all with 5:37 remaining in the third quarter.

Bicknase topped the Cardinals’ ground game with 66 yards on four carries and also topped the receiving attack with three catches for 71 yards. Koepp led all receivers with six grabs for 56 yards for the Tigers, while Wadsley and Cahalan made four catches each for 51 and 48 yards, respectively.

Belle Plaine ended its season with a 5-4 record.

Fairmont             7-7-0-8=22

Belle Plaine        0-7-7-7=21

SCORING PLAYS

1st Quarter

FHS: Jensen Livesay 1 run (Boe Kolbe kick), 6:09.

2nd Quarter

FHS: Keyon Schutz 3 run (Kolbe kick), 10:24.

BP: Caden Koepp 13 pass from Reed Creighton (Adrian Grilla kick), 0:16.

3rd Quarter

BP: Landon Wadsley 6 pass from Creighton (Grilla kick), 5:37.

4th Quarter

BP: Wadsley 5 pass from Creighton (Grilla kick), 5:10.

FHS: Livesay 2 run (Livesay run), 0:53.

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: Fairmont 11; Belle Plaine 9. Rushing: Fairmont 28-125; Belle Plaine 19-19. Passing: Belle Plaine 19-32-1-170; Fairmont 9-12-0-155. Fumbles-lost: Fairmont 4-3; Belle Plaine 1-0. Penalties: Fairmont 9-66; Belle Plaine 4-16.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Mason Bicknase (FHS) 4-66, Keyon Schutz (FHS) 16-52. Passing: Reed Creighton (BP) 19-32-1-170; Jensen Livesay (FHS) 9-12-0-155. Receiving: Fairmont: Mason Bicknase 3-71, Brayden Williamson 3-14, Preston Geerdes 2-57. Belle Plaine: Caden Koepp 6-56, Landon Wadsley 4-51, Evan Cahalan 4-48.

Defense: Interception: Carter Hanson (FHS). Fumble recoveries: Riley Arbuckle (BP) 2, Chaz Iovino (BP). QB sacks: Mason Bungarden (BP) 4..

By Charlie Sorrells

Web Prep Writer

FAIRMONT – A case of de’ja vu with a Groundhog Day movie trailer.

Fairmont experienced its second consecutive 1-point football loss in back-to-back weeks by seemingly getting trapped inside a nearly inescapable time loop during the final 4 minutes of regulation at Thomas Mahoney Field.

Quarterback Jensen Livesay rumbled across the goal line from 6 yards out before a 2-point behind-the-back handoff to split end Brayden Williamson staked the hometown Cardinals to a 14-7 lead over St. Peter with 6:27 remaining in regulation Thursday night in Fairmont.

The Saints, however, converted quarterback Alex Korir’s 73-yard passing performance during the ensuing possession, capped by tight end Owen Potts’ 8-yard TD catch from Korir, to pare the Cardinals’ margin to 14-13 at the 3:49 juncture. St. Peter head coach Justin Helget called for a go-ahead 2-point conversion play, and Ryan Moelter hauled in Korir’s zipped slant pass for a 15-14 lead.

Fairmont’s three-pronged running attack of Keyon Schutz, Ryder Thate and Livesay – combined with a facemask penalty on St. Peter – covered 72 yards to gain the Saints’ 3-yard line with time winding down. Livesay managed to spike the football with 1 second to go to set up a potential game-winning 20-yard field goal, but the long snap skidded and the kick did not reach the crossbar.

“Our guys played hard tonight, but we made way too many mistakes at critical junctures in the game,” said Fairmont mentor Mat Mahoney, whose lineup dropped a 26-25 decision to Tri-City United in the final 14 seconds of last Wednesday night’s Week 7 clash in Fairmont. “What makes this loss especially difficult to swallow is that we ran the ball well (235 rushing yards on 51 carries) and chewed up a lot of time but always seemed to shoot ourselves in the foot by committing a penalty to lose momentum.

“Now, we’ve got a short turnaround for the playoffs and must be prepared to hit the road as the No. 5 seed in our section.”

As Mahoney predicted, Fairmont (4-4) received the No. 5 seed and opens Section 3AAA quarterfinal action against No. 4-seeded Belle Plaine (5-3) at 7 PM Tuesday (Oct. 27)on the Tigers’ home turf. The Fairmont—Belle Plaine winner will advance to the sectional semifinals against No. 1-seeded TCU (7-1) at 2 PM Saturday (Oct. 31) in Montgomery. The Titans netted a first-round bye.

In the opposite half of the Section 3AAA bracket, No. 2-seeded Waseca (7-1) plays host to No. 7-seeded Albert Lea, while No. 3-seeded Luverne (7-1) entertains No. 6-seeded Worthington in quarterfinal action at 7 PM Tuesday (Oct. 27).

Schutz, who churned out a game-leading 148 yards on 25 totes, pounded out 31 of the Cardinals’ 49-yard scoring drive on the ground before breaking two St. Peter tackle attempts to cross the goal line from 4 yards out. The Cardinals’ PAT kick was blocked to leave the score at 6-0with 11:17 to go in the second quarter.

Ironically, the Saints countered by assembling a seven-play, 61-yard scoring march to grab a 7-6 lead with 7:16showing on the scoreboard during the second quarter. Korir reeled off 47 of his team-best 58 rushing yards on a draw play up the middle before the senior quarterback sliced his way through the line for a 2-yard TD. Peyton Garcia Landa kicked the important PAT to swing a 1-point edge to St. Peter.

Fairmont won the battle of turnovers as Kaden Bell and Williamson pocketed one interception apiece, while Landon Traetow recovered a fumble. Ashton Guida produced St. Peter’s lone positive miscue by pocketing a fumble.

Korir completed 9 of 18 passes for 114 yards and one score for St. Peter, Moelter grabbed four passes for 52 yards, Potts pulled down three spirals for 25 yards and Guida chipped in a 33-yard reception.

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St. Peter 0-7-0-8–15

Fairmont 0-6-0-8–14

SCORING PLAYS

1st Quarter

No Scoring.

2nd Quarter

FHS: Keyon Schutz 4 run (kick blocked), 11:17.

STP: Alex Korir 2 run (Peyton Garcia Landa kick), 7:16.

3rd Quarter

No Scoring.

4th Quarter

FHS: Jensen Livesay 6 run (Brayden Williamson run), 6:27.

STP: Owen Potts 8 pass from Korir (Ryan Moelter pass from Korir), 3:49.

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: Fairmont 16; St. Peter 8. Rushing: Fairmont 51-235; St. Peter 22-74. Passing: St. Peter 10-19-2-119; Fairmont 2-11-0-30. Fumbles-lost: Fairmont 4-1; St. Peter 2-1. Penalties: Fairmont 8-47; St. Peter 7-72.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Keyon Schutz (FHS) 25-148, Ryder Thate (FHS) 10-67; Alex Korir (STP) 11-58. Passing: Alex Korir (STP) 9-18-2-114, Ryan Moelter (STP) 1-1-0-5; Jensen Livesay (FHS) 2-11-0-30. Receiving: Ryan Moelter (STP) 4-52, Owen Potts (STP) 3-25, Ashton Guida (STP) 1-33; Travohn Harvey (FHS) 1-17, Brayden Williamson (FHS) 1-13.

Defense: Interceptions: Kaden Bell (FHS) and Brayden Williamson (FHS). Fumble recoveries: Ashton Guida (STP) and Landon Traetow (FHS).

By Charlie Sorrells

Web Prep Writer

FAIRMONT – Sectional football rivals Tri-City United and Fairmont traded great play after great play right down to the final second during Week 7 prep football action Wednesday night at Thomas Mahoney Field.

Quarterback Jensen Livesay’s game-best fourth touchdown run – a 1-yard keeper – rallied the cardiac Cardinals to a 25-19 lead over the Titans with 1:29 remaining in regulation, but TCU maintained its composure with only one timeout left.

Quarterback Kellen Jirik zipped two quick strikes each to Keegan O’Meara and Brody Factor – including a clutch 39-yarder to O’Meara – to reach Fairmont’s 6 with 20 seconds to go. Facing fourth-and-1 and no timeouts, TCU head coach Matt Collins called Parker O’Malley’s number and the fullback pounded across the goal line to knot the game at 25-all with 14 ticks on the scoreboard. 

Chase Miller kicked the game-deciding PAT to help the Titans exit Fairmont with a 26-25 victory.

“It’s still a loss and I don’t like it, but the way we played toe-to-toe with TCU tonight proved we can play with anyone on our schedule,” said Fairmont head coach Mat Mahoney, whose team received 133 passing yards and a team-best 62 and four scores on the ground from the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Livesay. “At the end of the day, you have to tip your hat to TCU. They showed their resilience by never losing their focus and battled us right to the last second.”

“Obviously, there was a lot of pressure on converting that final (PAT) kick, but we’ve been there before just last week against New Ulm,” said Miller, a forward on the Titans’ soccer team, who also joined the football team only 3 weeks ago to help the kicking game.

Down 13-6 at intermission, Travohn Harvey breathed new life into the Cardinals by returning the third-quarter kickoff 55 yards to the Titans’ 30. Livesay mixed an 11-yard keeper in between 4-yard completions to Brayden Williamson and Preston Geerdes to set up his 1-yard push to paydirt. Fairmont missed the PAT kick to trail 13-12 with 7:12 left in the third.

Jirik – who completed 11 of 15 passes for a game-high 190 yards and one TD – utilized back-to-back 22-yard connections with Factor to erase TCU’s second-and-33 hole created by consecutive holding penalties during the ensuing series.

O’Meara – who topped the Titans’ 201-yard rushing performance with 63 on 10 totes – later reeled off a defender-dragging 13-yard run to the 4 before O’Malley hammered into the end zone on a next-play sweep for a 19-12 lead at the 1:11 mark in the third. Williamson and Mason Bicknase denied the Titans’ 2-point run to keep the Cardinals’ deficit at 7.

Livesay’s 15-yard spiral to Williamson and a 40-yard missile to the fleet-footed Harvey reached TCU’s red zone before Livesay muscled his way across the goal line from 6 yards out. Boe Kolbe kicked the PAT for a 19-all tie with 10:34 left in regulation.

Williamson’s ensuing strip-and steal of the football on a Titan rush at the Cardinals’ 3 gave Fairmont new life with 7:08 remaining in the game. O’Malley and the TCU held and forced a punt to regain the football, but Ethan Farnum later recovered a Titan fumble at the visitors’ 49 to set up Livesay’s late offensive heroics and go-ahead 1-yard TD rumble at 1:29.

Toren Kelly reeled off a 54-yard rumble to set up the Titans’ game-opening scoring drive via O’Meara’s 1-yard sweep dash and Miller’s extra-point kick at 7:44 in the first frame.

Fairmont converted three TCU penalties into 42 of its ensuing 65-yard countering drive before Livesay steamrolled his way into the end zone from 12 yards out. A low snap on the PAT kick left the Cardinals trailing by one at the 3:09 mark.

Despite Cardinal linebacker Aaron Becker’s football-jarring hit and Harvey’s fumble recovery, Fairmont could not capitalize on the plus-one miscue near the end of the second quarter. After the Cardinals’ next punt, Jirik needed only one snap to fire an out pass to O’Meara, who sprinted by the hometown secondary for a 57-yard go-ahead TD with 4:37 to go before halftime.

Harvey made two catches for 54 yards and Williamson garnered six spirals for 40 yards for Fairmont, while O’Meara pocketed five receptions for a game-best 112 yards and one TD, and Factor contributed four catches for 62 yards for TCU.

Fairmont (4-3) plays host to St. Peter at 7 PM Thursday (Oct. 22) in its last regular-season finale at Thomas Mahoney Field, while Tri-City United (6-1) travels to Worthington on Tuesday night (Oct. 20).

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TCU       7 6 6   7 – 26

FHS       6 0 6 13 – 25

SCORING PLAYS

1st Quarter

TCU: Keegan O’Meara 1 run (Chase Miller kick), 7:44.

FHS: Jensen Livesay 12 run (conversion failed), 3:09.

2nd Quarter

TCU: Keegan O’Meara 57 pass from Kellen Jirik (kick failed), 4:37.

3rd Quarter

FHS: Jensen Livesay 1 run (kick failed), 7:12.

TCU: Parker O’Malley 4 run (run failed), 1:11.

4th Quarter

FHS: Jensen Livesay 6 run (Boe Kolbe kick), 10:34.

FHS: Jensen Livesay 1 run (kick failed), 1:29.

TCU: Parker O’Malley 6 run (Chase Miller kick), 0:14.

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TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: TCU 15; Fairmont 14. Rushing: TCU 32-201; Fairmont 25-81. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Yards): TCU 11-15-0-190; Fairmont 13-25-0-133. Fumbles-lost: Fairmont 0-0; TCU 5-3. Penalties: TCU 9-103; Fairmont 5-56.

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INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Keegan O’Meara (TCU) 10-63, Jensen Livesay (FHS) 16-62, Toren Kelly (TCU 3-55, Parker O’Malley (TCU 7-44. Passing: Kellen Jirik (TCU) 11-15-0-190; Jensen Livesay (FHS) 13-25-0-133. Receiving: Brayden Williamson (FHS) 6-40, Keegan O’Meara (TCU) 5-112, Brody Factor (TCU) 4-62, Travohn Harvey (FHS) 2-54.

Defense: Fumble recoveries: Travohn Harvey (FHS), Brayden Williamson (FHS) and Ethan Farnum (FHS).

By Charlie Sorrells

Web Prep Writer

BELLE PLAINE – “Our guys stepped up to our (coaching staff’s) challenge this week, and we finally turned the corner tonight,” said Fairmont mentor Mat Mahoney, whose football team posted its third consecutive victory – a dominating 27-7 decision over sectional opponent Belle Plaine on the Tigers’ home turf during Week 6 action Friday night.

Quarterback Jensen Livesay passed for 186 yards and two touchdowns to complement rushing for 52 more yards and a third score, running back Keyon Schutz produced his second 100-plus-yard rushing performance and one TD, while linebacker Aaron Becker and the Cardinals’ smothering defense held the high-octane Tigers’ offense to 194 yards – with only 50 coming in the second half.

After battling to 10 ½ minutes of scoreless football, Fairmont quick-step split end Brayden Williamson literally turned the corner after catching a Livesay spiral near the Belle Plaine sideline. Williamson eluded one defender before picking up a key block from guard Craig Schultze and outsprinted the Tiger secondary to the end zone for a 64-yard TD. Boe Kolbe kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 1:42 left in the first quarter.

Despite Becker recording two of his game-best three quarterback sacks to go with sure-handed tackles by ends Reed Johnson and Vincent Schultz and in-your-tracks stops by the secondary trio of Owen Terfehr, Travohn Harvey and Williamson, the Cardinals’ second of two lost fumbles prevented them from extending their one-TD lead in the second frame.

The Tigers capitalized on a short punt with time winding down before intermission, and generated the equalizer. North Dakota State and South Dakota State quarterback recruit Reed Creighton zipped an 18-yard strike to Iker Calderon to reach Fairmont’s 22 before later lofting a 19-yard scoring completion to Landon Wadsley. Wadsley got one foot down in the end zone by mere inches before Adrian Grilla’s PAT kick knotted the game at 7-all with 1:58 to go before halftime.

Livesay, who completed 12 of 21 passes, went to the air early and often to open the third quarter. The 6-foot-4 senior signal-caller found tight end Preston Geerdes over the middle for 9 yards before Schutz pounded out 13 on the ground. Livesay then rocketed back-to-back 20-yard missiles to Geerdes and Harvey to restore the Cardinals’ advantage on the scoreboard. Harvey made a leaping TD catch near the left pylon for six points before Kolbe kicked the extra point for a 14-7 edge at the 8:44 juncture.

Becker, Caiden Utesch, Johnson, Vincent Schultz and Fairmont’s relentless defense did not allow a Tiger first down until the final 2 minutes of the fourth quarter to allow Livesay and the Cardinal offense to assemble back-to-back time-consuming scoring drives to put the game in the win column.

Livesay engineered a 10-play, 41-yard point-producing march by threading a key 17-yard spiral to Harvey to keep the yard markers moving downfield. Livesay then rumbled into the end zone on a 15-yard gallop to widen Fairmont’s margin to 20-7 with 6:46 remaining in regulation.

Becker’s 10-yard quarterback sack on fourth-and-7 at the Tigers’ 33 regained possession for the Cardinals before Schutz and Mason Bicknase chewed up chunks of real estate before Schutz capped the sequence with a 5-yard TD run with 2:06 left in play.

Schutz finished with 112 yards on 18 carries to top Fairmont’s rushing performance of 200 yards on 38 totes, Geerdes made four catches for 57 yards and Williamson pocketed three receptions for 72 yards.

Fairmont (4-2) plays host to sectional rival Tri-City United at 7 PM Wednesday night in an Education Minnesota Week clash at Thomas Mahoney Field.

Fairmont 7 0 7 13 -- 27

Belle Plaine 0 7 0 0 -- 7

SCORING PLAYS

1st Quarter

FHS: Brayden Williamson 64 pass from Jensen Livesay (Boe Kolbe kick), 1:42.

2nd Quarter

BP: Landon Wadsley 19 pass from Reed Creighton (Adrian Grilla kick), 1:58.

3rd Quarter

FHS: Travohn Harvey 20 pass from Jensen Livesay (Boe Kolbe kick), 8:44.

4th Quarter

FHS: Jensen Livesay 15 run (kick failed), 6:46.

FHS: Keyon Schutz 5 run (Boe Kolbe kick), 2:06.

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: Fairmont 18; Belle Plaine 10. Rushing: Fairmont 38-200; Belle Plaine 26-63. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Yards): Fairmont 12-21-0-186; Belle Plaine 17-31-0-131. Fumbles-lost: Fairmont 3-2; Belle Plaine 3-0. Penalties: Fairmont 1-15; Belle Plaine 1-5.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Keyon Schutz (FHS) 18-112, Jensen Livesay (FHS) 8-52, Mason Bicknase (FHS) 8-40; Boden Siegle (BP) 8-35. Passing: Jensen Livesay (FHS) 12-21-0-186; Reed Creighton (BP) 17-31-0-131. Receiving: Fairmont: Preston Geerdes 4-57, Brayden Williamson 3-72, Travohn Harvey 2-37. Belle Plaine: Caden Koepp 9-27, Landon Wadsley 4-40, Evan Cahalan 2-41.

Defense: Fumble recoveries: Teegan Cieluch (BP) and Boden Siegle (BP). QB sacks: Aaron Becker (FHS) 3, Vincent Schultz FHS) 1, Reed Johnson (FHS) 1; Teegan Cieluch (BP). 

By Charlie Sorrells

Web Prep Writer

FAIRMONT – Fairmont Homecoming king candidate Brayden Williamson reigned supreme over Friday night’s Southeast Red District football game against the Albert Lea Tigers at Thomas Mahoney Field.

Williamson pocketed two of quarterback Jensen Livesay’s career-high four touchdown passes, delivered two pivotal punt returns to set up back-to-back first-half scores and tossed a 2-point conversion pass to Preston Geerdes for good measure by salvaging a low long snap during Fairmont’s sixth and final TD during Week 5 in Fairmont.

Keyon Schutz amassed a career-best 140 rushing yards and one score, Chase Birr caught an 11-yard TD spiral from Livesay to celebrate his 18th birthday and the Reed Johnson/Aaron Becker combination generated the Cardinals’ lone turnover and spear-headed a defense that limited the Tigers to 101 yards of offense to top a 45-6 rout.

“For the second game in a row, we were able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football,” said Fairmont mentor Mat Mahoney, whose offense erupted for 284 rushing yards to complement Livesay’s 92-yard passing performance. “Everything changed when we moved Reed Johnson to center on offense, and Max Nielsen, Luther Malo, Craig Schultze and Vinnie Schultz have finally started to mesh on both sides of him.”

Albert Lea safety Jayson Mikels recovered an early Fairmont fumble at the Tigers’ 32 only to watch one snap before Johnson and Becker regained possession for the Cardinals late in the first quarter. Becker, who’s coming off the injured list, delivered a football-jarring hit in Albert Lea’s backfield before Johnson recovered the fumble at the 32.

Schutz pounded out 10 yards on two totes before getting dragged down by his facemask to net 15 more yards. Livesay then lofted a 7-yarder to the pylon and was impressed by Williamson’s leaping one-handed catch for six points. Kolbe kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead at the 4:40 juncture.

Caiden Utesch’s stifling stop for no gain on second-and-9, combined with Becker’s body-rocking tackle for zero yards on fourth-and-2 prevented the Tigers from clawing at the Cardinals’ lead.

Owen Terfehr, who also returned from the injury list, joined forces with Williamson and Kolbe to help pin Albert Lea at the visitors’ 8 before the long snap for the ensuing punt sailed out of the end zone for two more Fairmont points.

Williamson’s 21-yard free-kick return and 15 more due to a facemask infraction put Livesay and Fairmont’s offense in business at the Albert Lea 34. Schutz took a draw play up the middle, cut outside and motored into the end zone from 26 yards out. Kolbe’s kick widened the gap to 16-0 at the 6:33 mark.

Williamson’s 25-yard punt return to the 50 later helped set up Livesay’s 17-yard TD strike to Williamson with only 1:39 remaining before intermission. Kolbe’s extra-point kick extended the Cardinals’ margin to 23-0.

Ryder Thate utilized his acceleration and velocity skills to return the third-quarter kickoff 48 yards to the Tigers’ 42. Thate later produced a tackle-evading 13-yard run to the 16 before Livesay spotted Travohn Harvey for a TD. Kolbe nailed the PAT for a 30-0 lead.

Amun-Ra Brown spoiled the Fairmont defense’s shutout bid by breaking loose for a 47-yard TD sprint to reduce Albert Lea’s deficit to 30-6 with 7:40 left in the third quarter.

Maison Ingvoldstad’s clutch recovery of the Tigers’ ensuing onside kick put the Cardinals in business again at the home team’s 48. Livesay zipped a 21-yard seam completion to Harvey before capping the short scoring drive with an 11-yard TD connection with Birr. Kolbe’s kick made it 37-6 with 5:21 to go in the third frame.

Becker’s stop on an Albert Lea fourth-and-4 fake punt-and-run play regained possession for Fairmont at the Tigers’ 28 before the bounces kept going in the Cardinals’ direction. Livesay lost the handle on the football on a keeper, fielded the bounce and rumbled 15 yards across the goal line for six more points.

Despite a low skidding line snap on the PAT play, Williamson – the kick holder – managed to quickly snatch the loose football from the grass before the pursuing Tigers picked it up, rolled right and lofted a 2-point conversion pass to Geerdes for the 29-point edge with only 21 seconds left in the third frame.

Fairmont (3-2) hits the road to Belle Plaine next Friday night (Oct. 9) for a 7 PM kickoff, while Albert Lea (2-3) travels to Floyd B. Johnson Field during Week 6 for a game with St. Peter.

Albert Lea 0--0--6--0 – 6

Fairmont 7-16-22-0 – 45

SCORING PLAYS

1st Quarter

FHS: Brayden Williamson 7 pass from Jensen Livesay (Boe Kolbe kick), 4:40.

2nd Quarter

FHS: Safety – Albert Lea snap on punt went out of end zone, 7:35.

FHS: Keyon Schutz 26 run (Kolbe kick), 6:33.

FHS: Williamson 17 pass from Livesay (Kolbe kick), 1:39.

3rd Quarter

FHS: Travohn Harvey 16 pass from Livesay (Kolbe kick), 10:09.

AL: Amun-Ra Brown 47 run (run failed), 7:40.

FHS: Chase Birr 11 pass from Livesay (Kolbe kick), 5:21.

FHS: Livesay 15 run (Preston Geerdes pass from Williamson), 0:21.

4th Quarter

No Scoring.

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: Fairmont 17; Albert Lea 1. Rushing: Fairmont 35-284; Albert Lea 28-87. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Yards): Fairmont 8-15-0-92; Albert Lea 2-5-0-14. Fumbles-lost: Fairmont 2-1; Albert Lea 3-1. Penalties: Fairmont 2-32; Albert Lea 7-65.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Keyon Schutz (FHS) 15-140, Ryder Thate (FHS) 5-52, Jensen Livesay (FHS) 4-39; Amun-Ra Brown (AL) 15-62. Passing: Livesay (FHS) 8-15-0-92; Charlie Murray (AL) 2-5-0-14. Receiving: Fairmont: Brayden Williamson 4-32, Travohn Harvey 3-49, Chase Birr 1-11. Albert Lea: Jayson Mikels 1-7, Mason Hrdalo 1-7.

Defense: Fumble recovery: Reed Johnson (FMT) and Jayson Mikels (AL).

By Charlie Sorrells

Web Prep Writer

FAIRMONT – Fairmont’s Boe Kolbe boomed punts during Friday night’s pregame warmups, but he never stepped onto Thomas Mahoney Field for an actual punt during Week 4’s football clash with the Austin Packers.

The hometown Cardinals – who had not scored in the previous nine quarters – converted all five of their first-half offensive possessions into touchdowns and mixed in a pair of punt returns for scores to coast to a 46-0 victory over the Packers and make shutout losses in Weeks 2 and 3 evaporate into thin air.

“We clicked on all cylinders tonight, with six different players contributing touchdowns to our balanced performance,” said Fairmont mentor Mat Mahoney. “We found our offensive identity through our running game – 229 yards, our defense played lights out by keeping Austin off the scoreboard and limiting them to 115 total yards, and obviously, our special teams delivered two huge plays.

“In all my years of coaching and playing this game, I can’t remember seeing two punt returns by the same team returned for touchdowns.”

Brayden Williamson – who combined with Carter Hanson for the pair of special-team gems – utilized a 20-yard punt return following Fairmont’s initial three-and-out defensive stand to put the Cardinals’ offense in business at the Packers’ 40. Keyon Schutz delivered rushes of 7 and 9 yards during the eight-play drive before powering his way into the end zone from 5 yards out to stake Fairmont to a quick 6-0 lead at the 7:55 mark.

Linebacker Mason Bicknase’s key stop of an Austin run for a 3-yard loss helped Fairmont’s defense force another punt and Williamson reeled off 32 yards on the return to gain the Packers’ 18. Ryder Thate – who topped the Cardinals’ offense with 104 yards on only nine totes – generated 10 yards on the ground in reaching the 1 before Jensen Livesay plowed across the line on a quarterback keeper for a 12-0 lead with 4:23 to go in the opening quarter.

Travohn Harvey later intercepted Austin quarterback Eli Arndt’s toss at the Cardinals’ 18 before Fairmont erupted for two long-distance gainers. Livesay – who completed 7 of 11 passes for 111 yards – zipped a 26-yard completion to Bicknase before Thate sprinted around right end and accelerated by the Packers’ secondary for a 37-yard TD. Boe Kolbe kicked the PAT to stake Fairmont to a 19-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Landon Traetow’s tackle for a double-digit loss of yards pinned Austin on the next series and forced a punt. Williamson fielded it, followed the Cardinal wedge’s sealing wall 55 yards to paydirt and turned a somersault into the end zone for the creative TD. Kolbe kicked the PAT for a 26-0 lead at the 10:06 juncture of the second quarter.

“I hope the fans enjoyed the somersault because it’ll be the last one I do since I got a 15-yard penalty for it,” said a grinning Williamson.

Defensive lineman Reed Johnson later tipped Austin’s fourth-and-5 pass attempt at the line of scrimmage to regain possession for Fairmont at its own 39. Livesay chewed up 23 yards on a screen to Brock Rodning before capping the seven-play scoring drive with a 21-yard strike to Williamson, who eluded a would-be Packer tackler for the breakaway TD. Kolbe’s kick made it 33-0 with 6:01 remaining before intermission.

Linebacker Caiden Utesch and defensive company created another three-and-out sequence by the Packers before Carter Hanson delivered a historical punt return. Hanson alertly caught the kick on the run at Austin’s 45 and outsprinted every potential Packer tackler for a TD. Kolbe kicked the PAT for a 40-point margin with 4:14 left before halftime.

After Fairmont delivered another three-and-out series, Livesay connected with Williamson on a pivotal 31-yard pass play into the left flat to reach the 3. Bicknase maneuvered up the middle for the score to cap the Cardinals’ point production at 46 with 12 seconds to go before intermission.

Fairmont linebacker Alex Fredriksen’s steal of the football from an Austin runner at the 3-yard line and ensuing 57-yard fumble return highlighted a scoreless second half.

Fairmont (2-2) plays host to Albert Lea for Homecoming next Friday night (Oct. 2) at 7 PM back at Thomas Mahoney Field. Austin (0-4) plays host to Plainview-Elgin-Millville at 7 PM next Friday at Wescott Sports Complex.

Austin 0 0 0 0 – 0

Fairmont 19 27 0 0 – 46

SCORING PLAYS

1st Quarter

FHS: Keyon Schutz 5 run (conversion failed), 7:55.

FHS: Jensen Livesay 1 run (kick failed), 4:23.

FHS: Ryder Thate 37 run (Boe Kolbe kick), 0:00.

2nd Quarter

FHS: Brayden Williamson 55 punt return (Boe Kolbe kick), 10:06.

FHS: Brayden Williamson 21 pass from Jensen Livesay (Boe Kolbe kick), 6:01.

FHS: Carter Hanson 45 punt return (Boe Kolbe kick), 4:14.

FHS: Mason Bicknase 3 run (kick failed), 0:12.

3rd Quarter

No Scoring.

4th Quarter

No Scoring.

TEAM STATISTICS

First Downs: Fairmont 16; Austin 10. Rushing: Fairmont 40-229; Austin 26-57. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Yards): Fairmont 7-11-0-111; Austin 6-17-1-58. Fumbles-lost: Fairmont 1-0; Austin 3-1. Penalties: Fairmont 3-31; Austin 3-30.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Fairmont: Ryder Thate 9-104, Mason Bicknase 7-42, Keyon Schutz 5-30. Austin: Lukas Jorgenson 13-50. Passing: Jensen Livesay (FHS) 7-11-0-111; Eli Arndt (A) 6-17-1-58. Receiving: Fairmont: Brayden Williamson 3-50, Mason Bicknase 2-30, Brock Rodning 1-23, Preston Geerdes 1-8. Austin: Jamison Bastyr 3-22, Talan Hall 2-14, Lukas Jorgenson 1-22.

Defense: Interception: Travohn Harvey (FHS). Fumble Recovery: Alex Frederiksen (FHS).

By Charlie Sorrells

Web Prep Writer

WASECA – Class AAA No. 4-ranked Waseca produced two special-team gems and a near pick-6 to extend a white-knuckled 7-0 halftime lead on the strength of 21 third-quarter points en route to a Southeast Central Red District football shutout of the Fairmont Cardinals on Friday night in Waseca.

Junior running back Samuel Selthun churned out a game-best 143 rushing yards on 22 totes, junior quarterback Kellen Klinger collected 91 total yards of offense and two rushing touchdowns, while senior cornerback Owen Rupe delivered a pivotal interception, two quarterback sacks and two PAT kicks to highlight the Bluejays’ 28-0 triumph over the Cardinals.

“We matched Waseca play-for-play for the first 20 minutes to keep the game tied at zero, so I’m proud of our guys’ effort during the first half,” said Fairmont mentor Mat Mahoney, whose team managed to trail Waseca by only a touchdown despite a 151-to-1 disadvantage in total yards during the initial two quarters. “We made a big special teams stop during the beginning of the second quarter but couldn’t capitalize on our field position.”

Fairmont linebacker Caiden Utesch, who had dropped Selthun for a rare 2-yard loss on third-and-7 at the Cardinals’ 36, sacked Klinger – who’s also the Bluejays’ punter – for a 14-yard setback via a potential kick on fourth-and-9 to regain possession.

Linebacker Jacob Knutson’s clutch tackle on a Fairmont run for a 3-yard loss helped to eventually regain the football for Waseca one series later, and Klinger and the Bluejays created the only points of the first half. Selthun maneuvered for 22 yards on back-to-back carries before Klinger combined two completions to Titan Rahe for 30 more to venture into Cardinal territory.

Facing a third-and-7 at Fairmont’s 12, a Waseca running back lost control of the pigskin that bounced near the 3-yard line and into the end zone, where Owen Honstad alertly executed a grass-staining head-first slide under a pile of Cardinal defenders to recover the football for a TD. Rupe kicked the PAT to stake the Bluejays to a 7-0 lead with 4:06 remaining in the first half.

Cardinal defensive back Travohn Harvey intercepted a Klinger toss at the Fairmont 25 with 56 seconds remaining in the opening half to keep Waseca off of the scoreboard heading into the lockerroom.

“The football literally did not bounce our way to open the third quarter,” said Mahoney, “and that play really flipped the field on us.”

Xander Rivera-Arett’s upending hit on the Cardinal kick returner jarred the football into the awaiting arms of Archer O’Brien, who returned the airborne fumble to Fairmont’s 20 during the first play of the second half.

Selthun then displayed his team-oriented style by delivering a path-clearing block that allowed Klinger to gain the 1 via a 6-yard run before Klinger rumbled across the goal line from there for a 13-0 lead as the ensuing PAT kick sailed wide at the 8:51 juncture of the third.

Rupe’s quarterback sack for an 11-yard loss later forced a Fairmont punt before Nolan Dufault reeled off a 35-yard return to put the Bluejays in business at the Cardinals’ 30. Selthun hammered his way to the 1 before Isaiah Dymeck crossed the goal line on a short run. Klinger muscled through the line for the 2-point conversion to widen Waseca’s lead to 21-0 with 5:14 left in the third.

Rupe then stepped in front of a Jensen Livesay toss to the flat and returned the interception 19 yards to the Cardinals’ 6. Klinger capped the two-play drive with a 6-yard keeper for six more points before Rupe kicked the extra point for a 28-point lead at 3:32 in the third.

Freshman Ryder Thate generated a team-leading 44 yards on six carries during Fairmont’s final offensive series of the district clash as both teams battled to a scoreless fourth frame.

Fairmont (1-2) plays its home-opener during Week 4 when it hosts Austin at 7 PM Friday night (Sept. 25) at Thomas Mahoney Field, while Waseca (3-0) travels to Norwood Young America to face Central in its game next Friday night.

Fairmont           0   0   0  0 –  0

Waseca            0   7 21  0 – 28

SCORING PLAYS

1st Quarter

No Scoring.

2nd Quarter

WAS: Owen Honstad fumble recovery in end zone (Owen Rupe kick), 4:06.

3rd Quarter

WAS: Kellen Klinger 1 run (kick failed), 8:51.

WAS: Isaiah Dymeck (Kellen Klinger run), 5:14.

WAS: Kellen Klinger 6 run (Owen Rupe kick), 3:32.

4th Quarter

No Scoring.

TEAM STATISTICS

First Downs: Waseca 12; Fairmont 6. Rushing: Waseca 40-197; Fairmont 25-58. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Yards): Waseca 6-12-1-47; Fairmont 5-9-1-35. Fumbles-lost: Fairmont 4-1; Waseca 2-0. Penalties: Waseca 4-30; Fairmont 2-10.

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INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Samuel Selthun (WAS) 22-143, Kellen Klinger (WAS) 11-44; Ryder Thate (FMT) 6-44. Passing: Klinger (WAS) 6-12-1-47; Jensen Livesay (FMT) 5-9-1-35. Receiving: Titan Rahe (WAS) 4-36; Travohn Harvey (FMT) 3-26.

Defense: Interceptions: Travohn Harvey (FMT) and Owen Rupe (WAS). Fumble recovery: Archer O’Brien (WAS). Sacks for loss: Owen Rupe (WAS) 2 QBs for minus-18; Caiden Utesch (FMT) 1 Punter for minus-14.

By Charlie Sorrells

Web Prep Writer

NEW ULM – If prep athletes don’t believe the benefits of summertime workouts, just ask New Ulm junior quarterback Owen Castleman.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Castleman capped two of the Eagles’ four scoring drives with 1-yard touchdown keepers and threaded a 32-yard TD toss to Jayden Broste to help power New Ulm to a 30-0 football triumph over the Fairmont Cardinals on Friday night in New Ulm.

“We’ve really come together as a team this year,” said Castleman, who completed 2 of 5 passes for 44 yards and the one score – without an interception. “Everybody (teammates) spent time in the weight room during the offseason to get bigger and stronger, and it paid off tonight.”

Ironically, Castleman – tipping the scales at a mere 175 pounds a year ago – threw three of the Eagles’ four interceptions and netted only 8 total passing yards in his team’s 43-8 loss in 2025. That was not the case for the sculpted New Ulm signal-caller on Friday night as his team defeated Fairmont for the first time since a 41-26 decision at Thomas Mahoney Field in 2014.

“It’s back to the drawing board for us,” said Fairmont mentor Mat Mahoney. “We’re going to have to retool a number of things on both offense and defense in order to get prepared for a quality team like Waseca.”

Nickelback Owen Terfehr and the Cardinal defense halted the Eagles’ initial drive before defensive back George Gag and his New Ulm teammates returned the favor after only six snaps by Fairmont’s offense.

Parker Ranweiler – who matched teammate Jeffrey Kral with 76 rushing yards apiece to pace the Eagles’ 201-yard, time-consuming ground game – grabbed a 12-yard screen from Castleman and later dragged defenders during a key 15-yard run to eventually set up Castleman’s keeper up the middle for six points. Kaden Steuber kicked the PAT for a 7-0 New Ulm lead with only 2:33 left in the first quarter.

Terfehr’s clutch 12-yard quarterback sack helped the Cardinals stymie the Eagles’ ensuing possession before University of North Dakota football commit Isaiah Friese utilized his 6-foot-6, 260-pound frame to deliver New Ulm’s first plus-side turnover. Friese blocked Fairmont’s punt and Broste pounced on the loose football at the Cardinals’ 20-yard line.

Hunter Heil’s 18-yard end-around sweep later reached the 10 on the heels of a New Ulm holding penalty before Ranweiler broke tackle attempts over left guard to cover the distance for a TD. Steuber’s kick doubled New Ulm’s margin to 14-0 with 8:56 left in the second quarter.

An unsportsmanlike infraction backed up Fairmont on the next possession and forced them to punt again. The 35-mile-per-hour gusts knocked down the Cardinals’ special-teams kick after traveling just 13 yards before Owen Castleman’s 32-yard strike to Broste over the middle on a fourth-and-7 play widened New Ulm’s lead. Steuber’s PAT kick made it 21-0 at the 6:13 mark of the second frame.

A personal foul penalty on New Ulm allowed Fairmont to eventually reach the Eagles’ 35 with time winding down before Miles Castleman stripped the Cardinal ball carrier on a run before Ranweiler scooped up the fumble to help preserve a 21-0 halftime edge.

Wideout Brayden Williamson’s option pass to tight end Preston Geerdes for a 24-yard completion to the 44 off the gadget-play toss from Livesay – combined with Livesay’s completions to Travohn Harvey for 14 and 9 yards, respectively – marched Fairmont to the New Ulm 11 with time winding down in the third quarter. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, another gadget pass play and two more incompletions turned the football back over to the Eagles.

Kral later accelerated up the middle, cut, juked and sprinted 65 yards to reach the Fairmont 2 to set up Castleman’s second 1-yard TD push with 10:17 remaining in regulation.

New Ulm received a safety at the 3:20 juncture when Fairmont fumbled a long snap in the end zone and fell on the miscue to close out the point production.

Fairmont (1-1) travels to Waseca for a 7 PM kickoff Friday night (Sept. 18) against the undefeated host Bluejays (2-0), while New Ulm (2-0) hits the road to Albert Lea for its Week 3 game.

Fairmont 0 0 0 0 – 0

New Ulm 7 14 0 9 – 30

SCORING PLAYS

1st Quarter

NU: Owen Castleman 1 run (Kaden Steuber kick), 2:33.

2nd Quarter

NU: Parker Ranweiler 10 run (Steuber kick), 8:56.

NU: Jayden Broste 32 pass from Castleman (Steuber kick), 6:13.

3rd Quarter

No Scoring.

4th Quarter

NU: Castleman 1 run (Steuber kick), 10:17.

NU: Fairmont recovered own fumble in end zone for safety, 3:20.

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TEAM STATISTICS

First Downs: Fairmont 9; New Ulm 8. Rushing: New Ulm 37-201; Fairmont 25-34. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Yards): Fairmont 9-24-0-83; New Ulm 2-5-0-44. Fumbles-lost: Fairmont 5-2; New Ulm 1-0. Penalties: Fairmont 5-54; New Ulm 6-45.

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INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Parker Ranweiler (NU) 13-76, Jeffrey Kral (NU) 3-76; Keyon Schutz (FHS) 13-21, Mason Bicknase (FHS) 5-18. Passing: Jensen Livesay (FHS) 7-22-0-59, Brayden Williamson (FHS) 1-1-0-24; Castleman (NU) 2-5-0-44. Receiving: Fairmont: Brayden Williamson 3-23, Travohn Harvey 3-23, Owen Terfehr 2-13, Preston Geerdes 1-24; Jayden Broste (NU) 1-32.

Defense: Fumble Recovery: Parker Ranweiler (NU). Blocked Punt Recovery: Broste (NU). Blocked Punt: Isaiah Friese (NU).

By Charlie Sorrells  

Web Prep Writer  

WORTHINGTON – Turnover after turnover after turnover …

Fairmont’s swarming defense created a single-game school-record seven turnovers – four interceptions and three fumble recoveries – while halfback Keyon Schutz rushed for two touchdowns and senior quarterback Jensen Livesay made his varsity debut by throwing for a game-best 193 yards and one TD apiece to Brayden Williamson and Owen Terfehr to highlight the Cardinals’ 34-0 season-opening triumph over Worthington on Friday night.

“Seven turnovers is quite a statistic in itself. Obviously, our defense played lights out and our offense capitalized on the good field position for three of our five scores tonight,” said Fairmont mentor Mat Mahoney. “I’m proud of our effort on both sides of the football, but we still have work to do as we committed three turnovers ourselves.

“I thought Jensen and the offense established our passing game right away during our first possession and got us off to a positive start.”

Cardinal nose guard Ethan Farnum’s flattening tackle for a 3-yard loss stymied the Trojans’ initial running play and forced a punt three snaps later.

Livesay zipped a key 12-yard strike to Travohn Harvey to convert a third-and-7 situation before connecting with Terfehr on a tackle-breaking, diving-to-the-pylon 27-yard touchdown by the senior wideout for a 6-0 lead. Boe Kolbe kicked the PAT for a seven-point edge with 8:06 remaining in the first quarter.

Williamson – who produced a game-leading 126 yards on four catches – delivered a pair of clutch plays for Fairmont during the next three series, but the visitors could not capitalize on the scoreboard. The fleet-footed Williamson juked his way to a 30-yard punt return and later garnered an interception, but Worthington held its ground behind Kason Spartz’s key run stops in consecutive series.

Terfehr – who pocketed four spirals for 43 yards on offense – displayed his sure hands by intercepting Trojan starting quarterback Isaiah Schroeder and returning the pick-off nearly 40 yards to Worthington’s 3 early in the second quarter. Schutz covered the remaining distance on an off-tackle run for six points. Kolbe nailed the extra point for a 14-0 lead at the 9:45 mark.

Linebacker Mason Bicknase and Fairmont’s defense prevented Worthington safety Hudson Scheepstra’s interception from setting up a score before Livesay and Williamson went to the airwaves with time winding down toward intermission.

Livesay hit Williamson in the flat before the senior speedster stutter-stepped a defender, broke a tackle, sprinted by three more Trojans, broke a couple of more tackles and covered up a slip of the football in the end zone for a TD covering 68 yards. Kolbe’s kick extended the Cardinals’ margin to 21-0 at the 2:55 mark.

Kolbe needed just 5 seconds to pocket Worthington’s fumble off of Kaden Bell’s ensuing kickoff at the Trojans’ 23 before Bicknase blasted into the end zone from 9 yards out to cap a four-play scoring drive with only 38 seconds left before halftime. Kolbe kicked the PAT for a 28-0 advantage.

Fairmont’s Luther Malo pocketed the first of his two fumble recoveries on the heels of teammate Reed Johnson’s football-jarring hit to offset Spartz’s fumble pick-off for Worthington during the third quarter’s early stages.

Malo’s second recovery under a rugby-style scrum at the Trojans’ 5 one series later set up Schutz’s 5-yard TD run up the middle for a 34-0 margin with 6:44 left in the third.

Brayden Pooley and Gavin Schomberg each produced an interception for the Cardinals during the fourth segment to ice the season-opening shutout.

Fairmont (1-0) hits the road to New Ulm on Friday (Sept. 11) for a 7 PM kickoff against the hometown Eagles on Johnson Field. Worthington (0-1) travels to St. Peter on Friday night.

Fairmont 7 21 6 0 – 34

Worthington 0 0 0 0 – 0

SCORING PLAYS

1st Quarter

FHS: Owen Terfehr 27 pass from Jensen Livesay (Boe Kolbe kick), 8:06.

2nd Quarter

FHS: Keyon Schutz 3 run (Kolbe kick), 9:45.

FHS: Brayden Williamson 68 pass from Livesay (Kolbe kick), 2:55.

FHS: Mason Bicknase 9 run (Kolbe kick), 0:38.

3rd Quarter

FHS: Schutz 5 run (kick blocked), 6:44.

4th Quarter

No Scoring.

TEAM STATISTICS

First Downs: Fairmont 7; Worthington 6. Rushing: Fairmont 28-91; Worthington 34-25. Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Yards): Fairmont 11-22-2-193; Worthington 3-14-4-37. Fumbles-Lost: Fairmont 2-1; Worthington 6-3. Penalties: Fairmont 3-58; Worthington 5-55.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Keyon Schutz (FHS) 12-68, Mason Bicknase (FHS) 5-22; Kian Ling (WOR) 5-19. Passing: Jensen Livesay (FHS) 11-21-2-193, Troy Peterson (FHS) 0-1-0-0; Isaiah Schroeder (WOR) 1-7-2-8, Keagan McCuen (WOR) 2-7-2-29. Receiving: Brayden Williamson (FHS) 4-126, Owen Terfehr (FHS) 4-43, Travohn Harvey (FHS) 2-20, Preston Geerdes (FHS) 1-4; Ethan Anderson (WOR) 2-29.

Defense: Interceptions: Fairmont: Brayden Williamson, Owen Terfehr, Brayden Pooley and Gavin Schomberg. Worthington: Hudson Scheepstra and Logan Kerkaert. Fumble Recoveries: Fairmont: Luther Malo 2, Boe Kolbe 1. Worthington: Austin Gruis 1.