FAIRMONT — To say a lot has happened since Fairmont and Marshall last squared off on the prep gridiron in 2016 would be an understatement.

“We didn’t have the opportunity to play when the district schedules were realigned for 2017, but we’re looking forward to Friday night’s season opener,” Marshall head coach Terry Bahlmann said in reference to his Tigers’ 7 p.m. non-district football clash with the Cardinals at Mahoney Field. “We have a lot of respect for (head coach) Mat (Mahoney) and the Fairmont football program, and know we’ll be tested.

“They’re coming off back-to-back state appearances, so we know they’ll be ready to play.”

Indeed. Fairmont reached the 2017 Class AAA state quarterfinals before advancing to last year’s state championship game en route to a runner-up showing.

While Mahoney’s Cardinals compiled a 20-4 record during the recent two-year span, Bahlmann’s Tigers produced an 18-3 mark, including a Class AAAA state quarterfinal bid in 2017 prior to a rare Section 2 semifinal loss to Dassel-Cokato last fall.

“We were 0-for-9 on third-down situations and committed too many penalties in last year’s sectional loss,” said Bahlmann. “We lost on a last-second play to Jordan in our last game of the regular season before losing to Dassel-Cokato, 10-7.

“After losing only two of 10 games by a total of four points last year definitely made this year’s seniors hungry to get this season going.”

“Marshall’s a quality football program, and has produced a number of Division I and II prospects since I’ve been coaching at Fairmont,” said Mahoney, who enters his 13th season as the Cardinals’ head coach.

Yahya — pronounced Y.A. — Black, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound senior offensive tackle and defensive end fits Mahoney’s reference to a tee. The 2018 South Central Red District defensive lineman of the year has made a commitment to play football for the Iowa Hawkeyes next fall.

“He (Black) is obviously one of the keys to their success,” said Mahoney. “Offensively, he’ll lead block as they look to establish the running game early on. They like to load the box and play smashmouth football.

“Defensively, he (Black) will literally play a big role in their 3-4 look. They’re physical in the line of scrimmage, will hold their ground and make your offense work for every yard.”

Black topped the Tigers’ defensive alignment by recording 23 1/2 tackles for a loss, including a staggering 10 quarterback sacks, in 2018.

“Our front seven are the strength of our squad this season,” said Bahlmann. “Obviously, most people know about Y.A. after he chose to go to the University of Iowa, but we’ve got a couple of other guys who also are three-year starters who make an impact for us.”

Trey Steinbach, a 6-4, 220-pound senior linebacker/tight end, has received football scholarship offers from the University of Northern Iowa, Augustana and Wayne State to name just a few schools after leading the Tigers with 69 tackles — including 14 1/2 for a loss of yards — a year ago.

“Trey’s an outstanding player, so sometimes opposing teams overlook Brayden Hilgemann at linebacker,” Bahlmann said in reference to the 6-2, 205-pound senior. “He’s also been a three-year starter for us, and is getting offers from Concordia (St. Paul), Northern State and SMSU (in Marshall).”

Hilgemann recorded 45 tackles, including 14 for a loss of yards, a year ago.

Now, Mahoney will test the mettle of his athletic, but inexperienced trio of sophomores in the Cardinals’ starting offensive backfield on Friday night.

“Our biggest thing in Week 1 is to be as confident as we can, minimize our mistakes, adjust to the real speed of the game and get our timing down,” said Mahoney.

Zach Jorgensen, who logged time as both a wideout and defensive back on last year’s state runner-up team as a freshman, will take his first varsity snaps from senior co-captain Carson Toomer. The 6-3, 170-pound signal-caller will hand off the football to fellow sophomores in running back Gavin Rodning and fullback Tyson Kube to kick off the season.

Despite his inexperience under center, Jorgensen does have Toomer, in addition to senior guard Jacob Rahn and senior tackle Sedrick Parker, returning to provide pocket protection and holes to run through.

Blake Buntjer, a 6-5, 185-pound senior, represents the Cardinals’ top returning receiver after making 15 catches for 226 yards and three touchdowns in 2018.

Defensively, Mahoney will rely on sure-handed All-Area cornerback Caden Baarts to patrol the airwaves and make an impact on stopping the run. Baarts pocketed four interceptions to complement recording 73 tackles in 2018.

The 6-3, 220-pound Rahn, who made 51 stops a year ago, and 6-0, 190-pound Josh Heinze, who tallied 79 tackles in 2018, will provide power and quickness in Fairmont’s 5-2 defensive alignment, with senior Wyatt Frank utilizing every inch of his 6-8, 210-pound frame from his end position.

“Heinze and Rahn are physical presences, and that’s what we’ll need on Friday night against Marshall,” Mahoney said in reference to the pair of 2018 All-Area selections.

Fairmont’s defense will look to put the clamps on Marshall tailback Gabe Raini, who generated the Tigers’ No. 2 rushing total of 621 yards a year ago, and 6-3, 200-pound senior quarterback Konnor Aufenthie.

“He’s got good size, throws well and now it’s his turn to play,” Bahlmann said in reference to Aufenthie, who completed 17 of 31 passes for 355 yards and three TDs in a reserve role as a junior. “Now he’ll look to keep his composure and show patience as the game speeds up.”

After a two-year hiatus, Mahoney will look to improve his record against Bahlmann’s Tigers on Friday night.

“I’m 1-7 against Terry during my time as head coach in Fairmont. We’ve been outscored by an average of 35-13 per game, so we’ve got to find a way to change that,” Mahoney said with a smile.