Card to Watch - Week 8 Preview

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By Charlie Sorrells

Web Prep Writer

FAIRMONT – The Fairmont football team’s mission during the final week of the regular season does not get any simpler.

If the Cardinals defeat Class AAAA opponent St. Peter at the friendly confines of Thomas Mahoney Field on Thursday night (Oct. 22), the odds of Fairmont climbing from its current No. 5 spot to No. 4 in the Section 3AAA QRF rankings increase significantly.

“We control our own destiny – either hosting a sectional quarterfinal next Tuesday (Oct. 27) or going on the road – so we cannot complain about the final outcome,” said Fairmont mentor Mat Mahoney, whose team enters Week 8 with a 4-3 overall record on the heels of a down-to-the-last-seconds one-point loss to sectional leader Tri-City United last Wednesday night. “Our guys have steadily stepped up the level of their games during the last 3 weeks and have taken good strides in improving overall, but we just have to learn how to close out a potential win and not let it slip away.”

Nose guard Ethan Farnum’s pivotal fumble recovery at TCU’s 49 in the fourth quarter eventually led to Fairmont’s 25-19 advantage on the strength of quarterback Jensen Livesay’s fourth rushing touchdown – from 1 yard out – with just 1:29 remaining during Week 7. Parker O’Malley’s heroic 6-yard TD run on fourth-and-1 – combined with Chase Miller’s ensuing PAT kick with 14 seconds left in regulation – however, denied Fairmont’s upset bid.

While the Cardinals’ frenetic finish fell just shy of a victory last Wednesday night, St. Peter quarterback Alex Korir, running back Ryan Moelter and wide receiver Ashton Guida engineered the Saints’ clutch 31-21 triumph over the New Ulm Eagles during the next-to-last game of the regular season.

Korir completed 6 of 10 passes to amass 152 yards and three touchdowns while chipping in 72 more yards and another score on 16 carries during the 10-point decision, while the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Moelter topped the Saints’ ground game with 124 yards on 24 totes to complement grabbing two Korir spirals for 38 yards and a TD. The 6-1, 180-pound Guida contributed two catches for 98 yards and another score for St. Peter (4-3 overall).

“St. Peter’s offense all starts and ends with No. 21 (Moelter). He can run the football, catch it and even throw it on occasion,” said Mahoney. “We definitely have to know where he’s at throughout the entire game. He might be the most complete player we’ll face this season.”

So, what are the challenges that the Saints’ 3-4 defensive alignment present to the Cardinals’ ever evolving offensive scheme?

“I hate to keep repeating myself, but … that side of the ball also starts with No. 21,” Mahoney said with a smile. “Moelter is athletic, flies around the field from his outside linebacker position and makes plays, while No. 44 (6-2, 200-pound Owen Potts) complements him (Moelter) well at the opposite outside (linebacker) spot. He’s (Potts) got good size and quickness, and No. 2 (Korir) demonstrates why he’s a two-way starter at safety. He’s a good athlete in the secondary, knows the (passing) routes and makes plays for them.”

St. Peter’s lineup consists of eight two-way starters, with only the three down lineman in the defensive trenches – nose guard Isaih Hesse and tackles Jadon Telshaw and Solomon Thompson – and offensive blockers Brody Whipps, Eric Nourie and Dylan Greenig not pulling full-time double duty on the game.

“Limiting our penalties and forcing turnovers like last game definitely improves our chances of closing the regular season with a win,” said Mahoney, who also received a recovery by Travohn Harvey off an Aaron Becker-caused fumble and a strip-and-recover defensive gem from Brayden Williamson during Fairmont’s narrow loss to TCU last week.

FAIRMONT STARTERS

OFFENSE

QB: #14 Jensen Livesay, 6-4, 205, Senior

RB: #30 Keyon Schutz, 5-11, 190, Junior

WR: #7 Brayden Williamson, 5-9, 155, Senior

WR: #5 Mason Bicknase, 6-2, 185, Junior

LT: #51 Vincent Schultz, 6-4, 175, Senior

LG: #59 Craig Schultze, 6-1, 255, Junior

C: #55 Reed Johnson, 6-5, 200, Senior

RG: #69 Luther Malo, 6-2, 240, Junior

RT: #70 Max Nielsen, 6-3, 275, Senior

TE: #81 Preston Geerdes, 6-4, 210, Junior

WR: #1 Travohn Harvey, 6-3, 145, Senior

DEFENSE

DE: #51 V. Schultz

DT: #69 Malo

NG: #74 Ethan Farnum, 6-2, 350, Senior

DE: #55 R. Johnson

OLB: #5 Bicknase

MLB: #31 Aaron Becker, 6-3, 220, Sophomore

OLB: #19 Caiden Utesch, 5-11, 175, Senior

CB: #7 Williamson

CB: #1 Harvey

SS: #6 Owen Terfehr, 6-2, 180, Senior

FS: #10 Landon Traetow, 6-0, 155, Senior

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ST. PETER STARTERS

OFFENSE

QB: #2 Alex Korir, 5-9, 150, Senior

FB: #44 Owen Potts, 6-2, 200, Senior

RB: #21 Ryan Moelter, 6-1, 190, Senior

WR: #0 Carter Wills, 5-8, 150, Senior

LT: #60 Nathan Walter, 5-8, 195, Junior

LG: #51 Brody Whipps, 5-11, 175, Senior

C: #64 Eric Nourie, 5-9, 245, Senior

RG: #70 Dylan Greenig, 5-10, 165, Sophomore

RT: #52 Joe Greenig, 5-9, 180, Senior

WR: #3 Ashton Guida, 6-1, 180, Senior

WR: #5 Max Welp, 6-1, 170, Senior

DEFENSE

DT: #54 Jadon Telshaw, 6-1, 210, Junior

NG: #58 Isaih Hesse, 5-8, 160, Senior

DT: #66 Solomon Thompson, 6-6, 265, Senior

OLB: #21 Moelter

ILB: #52. J. Greenig

ILB: #60 Walter

OLB: #44 Potts

CB: #5 Welp

CB: #0 Wills

S: #3 Guida

S: #2 Korir