Back on the Grid — Members of the Fairmont Cardinals football team will begin the season by traveling to Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall for a game against the Marshall Tigers on Friday night. Front row (left to right): James Johnson, Jaron Schutz, Taylor Austin, Elijah Johnson, Levi Pulley, Jace Teberdal, Tyler Heckman, Ivan Martin, Devon Safric, Gage Cyphers, Caleb Chambers , Jacob Weimers. Row 2: David Barientos, Cooper Steuber, Assistant Coach Brent Schultz, Assistant Coach Sean Chambers, Assistant Coach Jesse Walters, Assistant Coach Brian Will, Head Coach Matt Mahoney, Assistant Coach Brad Johnson, Assistant Coach ‘s David Schoen, assistant coaches Terry Ehlert, Andres Rodas, Josiah Brockenhoff and Isaac Taplin. Row 3: Jon Fernandez, Hadan Toomer, Brock Latterman, Gunner Wells, Landen Meyerdahk, Dakota Madias, Brendan Schmidtke, Ethan Giades, Tyson Zatt, Parker Matthiasson, Conor Gronewald, Nolan Schultz, Owen Burmeister. Row 4: Cole Weimers, Hunter Johnson, Matthew Cohn, Blaise Geiger, Aden Welkham, Brett Williams, Jacob Singleton, Harmon Schrank, David Markestad, Hank Ertz, Nolan Hanson. Back row: Gage Borntrager, Ian Hatfield, Lucas Rothberg, Jamie Mueller, Oliver Todsen, Sawyer Todsen, Trevor Markestad, Reese Bunger, Gavin Junkermeier, Guy Davis. (Photo by Greg Abel)
FAIRMONT — Matt Mahoney’s 15 season at the helm of the Fairmont Football Program has been marked by a number of impressive milestones. South Central White District Championship. And the appearance of the fifth class AAA state.
But Mahoney and Cardinal players felt a little empty last November 13 in the state quarterfinals, when they lost 21-6 to Dussel Kokat on the Prior Lake turf.
“I think we all feel like we have unfinished business for this season. Players have been in the weight room since then, preparing to return to the field this fall. Here now. It’s time to come and keep chasing your dreams.” Mahoney, who is entering his 16th season with a staggering .688 winning percentage of 106-48, said:
Ironically, Fairmont won second place at the Prep Bowl at US Bank Stadium in 2018, after winning runner-up honors in 2011 when Mahoney made his first state appearance at the now-defunct Metrodome in Minneapolis. won second place. The Cardinals also won state berths in 2013, 2017, and last fall.
“We graduated some record players from last year’s team in Zach Jorgensen and Eli Anderson. We can’t replace those guys, but we’re not starting from scratch either.” Mahoney said. “We have two solid receivers (David Marketstad and Levi Pulley), two running backs in Johnson and Johnson (James and Elijah), and two good quarterbacks (Brendan Schmidtke and Blaise Geiger) is back in the offensive backfield.
“Our[offensive]line is bigger, stronger and more experience is coming back. I had my time.
Fairmont produced a total of 3,711 offensive yards in 2021, of which 2,428 were in the air and the remaining 1,283 were on the ground.
“We’ve been a little heavier on the passing side than we’ve been in the past, so this season we’re working on balancing those numbers a little better to make it more difficult for opposing teams to defend.” Mahoney said.
A 6-foot, 155-pound senior, Schmidtke connected on 26 of 36 passes for a staggering 406 yards and eight touchdowns. sophomore campaign.
“In the end, both[Schmidke and Geiger]have done a good job under the centre.” Mahoney said. “You won’t know goodbye until the lights come on Friday night.”
Mahoney and offensive coordinator Brian Will have made one key change to the Cardinals’ offensive backfield since 2021 that opponents will be watching.
“We decided to move Hank[Artz]to fullback so he can lead block and help our line create more running opportunities.” Mahoney said, referring to his 6-1, 230-pound third-year starter who earned postseason honors as both offensive and defensive lineman last fall. “He’s an athlete who gives us a diverse skill set.”
James Johnson returns to running back after finishing second with the Cardinals with 1 TD on 90 carries for 415 yards. This fall, his younger brother Elijah will rotate alongside his Johnson and speedy senior Landen his Meyer Dark.
But Mahoney still plans to capitalize on the passing skills of his two quarterbacks, with Markestad and Pulley returning after turning in solid stats a year ago. finished second with 25 catches for 414 yards and 3 TDs, while Pooley had 242 yards and 4 points on 12 tosses.
“Add Nolan Schultz, Brock Latterman, Cooper Stuber and Jace Teberdal to your split ends and you always have six receivers you can rely on.” Mahoney said.
Recruited by more and more colleges, including Minnesota State University-Mankato, the 6-7, 283-pound Toadsen will return to left offensive tackle, returning starter Barrientos to guard. Junkermeyer will play the role of right guard, Singleton the tackle and Wells the snap. Junior Ethan Giades starts tight at his end to close out his line, while reserves Lee Buncher and Cole his Weemers provide block depth in the trenches.
Flipping the field, defensive coordinator Brad Johnson regains his quickness and strength in the forward seven positions on a 5-2 bases alignment, but will have to rebuild around Marketstad in the secondary this fall.
Quick twitch rushers Artz and Gage Cyphers handle the end spot, while Trudsen and Junkermeyer return to tackle positions to flank 6-5, 295-pound senior nose guard Jamie Mueller.
Parker Matthiasson, Tyson Tate, and Josiah Brockenhoff also get rep’s in the front-line rotation, and Johnson gives proficient depth to pressure opposing offenses.
“We plan to have some flexibility in the defensive line this season, which should allow us to jump to another set without sub-outing.” Mahoney said.
Surety Aden Welkham returns to linebacker, joins Elijah Johnson and sophomore Caleb Chambers, and Markestad returns to anchor in the secondary.
Mahoney hopes to capitalize on the speed of James Johnson and Randen Meyerdark in the safety position, with Cooper Stuber and Brock Latterman seeing time in the other cornerback spots.Purley, Connor Gronewold and Matthew Cohn add depth to the defensive backfield.
Marketstad will once again handle both kickoffs and punts, and Owen Burmeister will return as the Cardinals’ placekicker and extra points specialist. Last season, Burmeister completed his 38 of his 45 PATs, while Marketstad threw his 9 of his 22 punts for the Fairmont for a 34.0-yard average.
The Fairmont are accustomed to hitting the highway in the first half of their eight-game regular season schedule, which opens at 7 p.m. Friday night at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall before moving to Floyd B. Johnson Field in St. Peter on Saturday. increase. September 10, 1:00 p.m. kick-off.
The Cardinals will host Jordan in Week 3 and travel to Waseca in Week 4. Fairmont will face New Ulm at his homecoming on Friday 30 September before traveling to Worthington for Game 6 and hosting Luverne in Week 7 to conclude his season as a regular. Rival Blue Earth will kick off the season by hosting his area at Fairmont’s Mahoney Field on Wednesday, October 19th.
“It’s a tough schedule to start, but it’s not how you start the season that matters, but how you finish it.” Mahoney said.
Mahoney expects Waseca to become one of the top competitors in the Section 3 AAA playoffs this fall due to its strong heritage and excellent coaching staff.
Dave Shoen, Shawn Chambers, Terry Ehlert, Brent Schultze, Eli Redenius and Jesse Walters round out Mahoney’s coaching staff on the sidelines and booths this season.
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