The Fairmont Area Football Team

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 Mahoney putting Fairmont football hopes ‘on the line’

By Charlie Sorrells
Fairmont Football Association Writer
FAIRMONT – Anyone who’s ever attended a Fairmont football practice knows Cardinal head coach Mat Mahoney has a penchant for music from the 1980s and 1990s, as the words and melodies permeate the air on campus.
Entering his 19th year at the Cardinals’ helm, Mahoney’s outlook for the upcoming season can aptly be summarized by a song that’s likely among his play list – Gerry Rafferty’s ‘Right Down the Line.’
“We’re blessed with long, tall and strong guys in the trenches on both offense and defense this season,” Mahoney said in reference to 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior co-captain DJ Miller; 6-2, 230-pound senior co-captain Tyler Bicknase; 6-4, 195-pound junior Reed Johnson; 6-4, 200-pound sophomore Preston Geerdes; and 6-4, 175-pound junior Vincent Schultz.
“While he doesn’t have those five guys’ height, Jake Ehlert truly is the glue that holds our offensive line together from his center position,” Mahoney said in reference to the 6-0, 235-pound snapper and seasoned starter. “I guess you could accurately say we’re putting it all ‘on the line’ this season.
“After graduating (record-setting running back) EJ (Elijah Johnson), our approach on offense really hasn’t changed as much as people are thinking as (offensive coordinator) Brian (Wille) will look to do a little bit of everything to keep the opposing defenses guessing.”
Joe Long, a 6-0, 155-pound senior co-captain, returns at quarterback to put Wille’s multi-faceted arsenal in motion after completing 90 of 120 passes for a 75% accuracy clip, 1,245 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024.
“We’ve got an experienced quarterback who knows our offense inside and out, reads the other team’s defense and knows who to get the ball to. Joe checks all the boxes for our coaching staff,” Mahoney said in reference to Long.
Tavian Harvey, a 5-11, 140-pound senior, and 5-10, 155-pound senior co-captain Merritt Pomerenke return to catch spirals from Long this fall. Tavian Harvey produced a second-best team total of 27 receptions for 257 yards and one TD, while Pomerenke made 10 catches for 52 yards in limited playing time.
Mahoney will add depth to his receiving core in the form of 6-1, 175-pound junior Owen Terfehr; 6-2, 145-pound junior Travon Harvey; and 5-11, 150-pound senior Jordan Thompson when the Cardinals kick off the 2025 football campaign against Worthington at 7 PM Friday, Aug. 29, at Thomas Mahoney Field in Fairmont.
While Schultz and Geerdes will represent towering targets at tight end, 6-1, 205-pound senior co-captain Cole Brockmann and 6-2, 175-pound senior Ty Tumbleson will combine to handle the handoffs out of the offensive backfield.
“Honestly, you don’t replace an EJ (Elijah Johnson) – he was a rare combination of field vision, speed, power and quickness that you only see every 20 years as a coach,” said Mahoney. “With that said, we’ll figure out a way to split the running duties between a pair of big powerful runners in Cole and Ty. With their abilities behind the blocking of our guys upfront, I think we’ll move the markers again.”
Miller and Reed Johnson will handle the offensive tackle spots, while Bicknase will flank Ehlert at one of the guard positions. Luther Malo, a 6-0, 215-pound sophomore, and 5-8, 260-pound senior Ryan Szafryk will both see playing time at the other guard spot, with 6-1, 360-pound junior Ethan Farnum and 6-0, 190-pound senior Caine Gronewold adding depth at the tackle position.
“Defensive coordinator Brad Johnson will probably go with a 4- or 5-man front based on what the opposing offense gives us, and you’ll see some of the same names in the line on defense that fill out our offensive line,” said Mahoney. “We’ve got three ‘horses’ along our interior line in Tyler Bicknase, DJ Miller and (6-0, 270-pound senior) Mathew Martin who are going to create problems for opposing blockers.”
Mahoney also looks for 6-5, 200-pound senior Nolan Anderson, Vincent Schultz, Reed Johnson and Preston Geerdes to rotate at the defensive end positions.
“Nolan really turned in a good camp at Augustana this summer, and we’re looking for a break-out type of season from him this fall,” said Mahoney.
Tumbleson and Brockmann return to provide stability and solid tackling at linebacker, with 6-1, 200-pound freshman Aaron Becker figuring into the starting mix. Chase Birr, a 5-10, 175-pound junior, and 5-10, 147-pound Keyon Schutz will be counted on for reliable rotations at linebacker.
The Harvey siblings – Tavian and Travon – will combine with 6-0, 155-pound junior Dakota Wiley to handle the cornerback duties, with 5-7, 145-pound junior Brayden Williamson, Landon Traetow, Terfehr, Pomerenke and Thompson figuring into the safety mix in the secondary.
Ben Sunken has the inside track on the kickoff duties, Long will kick PATs, while Long and Nolan Anderson have both proven to be solid punters from a special-teams perspective.
“I believe we have the right formula to continue our success, but this year’s players will have to create their own identities,” said Mahoney. “I think we’ve built good depth at most positions during our first two weeks of practice, and I’m blessed to have a great coaching staff back.”
Brad Johnson and Brian Wille return as the defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively, and will be joined along the sideline and in the press box by Shawn Chambers, Tyler Bitting, Garrett Myren, Brent Schultze, Terry Ehlert and Jesse Walters this fall.