SANDWICHED — Fairmont linebacker Gavin Rodning (23), defensive lineman Klay Brown (62) and defensive back Aden Welcome (13) combine to stop New Ulm running back Cole Ranweiler (13) during high school football action Friday night at Mahoney Field in Fairmont. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Fairmont quarterback Zach Jorgensen proved the almost unstoppable offensive force, while New Ulm running back Cole Ranweiler proved more of a hard-to-tackle — rather than immovable — object during Friday night’s high school football clash at Mahoney Field.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Jorgensen cleared the century mark in both passing and rushing yards and receiver Eli Anderson garnered six catches — half for touchdowns — to offset Ranweiler’s game-best 176 yards and one score to pace the Cardinals’ 42-20 victory over the Eagles during Fairmont’s coronavirus-quieted Homecoming.

“The bottom line tonight — our playmakers did exactly that — made plays when we needed them,” said Fairmont head coach Mat Mahoney. “I thought Zach did a great job of running the offense and making the correct reads.”

After Hudson Artz’s 28-yard kickoff return set up the Cardinals at the 45, Noah Nelson reeled off 30 rushing yards during the game’s initial series. Jorgensen then made quick work of the final 25 yards of the Cardinals’ scoring drive. Jorgensen hit Brock Lutterman for 12 of the junior quarterback’s 156 passing yards before sprinting around left end to the pylon for a 13-yard TD. Owen Burmeister, who played soccer earlier this fall, kicked the first of his six consecutive PATs for a 7-0 lead with 9:58 left in the opening quarter.

“I was very pleased with our special-teams play tonight,” said Mahoney. “Prince Lebbi did a nice job with our kickoffs, Burmeister was perfect on PATs, and Hudson (Artz) and our kick return group was spot on again.”

Ranweiler and the Eagles, however, displayed their mettle by answering with a seven-play, 65-yard march to paydirt. Ranweiler slashed, juked and bulldozed his way for all but 11 yards of the drive, capped by a 14-yard TD sprint around the right end. Quarterback Isaiah Miller tossed a 2-point conversion pass to Brayden Geariety to give New Ulm its first and only lead of the game at 8-7 with 6:33 left in the first frame.

Two possessions later, Jorgensen went to the airwaves to find his favorite target — Anderson — for the first of their three connections for a combined 18 points. Jorgensen zipped a 38-yarder to the sure-handed Anderson for a TD before Burmeister drilled the PAT with 19 seconds left in the first period.

Unfortunately, the Cardinals’ fake punt attempt during their next possession resulted in Miller hauling down Jorgensen at the home team’s 35 on fourth-and-5. Ranweiler pounded out 14 yards to eventually set up Caleb Arndt’s 14-yard TD rumble up the middle. Hudson Artz halted the 2-point pass short of the goal line for a 14-all tie.

Jorgensen, however, quickly redeemed himself by firing a 70-yard TD to Anderson — the second of four for the Cardinals’ signal-caller. Burmeister’s kick made it 21-14 with 5:54 left before intermission.

Anderson’s interception at the New Ulm 44 led to Jorgensen’s 8-yard TD connection to Tanner Rosch and a 28-14 margin with just 29 seconds to go in the first half.

Dawson Gatewood’s fumble recovery at the Eagles’ 10 during the second snap of the third quarter triggered another Jorgensen-to-Anderson scoring play. Burmeister’s PAT made it 35-14 with 11:07 showing in the third.

New Ulm demonstrated its tenacity as Miller’s interception at his own 8 eventually created another offensive opportunity. Ranweiler did the heavy lifting during the sequence, grinding out 79 of the 92-yard march downfield before Dylen Carreon plowed in from the 11.

Jorgensen then put the game unofficially out of reach by accelerating up the middle for a 4-yard TD before Burmeister kicked the extra point for a 42-20 lead as time elapsed in the third.

The two teams literally ran out the final 12 minutes of regulation without a score.

Jorgensen gained a game-best 109 yards and two TDs on 11 carries, while completing 9 of 20 passes for 156 yards and four more scores.

Fairmont (1-1) travels to St. Peter on Thursday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff, while New Ulm (1-3) hits the road to Waseca next Friday night.

New Ulm 8 6 6 0–20

Fairmont 14 14 14 0–42

Scoring Plays

1st Quarter

FMT–Zach Jorgensen 13 run (Owen Burmeister kick), 9:58.

NU–Cole Ranweiler 14 run (Brayden Geariety pass from Isaiah Miller), 6:33.

FMT–Eli Anderson 38 pass from Jorgensen (Burmeister kick), 0:19.

2nd Quarter

NU–Caleb Arndt 14 run (pass failed), 8:02.

FMT–Anderson 70 pass from Jorgensen (Burmeister kick), 5:54.

FMT–Tanner Rosch 8 pass from Jorgensen (Burmeister kick), 0:25.

3rd Quarter

FMT–Anderson 10 pass from Jorgensen (Burmeister kick), 11:07.

NU–Dylen Carreon 11 run (pass failed), 3:02.

FMT–Jorgensen 4 run (Burmeister kick), 0:00.

4th Quarter

No scoring.

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs: Fairmont 11; New Ulm 10. Rushing: Fairmont 32-206; New Ulm 41-242. Passing: Fairmont 9-20-1-156; New Ulm 5-9-1-26. Fumbles-lost: Fairmont 3-1; New Ulm 4-1. Penalties: Fairmont 4-30; New Ulm 7-91.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Offense: Rushing: Ranweiler (NU) 25-176; Jorgensen (FMT) 11-109. Passing: Jorgensen (FMT) 9-20-1-156; Miller (NU) 5-9-1-26. Receiving: Anderson (FMT) 6-122; Arndt (NU) 5-26.

Defense: Interceptions: Anderson (FMT), Miller (NU). Fumble recoveries: Dylen Carreon (NU), Dawson Gatewood (FMT). Blocked punt: Jorgensen (FMT).

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Marshall defeated Fairmont, 32-6, during C-squad action Tuesday night at Mahoney Field.

Nate Soelter scored Fairmont’s lone touchdown on a 5-yard run.

Ethan Geerdes topped the Cardinals’ ground game by gaining 35 yards to complement making seven tackles. Taylor Austin and Parker Mathiason contributed five tackles each.

The Fairmont C-squad travels to New Ulm on Monday.