Lethal Fairmont duo dominate in the Cardinals’ win
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It was a tale of two halves when two undefeated programs took the field in Jordan, Minnesota, as the Hubmen hosted the Fairmont Cardinals. The teams put up over forty points combined in the first half. In the second half, the defenses took over. One thing that didn’t change was the performance of possibly the best offensive player I have seen this season – Fairmont quarterback Zach Jorgensen Zach Jorgensen 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Fairmont | 2022 State MN . He and the best receiver I have seen all year – Eli Anderson Eli Anderson 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Fairmont | 2022 State MN – helped lead the Cardinals to a 41-18 victory.
Things didn’t start well for the Cardinals’ offense. Although they were moving the ball, Jordan defensive lineman Luke Borowicz tipped a pass, and the ball landed in the waiting arms of defensive lineman Peyton Nawrocki Peyton Nawrocki 6'2" | 260 lbs | OL Jordan | 2022 State MN . He returned the ball all the way to the Cardinals’ 34-yard line.
The Hubman offense cashed in immediately. Quarterback Noah Millhouse Noah Millhouse 5'11" | 170 lbs | QB Jordan | 2022 State MN ’s first pass attempt went for a 35-yard touchdown to Ashton Sivilay Ashton Sivilay 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Jordan | 2022 State MN . They would miss the extra point but took a very early 6-0 lead.
Fairmont would not trail for long. Jorgensen used his legs to pick up a first down and then used his arm to throw a laser to Anderson on a crossing route. The play would result in a 46-yard touchdown and a 7-6 Cardinals’ lead.
The Hubman defense got a tip interception earlier in the game, but Fairmont would do them one better. Fairmont linebacker Aden Welcome tipped a Hubman pass, and Anderson gathered it in. The senior would take it to the house for his second touchdown in less than a minute.
Anderson would keep lighting up the scoreboard – this time on Jorgensen’s best pass of the night. The quarterback threw a dart deep down the sidelines. Jordan had a man there, and it looked like the ball was overthrown. Anderson streaked past the defender and caught the fly pattern below his waist, and didn’t break stride for a highlight-reel touchdown.
Aided by a penalty on Fairmont that negated another interception by Anderson, Jordan runningback David Buesgens picked his way through the middle of the Cardinals’ defense, setting up a nine-yard touchdown pass from Millhouse to wide receiver Nate Kes. The touchdown would cut the Cardinals’ lead to 21-12.
Jorgensen then used his legs to pick up 30 yards by cutting all the way across the field. He ran about 60 yards for the 30-yard gain. It looked like the Hubman defense was going to get off the field, but on a 4th and 12, Jorgensen – under pressure – threw off his back foot and found Anderson on a crossing pattern. Anderson not only picked up the first down; he brought in his third touchdown catch and fourth touchdown overall in the first half.
“We threw the ball well in the first half,” Jorgensen said. “I was able to throw the ball deep.”
Down 27-12, the Hubman used the legs of Buesgens and Millhouse. Buesgens capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run. The home team would go into the half down just nine points – 27-18.
After scoring a combined 45 points in the first half, both defenses made adjustments. On the first play of the third quarter, Cardinals’ defensive lineman Sawyer Tordsen deflected a pass that linebacker Gavin Rodning Gavin Rodning 6'0" | 180 lbs | LB Fairmont | 2022 State MN gathered in.
Starting at the Jordan 20-yard line, Fairmont was set up to blow the game open. The Hubman defense said – not yet. The Cardinals lined up with a first and goal at the two, but the Hubman defense made four straight big plays. The last two plays had Hubman defensive back Owen Montreuil, in tight coverage.
Jordan not only got out of the shadow of their goal line; they put together a scoring threat. However, near the red zone, Tordsen made two straight plays to force a punt. First, he blew into the backfield and forced the quarterback into his teammate’s arms for a sack. On the next play, he tracked down the quarterback for his own sack.
“At half time, the coaches switched up what our d-linemen and linebackers were doing,” Jorgensen – who also plays safety – said about the defense’s second-half improvement. “We knew we were going to have to play well in the secondary, and we gave up some completions, but they were short.”
Defense would continue to dominate the second half. Fairmont wouldn’t give up a second-half point, and Jordan played tough until the Jordan defense finally cracked.
“We started to run the ball better, and that got the offense going again,” Jorgensen said.
Jorgensen was effective using his legs all night – but not like on his 42-yard touchdown run. The quarterback made three defenders miss to give the Cardinals a 34-18 lead.
Rodning would cap the scoring with a three-yard touchdown run. Fairmont moved to 3-0 and gave head coach Mat Mahoney his 100th career victory. Jordan dropped to 2-1 after the Cardinals’ 41-18 win.