FAIRMONT – The end result of Wednesday night’s prep gridiron classic clash of ranked teams was officially determined with only mere seconds showing on the Mahoney Field scoreboard.

Newly-converted Fairmont wide receiver Hunter Cox caught a 21-yard pass from quarterback Nate Kallenbach to convert a fourth-and-4 situation at the Waseca 43 with 26 seconds left in the nip-and-tuck South Central Red District battle in Fairmont.

Safety Saiveon Williamson and the Class 4A No. 7-ranked Bluejays, however, held their ground on a later fourth-and-5 to preserve a hard-fought 26-22 triumph over the Class 3A No. 5-ranked Cardinals.

“Anytime you play a highly-ranked 4A team right down to the wire, you’ve got to be pleased with your team’s effort,” said Fairmont head coach Mat Mahoney, whose lineup actually won the total yards of offense battle, 274-246. “Their coaching staff made some nice adjustments at halftime, and then just wore us out during the second half.”

Cox, a 6-foot-7 senior standout, however, delivered pivotal plays in all three phases of the game to help stake Fairmont to a 16-14 edge after three completed quarters.

Cox tackled Waseca’s Eric Maas in the end zone for a safety following a long snap over the 6-4 punter’s head to account for the opening quarter’s only two points.

The two district powerhouses then exchanged ‘gadget’ plays to account for the only touchdowns of the first half.

After Hank Hagen blocked Kallenbach’s punt to give Waseca possession at the Fairmont 14-yard line, Williamson lofted a perfect halfback option pass to Jack Vetsch in the end zone. Emily Karsten kicked the PAT to inch the Bluejays to a 9-7 lead with 10:20 left in the second frame.

Fairmont countered with its own trickery facing a fourth-and-11 from the home team’s 39. Kallenbach faked receiving a high snap in punt formation as Brady Allen received the ball and fired a pass to Cox over the middle. The lanky makeshift receiver simply outraced the Waseca secondary 61 yards to paydirt for a countering TD. Kallenbach kicked the PAT to stake the Cardinals to a 9-7 lead with 8:48 left before halftime.

Cox’s pressure in the backfield and smothering secondary coverage by Sam Schwieger and Carter Lloyd regained possession for Fairmont with 2:59 left before intermission.

Kallenbach, who completed 12 of 25 passes for 172 yards, connected on an 11-yard out to Schwieger before he and Levi Bulfer weaved their respective ways for pickups of 11 and 12 yards.

Kallenbach then zipped a 21-yarder to Bulfer before delivering a 7-yard spiral to Christian Engeman to reach Waseca territory at the 27.

Unfortunately for Fairmont, Williamson garnered the second of his game-best three interceptions in the end zone to stall out the Cardinals’ late first-half drive with 2 seconds remaining.

Cox and Schwieger then combined forces on special teams to create breathing space for Fairmont in the third quarter.

Cox elevated and extended to block Maas’ punt, and Schwieger scooped it up at the 30-yard line and sprinted into the end zone for a clutch TD at the 7:26 juncture. Kallenbach’s PAT kick widened the gap to 16-7.

Waseca, however, utilized newly-converted tailback Trystin Kinkade’s powerful 5-11, 200-pound frame to assemble a late comeback behind his 140 second-half rushing yards and two TDs.

Kinkade, who was limited to 14 yards on 11 carries after transitioning from quarterback in the opening half, capped a 62-yard Bluejays’ scoring drive with a 10-yard sprint over the left side. Karsten kicked the PAT to narrow the Cardinals’ lead to 16-14 with 4:53 left in the third quarter.

Linebacker Noah Schmidt’s fumble recovery during the first snap of the fourth frame led to Williamson’s 8-yard scoring run and a 20-16 lead with 8:51 left in regulation.

Only 41 seconds later, Kinkade erupted for a 32-yard weaving sprint, followed by a 3-yard TD trot, to convert Waseca defensive tackle Justin Dahnert’s fumble recovery into key points.

“We’re a power team, and we moved Trystin because he gave us our best option out of the backfield with the Milbretts (Jack and Beau) out with injuries,” said Waseca head coach Brad Wendland. “(Sophomore) Hunter (Rodriguez) did a great job of stepping in at quarterback for us tonight, and he’s got a bright future at that spot.”

Austin Schwidder’s ensuing 18-yard kickoff return led to Kallenbach’s 17-yard spiral to Bulfer before the junior quarterback threaded a 30-yard inside screen to Engeman for a TD with 6:21 left in the fourth quarter.

Despite Williamson’s third pick of the game with 1:43 remaining, Dom Ortiz countered for Fairmont by pouncing on a Waseca fumble at the Cardinals’ 30 with only 56 seconds remaining.

Kallenbach hit Bulfer, Cox and Bulfer on passes of 8, 21 and 5 yards, respectively, but Fairmont could not convert on fourth-and-5 from the Bluejays’ 38.

Fairmont (6-2) and Waseca (7-1) wait for today’s official Section 3AAA and Section 2AAAA playoff pairings.

Waseca 0 7 7 12 – 26

Fairmont 2 7 7 6 – 22

Scoring Plays

1st Quarter

F-Hunter Cox safety, 5:40.

2nd Quarter

WAS-Jack Vetsch 14 pass from Saiveon Williamson (Emily Karsten kick), 10:20.

F-Cox 61 pass from Brady Allen (Nate Kallenbach kick), 8:48.

3rd Quarter

F-Sam Schwieger 30 blocked punt return (Kallenbach kick), 7:26.

WAS-Trystin Kinkade 10 run (Karsten kick), 4:53.

4th Quarter

WAS-Williamson 8 run (kick failed), 8:51.

WAS-Kinkade 3 run (pass failed), 8:10.

F-Christian Engeman 30 pass from Kallenbach (kick failed), 6:21.

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: Fairmont 10; Waseca 16. Rushing: FHS 29-41; Waseca 47-175. Passing: FHS 13-27-3-233; Waseca 6-14-0-71. Fumbles-lost: FHS 2-2; Waseca 6-1. Penalties: FHS 10-79; Waseca 6-64.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Kinkade (W) 25-154, Williamson (W) 7-53. Passing: Kallenbach (F) 12-25-3-172, Allen (F) 1-1-0-61; Kinkade (W) 2-5-0-26, Hunter Rodriguez (W) 4-9-0-45. Receiving: Engeman (F) 4-51, Levi Bulfer (F) 3-46, Cox (F) 2-82; Eric Maas (W) 4-53.

Defense: Interceptions: Williamson (W) 3. Fumble recoveries: Noah Schmidt (W), Justin Dahnert (W), Dom Oritz (F). Blocked punt: Cox (F), Hank Hagen (W).