Cardinals cap flag football regular season at 4-4

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ALL-DISTRICT : Members of the Fairmont Cardinal flag football team earning all-District 4 honors include (pictured left to right): Adriana Leiding, Audrina Suckow, Kylee Desjarlais, Norah Traetow, Macy Smith, Allissa Moore and Kaymarie Desjarlais. Photo credit Kandice Amundson 

6/8/25  

By Charlie Sorrells
Fairmont Football Association Contributor

FAIRMONT – Prior to Fairmont’s first-ever flag football practice on April 21, freshman Allissa Moore and her Cardinal teammates had never either run or defended a ‘6’ passing route. In fact, Moore and her fellow defensive backs and receivers had not even heard of any of the routes in head coach Mat Mahoney’s offensive playbook.
 Oh, the difference two months under the watchful guidance of Mahoney, defensive coordinator Brad Johnson, offensive coordinator Courtney Schoellerman, assistant coach Ashley Scheevel and high school volunteer Brett Williams can make – and did during the Cardinal program’s debut season.
After losing its first two games of the spring campaign, Fairmont reeled off six consecutive victories to earn a share of the Minnesota Vikings-sponsored District 4, Gold Division regular-season crown. The Cardinals went on to lose a 34-14 first-round playoff game to Bloomington to finish with an impressive 6-3 record.
 “Truthfully, I had no idea of what to expect out of our players, but I’m extremely proud of their hard work and dedication to learning the game,” said Mahoney, who’s also Fairmont High School’s head football coach in the fall and activities director. “I think the girls learned a lot from our coaching staff, but I also believe it worked vice versa in the fact that we learned a lot from them.”
In addition to the team’s 66.7 percent winning clip, Mahoney was impressed when seven of the program’s flag footballers earned all-District 4 honors for their performances on the 50-yard long gridiron this spring.
 Moore became the first Cardinal in the sport to earn an individual postseason award on the strength of her 10-interception performance in only nine games. The District 4 Defensive Player of the Year topped the league’s interception charts, highlighted by a pair of pick-6s by returning two for touchdowns.
 “Allissa was always in the right spot on defense,” said Mahoney. “She possesses good speed so she was able to close on any underthrown passes by the opposing quarterback and pick them off.
“Allissa and Chloe Darnell – who had five interceptions on the season – really made it difficult on the other teams’ offenses.” Moore also contributed nine catches for 125 yards and one touchdown in her role as a part-time receiver.
 Junior quarterback Audrina Suckow, freshman receiver Adriana Leiding, senior receiver/defensive back Kaymarie Desjarlais, junior receiver Kylee Desjarlais, senior center/tight end Norah Traetow and senior defensive liner/tight end Macy Smith joined Moore as Cardinals meriting selection to the all-district team. Suckow displayed her accurate arm by completing 170 of 265 passes for a clip of 64.2% en route to 1,525 yards and 28 touchdowns. In fact, Suckow established an incredible mark of 20 consecutive completions during the Cardinals’ 41-0 win over Hopkins. “Audrina had a huge season for us,” said Mahoney. “She picked up the plays and the game’s terminology quickly, had a positive attitude on and off the field, and always learned from her mistakes to improve steadily throughout the year.”
 Leiding and Kaymarie Desjarlais proved the key receivers on the opposite end of Suckow’s spirals this spring. Leiding, a fleet-footed freshman, topped Fairmont’s offensive charts with 72 catches for 634 yards and 14 Tds – including the only two 6-point scores in the playoff loss to Bloomington.
“Adri proved to be our sparkplug on offense,” said Mahoney. “She possesses great hand-eye coordination, plus she’s so athletic that she’s able to get away from defenders with a quick spin or juke move.” Kaymarie Desjarlais also proved a valuable receiver in the Cardinals’ offense by garnering a second-best team total of 38 receptions for 327 yards and eight touchdowns. The senior co-captain also pocketed one of Fairmont’s 20 interceptions.
 “Kaymarie was truly a valuable player for us in the fact she was our only player who played both offense and defense on a regular basis, game in and game out,” said Mahoney. “She has great hands, and a good understanding of the game on both sides of the line of scrimmage.”
 Kylee Desjarlais, the junior sibling to Kaymarie, proved a key player on offense by making 24 receptions for 211 yards and four Tds. “Kylee was yet another player with good hands and always knew where to go on the field,” said Mahoney. “She and Adri were our two best receivers to make plays in the red zone as conversion specialists.”
 Traetow, a senior co-captain, perfected the skills of the Cardinals’ center position and evolved into a solid receiver on underneath-coverage routes, finishing with 27 catches for 244 yards.
“Norah did a great job of snapping the football, and also had a good feel for finding the open spots in the opposing defenses to make clutch catches for us. She was a very good possession receiver for us, too,” said Mahoney.
 Smith, one of Fairmont Area’s top defenders during the fall soccer season, made a smooth transition to flag football this spring. The senior co-captain pocketed one interception from her defensive line position, and contributed three catches for 33 yards in a limited receiving role.
 “Macy and Maya (Earhart) evolved into our unsung heroes in the defensive trenches,” said Mahoney. “They both perfected the specific skill of pulling flags, which is more difficult than people think, and both did a nice job of containing the opposing quarterback and running game.”
 “We (coaching staff) will miss our seniors next spring and appreciate all of their contributions to building the foundation for this program, and look forward to working with the girls we have coming back,” said Mahoney. 

5/18/25  

By Charlie Sorrells
Fairmont Football Association Contributor

SWEEP TALK: Fairmont head flag football coach Mat Mahoney (red jacket) gives a post-game talk after his team's two-game sweep on Sunday in Lakeville. Assistant coaches Brett Williams (black sweatshirt), Courtney Schoellerman (white sweatshirt) and Brad Johnson (back with cap), along with players Maya Earhart (26), Adriana Leiding (2), Allissa Moore (31), Audrina Suckow (blue spikes) and Norah Traetow (back right), listen to Mahoney's words of wisdom. (Photo by Charlie Sorrells) 

LAKEVILLE – Interception Incorporated.
 Fairmont trailed only twice during the final two regular-season flag football games on Sunday before the Cardinals’ sure-handed defense controlled the passing airwaves to reverse the momentum in their direction on the artificial turf at Lakeville South High School.
 Chloe Darnell pocketed two interceptions, while leading flag-grabber Maya Earhart, Kaymarie Desjarlais and Macy Smith supplied one pick apiece to help set up half of quarterback Audrina Suckow’s 10 passing touchdowns in a sweep of Waterville-Elysian-Morristown and Lakeville North during Week 4 action.
 Fairmont doubled up WEM by a 26-13 margin before dispatching Lakeville North 39-13 to extend its seasonal winning streak to six consecutive games to cap the regular season.
The Cardinals (6-2) await the results of the playoff pairings that will determine their first-round district opponent, kickoff time and venue on Sunday, June 1. Teams must win their opener to advance to Round 2 of the district tournament later that day.
 “Week after week, these girls just keep improving and every player has contributed a number of key plays to keep us on the winning path,” said Fairmont head coach Mat Mahoney. “Our defense really stepped up today and delivered some huge plays at critical times in both games.”
Mahoney’s postgame words proved as accurate as an Audrina Suckow spiral as Darnell’s first interception and return to WEM’s 9-yard line gave Fairmont a short field to hit paydirt. Suckow zipped a touchdown toss to Kaymarie Desjarlais on first down to stake the Cardinals to a quick 6-0 lead.
 Quarterback Alenka Jans answered the challenge for WEM by connecting to Brooklyn Novack for a key 23-yard completion before spotting Robynn Schwichtenberg on a 26-yard sideline fade to knot the game. Jans then fired a 1-point conversion pass to Breana Masso to swing a 7-6 lead to WEM.
With 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the first half, Earhart pocketed an interception for Fairmont and returned the football to WEM’s 18. Suckow needed only one toss to find Adriana Leiding for a TD and a 12-7 lead. Suckow went on to finish the two-game span 46 of 65 passing for 374 yards and 10 scores, while Leiding combined for 19 catches, 164 yards and four Tds.
 Kaymarie Desjarlais then delivered a pivotal pick only two snaps later, returning the interception to WEM’s 15. Suckow wasted no time in firing a 6-pointer to Leiding, who used a nifty spin move to gain the end zone. Suckow and Leiding connected on the conversion pass for a 19-7 halftime lead.
Jans responded with a 3-yard scoring strike to Schwichtenberg to open the second half to narrow WEM’s gap to 19-13 as the two defenses held their ground down the stretch. Earhart’s quick-reflex flag rip halted WEM’s next drive before Fairmont regained possession via a punt.
 Suckow zipped passes of 18, 4 and 17 yards to Kaymarie Desjarlais, Leiding and Norah Traetow, respectively, to march downfield before finding Leiding on a 6-yard crossing route. Suckow and Leiding combined pitch-and-catch skills again for a 26-13 margin. Macy Smith, Earhart, Allissa Moore and Kaymarie Desjarlais eventually halted WEM’s late offensive drive at Fairmont’s 6 as time expired.
 Traetow supplied seven receptions for 63 yards, while Kaymarie Desjarlais chipped in six catches for 53 yards and a score in Game 1.
 Charley Ray flipped the script for Lakeville North in Fairmont’s second game on Sunday, returning a rare interception to Fairmont’s 5 during the second series. Eva Kurien grabbed the ensuing TD toss from Nova Beaulieu before Allissa Moore batted away the conversion pass to keep the game at 6-0.
Earhart later tipped North’s pass on a fourth-and-3 situation to regain possession for Fairmont. Suckow connected on passes to Traetow and Leiding to set up Kaymarie Desjarlais’ 4-yard TD catch to tie the game at 6-all.
 Darnell’s second interception of the day three possessions later created another offensive opportunity for the Cardinals at their own 24. Suckow delivered three consecutive strikes to Leiding, with the last one resulting in a 5-yard score. Suckow hit Traetow on the conversion pass to widen Fairmont’s lead to 13-6 with 4 minutes left before intermission.
 Suckow and Fairmont’s offense then shifted into high gear during the second 20-minute half, with the junior quarterback completing seven straight spirals during the next two series to widen the lead to 26-7. Traetow made a clutch 14-yard reception to convert a key fourth down for the Cardinals before Kylee Desjarlais caught Suckow’s 7-yard scoring pass. Suckow fired a 5-yard TD strike to Kaymarie Desjarlais following the Cardinals’ next fourth-down stop before shuffling a conversion pass to Leiding for a 19-point advantage.
 Macy Smith’s interception and near pick-6 return to North’s 3 set up Kaymarie Desjarlais’ 2-yard TD catch with 8 minutes left in regulation. Suckow added a 3-yard scoring completion to Traetow and a 1-point conversion pass to Kylee Desjarlais to put the game away at 39-13.
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Fairmont      19-7–26
WEM             7-6–13
Scoring Plays
1st Half
FHS: Kaymarie Desjarlais 9 pass from Audrina Suckow (pass failed).
WEM: Robynn Schwichtenberg 22 pass from Alenka Jans (Breana Masso pass from Jans).
FHS: Adriana Leiding 18 pass from Suckow (pass failed).
FHS: Leiding 15 pass from Suckow (Leiding pass from Suckow).
2nd Half
WEM: Schwichtenberg 3 pass from Jans (pass failed).
FHS: Leiding 6 pass from Suckow (Leiding pass from Suckow).
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Fairmont Individual Statistics
Offense: Passing: Audrina Suckow 25-35-0-224 & 4 Tds. Receiving: Adriana Leiding 11-102 & 3 Tds; Norah Traetow 7-63; Kaymarie Desjarlais 6-53 & 1 TD; Allissa Moore 1-6. Rushing: Kaymarie Desjarlais 1-18; Leiding 1-8.
Defense: Interceptions: Chloe Darnell, Maya Earhart & Kaymarie Desjarlais.
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Fairmont            13-26–39
L’ville North         6-  7–13
Scoring Plays
LN: Eva Kurien 5 pass from Nova Beaulieu (pass failed).
FHS: Kaymarie Desjarlais 4 pass from Suckow (pass failed).
FHS: Leiding 5 pass from Suckow (Traetow pass from Suckow).
2nd Half
FHS: Kylee Desjarlais 7 pass from Suckow (pass failed).
FHS: Kaymarie Desjarlais 5 pass from Suckow (Leiding pass from Suckow).
FHS: Kaymarie Desjarlais 2 pass from Suckow (pass failed).
LN: Charley Ray 5 pass from Alex Loesch (run failed).
FHS: Traetow 3 pass from Suckow (Kylee Desjarlais pass from Suckow).
…
Fairmont Individual Statistics
Offense: Passing: Suckow 21-30-1-150 & 6 Tds. Receiving: Leiding 8-62 & 1 TD; Traetow 7-57 & 1 TD; Kaymarie Desjarlais 4-17 & 3 Tds; Kylee Desjarlais 2-14 & 1 TD. Rushing: Moore 1-5; Leiding 1-4.
Defense: Interceptions: Chloe Darnell and Macy Smith. 

5/4/25  

By Charlie Sorrells
Fairmont Football Association Contributor

Pictured - DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS: Chloe Darnell (18), Leamonie Wilson (4) and Allissa Moore (31) combined for seven interceptions during the Cardinals' two-game flag football sweep Sunday in Waterville. (Photo by Charlie Sorrells)  

WATERVILLE – Oh, the difference a week of preparation can make in high school sporting events.
Fairmont defensive back Allissa Moore pocketed five interceptions – including a pair returned for touchdowns – while quarterback Audrina Suckow completed 39 of 60 passes for eight scores and zero interceptions to power the Cardinals to back-to-back victories over Lakeville North and Lakeville South, respectively, during girls flag football action Sunday in Waterville.
 “I whole-heartedly believe in the theory that a lot can happen between Week 1 and Week 2 during fall football, and it proved true today,” said Fairmont head coach Mat Mahoney, whose Cardinal flag footballers coasted to an opening 39-19 triumph over North before avenging a Week 1 loss via a 40-33 cardiac comeback victory over South in Game 2. South flattened Fairmont 46-6 during the Cardinals’ first-ever flag football game last Sunday at Mahoney Field in Fairmont.
Week 2’s rematch between South and Fairmont appeared to continue the trend from 7 days prior as the Lakeville program built a 20-0 halftime lead on Sunday in Waterville.
“Allissa Moore, Leamonie Wilson, Chloe Darnell and our defense really made their presence known during the second half against Lakeville South by combining for an incredible (four) inteceptions – with pick-6s by Allissa and Leamonie putting points on the board for us,” said Mahoney, whose defense collected seven total pickoffs during the two-game span. “Audrina utilized seven different receivers, threw 8 touchdowns and did not commit a turnover as our offense picked it up a notch, too.”
 Darnell’s interception slammed the brakes on South’s first play of the second half before Suckow fired a 1-yard scoring strike to Adriana Leiding. The sure-handed Leiding finished the doubleheader with a team-best 16 catches for 187 yards and four scores.
The Cardinals’ quarterback then zipped a 1-point conversion pass to Kaymarie Desjarlais to reduce Fairmont’s deficit to 20-7 before Wilson delivered a defensive gem for another quick six points only four plays later. Wilson intercepted a South pass and sprinted 40 yards to paydirt before Leiding grabbed a 1-point conversion pass from Suckow to inch within 20-14.
South quarterback Alexa Dobesh answered by hitting Caitlin Beauchamp on spirals of 18, 18 and 4 yards, respectively, to restore a 12-point lead during the ensuing series.
 Suckow countered by hitting Kylee Desjarlais on a 13-yarder before rocketing three passes to Leiding for a total of 36 yards to set up Kylee Desjarlais’ 1-yard TD catch and her following 1-point conversion reception to whittle the Cardinals’ gap to 26-21.
Suckow then connected on 6 of 7 throws, with Kaymarie Desjarlais, Kylee Desjarlais, Leiding and Macy Smith each garnering passes to reach the 10-yard line. Suckow’s slant pass to the middle of the field ricocheted from Kaymarie Desjarlais’ sure hands to Kylee Desjarlais’ gloves to inch Fairmont ahead 27-26 with time winding down in the second 20-minute half.
Moore then delivered the most pivotal defensive gem of the game, picking off a Dobesh pass and motoring 35 yards for her second TD of the two-game span to stake the Cardinals to a 33-26 margin. Moore, however, was not done with her pick-pocketing as Fairmont freshman defensive back intercepted another South pass and returned the football to the opposing 10. Moore covered the remaining distance in two carries, capped by a 7-yard TD rumble over right end. Suckow connected on the 1-point conversion pass to Kylee Desjarlais for a 40-26 lead.
 Dobesh made the game closer by finding Aubrey Beauchamp on an 11-yard scoring strike before converting the 1-pointer to Caitlin Beauchamp to inch South within seven, but Fairmont was able to run out the final 30 seconds.
 In Game 1 against Lakeville North, Fairmont proved 100% efficient by cashing all four first-half possessions into Tds to build a 26-6 lead by intermission.
Leiding nabbed a 7-yard spiral from Suckow for the initial six points, the fleet-footed Leiding left nothing but a vapor trail on an ensuing 38-yard breakaway TD catch before Suckow zipped a 3-yarder to Kaymarie Desjarlais. Kylee Desjarlais corraled the following conversion pass for a 20-6 lead. Leiding capped the opening half with a 36-yard catch-and-sprint reception from Suckow to build a 20-point lead by the break.
 Holding a 26-19 lead later in the second half, Kaymarie Desjarlais pocketed a 1-yard TD pass from Suckow before Leiding chipped in the 1-point conversion catch. Moore delivered two interceptions during the final 2 minutes of regulation, with her final defensive highlight being a 45-yard pick-6 return to close out the game at 39-19.
 Kylee Desjarlais finished with 11 catches for 119 yards and two Tds for the Cardinals, while Kaymarie Desjarlais contributed five total receptions for two scores.
Fairmont (2-2) travels to Burnsville next Sunday (May 11) for games against Eden Prairie and Hopkins.
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(Game 1)
Fairmont                    26-13–39
Lakeville North            6-13–19
Scoring Plays
1st Half
North: Chenda Sdoeung 45 run (pass failed).
FHS: Adriana Leiding 7 pass from Audrina Suckow (pass failed).
FHS: Leiding 38 pass from Suckow (Leiding pass from Suckow).
FHS: Kaymarie Desjarlais 3 pass from Suckow (Kylee Desjarlais pass from Suckow).
FHS: Leiding 36 pass from Suckow (pass failed).
2nd Half
North: Charley Ray 42 run (run failed).
North: Sophia Soh 45 pass from Nova Beaulieu (Ray pass from Beaulieu).
FHS: Kaymarie Desjarlais 1 pass from Suckow (Leiding pass from Suckow).
FHS: Allissa Moore 45 interception return (Time expired).
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Individual Fairmont Statistics
Passing: Audrina Suckow 20-31-0-230 Yards & 5 Tds. Receiving: Adriana Leiding 7-123 & 3 Tds; Kylee Desjarlais 5-82; Kaymarie Desjarlais 4-27 & 2 Tds; Chloe Darnell 1-9; Macy Smith 1-7; Norah Traetow 1-6; Allissa Moore 1-4. Rushing: Moore 2-16; Leiding 2-12; Kaymarie Desjarlais 1-15. Interceptions: Moore 2 (1 Pick6).
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(Game 2)
Fairmont                   0-40–40  
Lakeville South       20-13–33
Scoring Plays
1st Half
South: Caitlin Beauchamp 15 pass from Alexa Dobesh (Caitlin Beauchamp pass from Dobesh).
South: Caitlin Beauchamp 8 pass from Dobesh (Caitlin Beauchamp pass from Dobesh).
South: Shaniya Sharpe 24 pass from Dobesh (pass failed).
2nd Half
FHS: Leiding 1 pass from Suckow (Kaymarie Desjarlais pass from Suckow).
FHS: Leamonie Wilson 40 interception return (Leiding pass from Suckow).
South: Caitlin Beauchamp 4 pass from Dobesh (pass failed).
FHS: Kylee Desjarlais 1 pass from Suckow (Kylee Desjarlais pass from Suckow).
FHS: Moore 35 interception return (pass failed).
FHS: Moore 7 run (Kylee Desjarlais pass from Suckow).
South: Aubrey Beauchamp 11 pass from Dobesh (Caitlin Beauchamp pass from Dobesh).
***
Individual Fairmont Statistics
Passing: Suckow 19-29-0-148 Yards & 3 Tds. Receiving: Leiding 9-64 & 1 TD; Kylee Desjarlais 6-37 & 2 Tds; Traetow 2-23; Kaymarie Desjarlais 1-15; Smith 1-9. Rushing: Moore 3-12 & 1 TD; Leiding 2-19; Kaymarie Desjarlais 1-5. Interceptions: Moore 3 (1 Pick6); Wilson 1 (1 Pick6) and Chloe Darnell 1.