Cardinals punch state ticket for 13th time

ABOVE: Fairmont’s Brett Williams celebrates a pass breakup late in the Section 3AAA Football Tournament Championship game against Waseca on Friday night at New Ulm High School.

NEW ULM – Fairmont’s dominant run game, led by senior running back Elijah Johnson, was enough to overcome the top-seeded Waseca Bluejays 17-12 Thursday night, punching the Cardinals’ ticket to the state football tournament for the 13th time in program history.

Despite having to hold off a third-quarter push by the Bluejays, the second-seeded Cardinals and their defense held on late, stopping a last-minute Waseca drive in the Section 3AAA Football Tournament title game at New Ulm High School.

“Our goal coming into this game was to control the line of scrimmage and let our big boys do their job and have EJ [Elijah Johnson], you know, get the carries and get the yards and that’s what we did,” said Fairmont head coach Mat Mahoney. “We just have been hitting on cylinders here the last couple weeks and we’re just so proud of the boys and how well they played.”

Johnson had a busy day on the ground to lead the Cardinals with 45 carries for 191 yards and two touchdowns while also adding a 9-yard reception.

Johnson said he and his teammates were fueled by a prior 20-19 loss in Waseca on Oct. 16, setting up an aggressive approach in the section title game.

“We were hungry, me and my linemen, we were hungry,” said Johnson. “We played a hell of a second half and we still lost the game [on Oct. 16], we were hungry for more and we wanted to come and win this one. We were aggressive, played aggressive and dominated the line of scrimmage.”

Cardinals quarterback Joe Long went 4 for 5 through the air and added 11 carries for 53 yards. Wide receiver Nolan Schultze had two catches for 12 yards and Hank Artz had two catches for 9 yards.

Fairmont dominated the first quarter with their run game led by Johnson that set up a 2-yard touchdown run for him followed by a Lucas Rosburg PAT to give Fairmont a 7-0 lead and end off a 17-play, 94-yard drive that saw only 3:49 left in the quarter.

In the second quarter Waseca managed to string together a drive but ultimately had to punt the ball away. Fairmont continued to keep the ball on the ground, extending its lead on the back of an 11-play, 65-yard drive ending with a 5-yard Johnson touchdown. Fairmont was able to regain possession and with a 25-yard field goal by Rosburg, Fairmont headed into halftime up 17-0.

Waseca came out of the break firing, opening the third with a 43-yard pass from Kellen Klinger that found receiver Bennett Ludwig, setting up back-to-back keepers by Klinger for the Bluejays’ opening score of the night. The extra point attempt was blocked by Caleb Chambers, however, holding the Bluejays to 6 points and bringing the score to 17-6. Fairmont was unable to get in the end zone on its next drive, handing the ball back to Waseca. With 6:30 left in the quarter, Klinger connected with Damarius Russell for a 46-yard pass resulting in a touchdown. The Bluejays decided to go for 2 but were unsuccessful with Klinger throwing the pass behind his intended receiver to make it 17-12.

Fairmont’s defense was tested in the fourth quarter, with Klinger finding Owen Honstad three times for 10, 8, and 21 yards before finding the Bluejays found themselves in a fourth-and-long situation. The drive was put to an end by Oliver Tordsen, giving Fairmont possession with 10:25 left on the clock. Despite being helped out by two penalties putting Fairmont into scoring territory, the Cardinals were unable to extend the lead and gave the ball back to the Bluejays, putting the game on their defense. The Bluejays began their drive on their own 27-yard line with a minute left in the game when Klinger threw a pass that was knocked into the hands of Ethan Hiller at the 49-yard line, but the Fairmont defense held its ground, not giving another inch until the final whistle blew and they had secured their spot as the Section 3AAA champions and advanced to the state tournament.

After missing the first matchup against the Bluejays with an injury, defensive end Trevor Maakestad has been back in full force since returning to the lineup in the Cardinals’ first playoff game this season against Luverne. On Friday, he had two sacks, one coming in the final minute to help preserve the Cardinals’ lead.

“It felt amazing, it felt good to be out there with the guys again,” said Maakestad. “Especially this being almost our last game or if you lose you’re out. So, all of us were there together with a good chemistry, it felt good.”

Fairmont is on to the state championship quarterfinals, which begin Nov. 9 at a time and location to be determined. Seeding is this weekend.