POWER RUSH — Fairmont running back Gavin Rodning (left) prepares to make contact with Luverne defensive back Gannon Ahrendt (21) during last Saturday’s Section 3AAA football semifinal at Mahoney Field. Rodning and the Cardinals square off against Waseca at 1 p.m. today in the sectional championship game in Janesville. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — A quick glance at each of the Section 3AAA football semifinal boxscores from last Saturday night, and prep football fans will ponder a legitimate question.

Which offense will prove the most efficient in today’s 1 p.m. sectional championship showdown on the artificial turf in Janesville — Waseca’s multi-dimensional ground-and-pound game or Fairmont’s lightning-strike air attack?

“Waseca’s running game has been very effective in producing points since the first time we played them,” said Fairmont head coach Mat Mahoney, whose lineup handed the Bluejays their only loss of the season — a 28-15 Week 4 decision on Sept. 24 at Mahoney Field in Fairmont. “They’ll line up with four guys in the backfield and it’s student body left, student body right and come right at you.”

Running backs Mason DeKruif and Christian Rodriguez each generated a pair of touchdowns on the ground during Waseca’s 51-8 postseason crushing of Tri-City United last weekend, running back Kaeden Johnson delivered one rushing TD, while quarterback Oliver O’Brien ran for one score and threw to Elijah Biehn for another six points.

“Offensively, we’re more balanced than we’ve been in the past,” said Waseca head coach Brad Wendland, whose team has outscored opponents 275-55 during its current six-game winning streak. “All of our running backs and our quarterback have been equally effective and that’s what we’re looking for.

“We also have three receivers who can go after the football and make plays, too,” Wendland alluded to Biehn, 6-foot-2 split end Shaun Hulscher and 5-10, 190-pound wideout Isaac Potter. “Our offensive line is not as physically imposing as in the past either, but that group has really taken to our coaching and improved with each game.”

On the other side of the gridiron, Fairmont ignited its 40-6 playoff rout over Luverne on the strength of senior quarterback Zach Jorgensen’s accurate throwing arm.

Jorgensen dialed long distance three times through the air, connecting on a 36-yarder to favorite target Eli Anderson, a 47-yard screen to trackster-back Hudson Artz and later, a 55-yard strike to the fleet-footed Anderson again.

Jorgensen, who completed 12 of 17 passes for 244 yards, joined running back Gavin Rodning by reaching the end zone on runs of 16 and 21 yards, respectively, while special teams standout James Johnson returned a kickoff 78 yards for a game-capping TD in the fourth quarter. It was Johnson’s second 6-point return of the fall.

“Fairmont’s offense is such a home run threat. They can score from anywhere on the field at any time in the game,” said Wendland. “They’re also a threat on special teams demonstrated by No. 4 (Johnson) taking it to the house on the final kickoff.

“Fairmont’s skill guys are impressive and the coaching staff does a great job of using them.”

With both programs able to send the scoreboard numbers rocketing skyward, the bottom line to the sectional championship’s final score will be which defense can contain the opposing offense the best.

Senior linebacker Jarret Ahlschlager will guide the Bluejays’ 3-4 defensive alignment into action this afternoon. The 6-2, 205-pounder was recently selected to play in the annual all-star football game with Fairmont’s Jorgensen.

“He’s the captain of our defense and is a big run-stopper for us,” Wendland said in reference to Ahlschlager. “We’ve also got guys on the back end of the defense who can cover and play the run, too.

“Shaun Hulscher has done a good job covering receivers for us, but he’ll have a tough matchup this week.”

Anderson and junior David Maakestad have evolved into a potent receiving tandem for the Cardinals this fall. Anderson tops the charts with 43 catches for 908 yards and 14 TDs, while Maakestad has 20 receptions for 302 yards and two scores.

Across the field, Rodning and fellow Fairmont linebacker Aden Welcome will look to bring down Waseca’s talented rushers, with ends Hank Artz and Dustin Olson and tackle Tyson Kube looking to contribute to preventing the Bluejays from moving the first-down markers on the ground.

The Cardinals’ defense allows only 14.2 points per outing en route to an 8-1 record prior to today’s kickoff, while the Bluejays (9-1) give up a miniscule clip of 11.1 points per game.

Fairmont currently holds the No. 3 spot in the Class AAA QRF standings, while Waseca has a grip on the No. 7 position.

The Section 3 champion will square off against the Section 2 winner — either Litchfield or Dassel-Cokato — in an 11 a.m. Class AAA state quarterfinal game Saturday, Nov. 13, in Prior Lake.