Fairmont’s Johnson captains All-Area football team

FAIRMONT -- The self-motivated metamorphosis.

After exiting U.S. Bank Stadium one game shy of the Minnesota State High School League's Class AAA state football championship round last November, Elijah Johnson made it his mission to return to high school football practice the next August in better overall shape.

Johnson restructured his daily regiment to include a more balanced weight-training routine, better cardio and flexibility workouts, and improved nutrition to resculpt his muscular 5-foot-9 frame.

Ironically, Johnson tipped the scales at a mere 4 pounds heavier -- 190 -- than the previous fall, but sprinted with a more powerful stride and fluid motion during this fall's two-a-day preseason training sessions at Thomas Mahoney Field in Fairmont.

"His work ethic is second to none. He works as hard in the weight room and during practice as he does on the field every Friday night," said Fairmont head coach Mat Mahoney.

Johnson's incredible physical transformation actually transformed Mahoney's trademark pass-geared offense into a more run-themed scheme this fall.

"What Elijah brought to the table this season was something our program hasn't done during the 17 years that I've been head football coach here -- run the ball with authority game in and game out," said Mahoney.

Fairmont engineered its 9-2 overall record and third consecutive appearance in the Section 3 championship game in 2023 by averaging 205.8 rushing yards to account for 61% of the team's 3,694 total yards of offense.

In comparison, the Cardinals averaged only 131.2 yards on the ground per outing in 2022 to generate 48% of their 3,729 total yards in two more games played.

The standout junior running back etched his name in Fairmont's turn-of-the-century record books nearly every week on an area gridiron throughout southern Minnesota.

Since the 2000 season, Johnson holds Fairmont's No. 2 spot in career rushing yards with 2,119 -- trailing only former Cardinal standout Mike Wubbena (4,088) and ironically, still has one high school campaign remaining in 2024.

The hard-to-bring-down rusher established the Cardinals' all-time single-game rushing mark of 289 yards against Albert Lea on Sept. 15 to help pace his No. 2 all-time single-season rushing mark of 1,487 yards this fall.

Wubbena held the prior single-game record of 274 rushing yards against Redwood Valley in a 2005 game, while Wubbena's 1,717 rushing yards in a single season still remains the best in program history.

Johnson crossed the goal line 21 times to match former Fairmont standout Brandon Martin's No. 2 single-season rushing TD mark, while holding the No. 4 spot with 25 career rushing scores.

Once again, Wubbena stands alone atop both categories -- 53 career rushing TDs and 26 scoring runs during the 2005 campaign.

"There's a legitimate reason why we call him (Johnson) the 'bellcow,'" said Mahoney. "He fits the definition of the football term, 'An every-day player who can handle the full load of carries in a game.'"

Johnson also returned a kickoff 81 yards for a TD and rushed for one 2-point conversion to top the Cardinals with 134 points this season. Johnson also paced Fairmont by returning seven kickoffs for 177 yards this fall.

For his high-impact level of play and leadership qualities on and off the field, Johnson has been selected as the 2023 Fairmont Sentinel All-Area football player of the year.

Here's an inside glance the rest of this year's Sentinel annual elite football lineup.

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Riley Allen (Martin Co. West) -- The three-year varsity starter displayed his strength and quickness by notching 51 tackles, including 3 1/2 quarterback sacks, from his starting defensive end position in 2023.

The 6-1, 215-pound senior right tackle provided blocks and pass protection for a Maverick offense that generated nearly an average of 180 yards per outing this fall.

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Cohl Becker (Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman) -- The 6-3, 270-pound senior offensive lineman proved his athleticism and quickness by creating running room with hole-opening blocks from his pulling guard position this fall.

Becker delivered 51 tackles from his interior defensive line position, including 10 for a loss of yards in 2023.

The hard-working defender also notched one quarterback sack and made one fumble recovery to cap a stellar high school football career.

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Gage Borntrager (Fairmont) -- Borntrager demonstrated his athleticism and versatility by playing at all three defensive levels for the Cardinals this fall.

The 6-5, 185-pound senior defensive end/linebacker/cornerback topped Fairmont's record-setting defense by producing 86 tackles, including 46 from a solo perspective, in 2023.

The hard-charging Borntrager topped the red-and-white by recording seven quarterback sacks for a loss of 47 yards -- including one for a safety, recovered a team-best three fumbles and transformed his lone interception into a pick-6.

Borntrager played an integral role in the Cardinals allowing a program-low 9.2 points per outing, in addition to generating five shutouts, to pace a 9-2 overall record and spot in the sectional championship game this season.

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Rylan Cutler (Martin Co. West) -- The two-time All-Area football choice spurred the Mavericks' offensive production by gaining 748 yards and netting one TD on 174 totes this season.

The 5-4, 130-pound senior running back also made a dozen catches out of the backfield for 143 more yards in 2023.

The Mavericks' strong safety topped the defensive unit by notching 58 tackles to complement recording one interception.

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Noah Dahl (Blue Earth Area) -- The two-year varsity starter recorded 29 tackles from his defensive tackle position this season.

The 6-2, 250-pound senior tackle denied opposing defenders access to the backfield and contributed solid pass protection from an offensive perspective.

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Kade Gaydon (Blue Earth Area) -- The 5-11, 170-pound Gaydon proved one of the most versatile athletes in the area by carrying the football from a running back position in addition to helping out in the trenches from an offensive line spot in 2023.

The two-year starter produced 122 yards, one touchdown and one 2-point conversion on just 24 totes out of the Bucs' backfield, while supplying blocking and pass protection at guard for an offense that chalked up nearly 3,000 total yards of offense this autumn.

The Blue Earth Area nose guard led the team by recording 69 tackles to complement two quarterback sacks and one interception to cap a stellar prep gridiron career.

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Hunter Grathwohl (GHEC/Truman) -- The Jaguars' premier two-way starter avoided injuries to deliver one of the area's best all-around football campaigns of the fall.

The 5-11, 170-pound senior running back generated a team-best 1,276 yards and 17 TDs on 130 carries to close out a prolific prep football career.

Grathwohl also converted three 2-point runs and grabbed five passes for 76 yards out of the backfield.

The hard-rushing linebacker also paced the purple-and-black attack by collecting 91 tackles, including 11 for a loss of yards, to complement one fumble recovery returned for a score to close out his esteemed prep football career.

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Preston Guerdet (North Union) -- The 5-11, 175-pound senior speedster displayed his pass-catching skills by topping the Warriors in both receptions and interceptions during the 2023 campaign.

Guerdet garnered 32 passes for 515 yards and seven TDs from his wide receiver position, while topping the North Union defense by notching four interceptions -- including returning one for a TD.

Guerdet, who also generated a special-teams TD by returning a kickoff 75 yards, produced 35 1/2 tackles and recovered two fumbles from his cornerback spot on defense.

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Landon Hagedorn (North Union) -- The repeat All-Area choice paced North Union on both sides of the line of scrimmage in 2023.

The 6-0, 205-pound senior running back piled up a team-best 937 yards and 11 TDs on 150 carries out of the backfield.

Hagedorn also shared the Warriors' lead in fumble recoveries with three to complement 18 1/2 tackles from his defensive end position to cap a solid career.

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Caleb Langager (Blue Earth Area) -- The hard-nosed Langager churned, cut and pounded his way to a team-leading 866 yards, 14 TDs and a staggering nine 2-point conversion runs from his running back position this fall.

The 5-9, 175-pound senior outside linebacker also proved sure-handed on defense by collecting 45 tackles and one interception to close out his solid two-year varsity career.

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Grady Madden (North Union) -- The 5-11, 175-pound quarterback powered the Warriors' air attack by completing 84 of 135 passes for 62.2%, a team-best 1,088 yards and 14 TDs this fall.

Madden also proved double-trouble for opposing defenses by rushing 54 times for 292 yards and two more scores.

The junior defensive back, who contributed 25 tackles, played a key role in steering North Union to the Iowa Class A playoffs this season.

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Jackson Madsen (GHEC/Truman) -- The repeat All-Area football selection produced top-notch plays on both sides of the line of scrimmage during the fall campaign.

The 5-11, 175-pound quarterback paced the Jaguars' offense by completing 62 of 147 passes for 569 yards and four TDs to go with carrying the football 94 times for 536 yards and five more scores.

The junior cornerback contributed 49 tackles, including five for a loss of yards, to complement two interceptions -- including a 99-yard pick-6.

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Parker Mathiason (Fairmont) -- Mathiason transformed himself into a potent pass rusher and run-stopper by putting hard work into the weight room during the offseason.

The 5-11, 220-pound senior defensive lineman recorded 55 tackles while rotating between the end and tackle positions this fall.

The two-year starter made key contributions to the Cardinals reaching the 2022 Class AAA state tournament and an appearance in this year's sectional title game.

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Levi Pooley (Fairmont) -- Fairmont's 'go-to' receiver etched his name into the all-time top five in four different career categories to cap an outstanding three-year varsity career.

The 5-11, 185-pound two-way starter claimed a share of the Cardinal football program's No. 2 spot with 10 interceptions from the defensive secondary.

The sure-handed senior split end also netted the No. 2 spot in Fairmont history with 25 career receiving TDs, the No. 3 spot in career receiving yardage (1,799) and the No. 3 spot with 108 career catches.

The Cardinals' two-time leading receiver grabbed 44 passes for 746 yards and eight TDs this fall while also leading the red-and-white with 13 punt returns for 188 yards and one TD.

Pooley also generated a second-best team total of 54 points this season en route to 162 during his prolific career.

The hard-working Pooley netted 30 tackles and three interceptions from his cornerback position to help guide Fairmont to a 9-2 overall record and a spot in the Section 3AAA championship game in 2023.

The 2022 All-Area co-player of the year lended a helping hand to the Cardinals qualifying for the Class AAA state tournament in back-to-back fashion in 2021 and 2022.

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Colin Rasch (North Union) -- The two-time All-Area selection paced North Union's defense by recording 66 tackles, including 10 for a loss of yards, from his linebacker position this fall.

The 6-0, 215-pound senior, who also pocketed an interception, delivered blocks and pass protection for an offense that amassed 2,546 total yards to cap an outstanding high school football career.

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Colby Schwichtenberg (Martin Co. West) -- The 6-3, 220-pound senior anchored the interior of the Mavericks' defensive line this fall.

The defensive tackle made 28 tackles and one fumble recovery while fending off numerous double-team blocking in 2023.

Schwichtenberg also provided pass protection and run-blocking for an offense that averaged close to 180 yards per outing.

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Jacob Singleton (Fairmont) -- The two-time varsity starter delivered key blocks and provided pass protection for a Fairmont offense that amassed a staggering 3,694 total yards for a 335.8-yard average per game in 2023.

The 6-3, 290-pound senior offensive guard, who helped pace the Cardinals' 33.0-point scoring clip per outing, proved a lethal force in Fairmont gaining this year's sectional finals and last season's state tournament.

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Hadan Toomer (Fairmont) -- The sure-handed Toomer topped Fairmont's defensive secondary by recording six interceptions to complement scooping up one fumble on the fall campaign.

The 6-0, 170-pound junior cornerback played shutdown pass coverage en route to 32 tackles in 2023.

Toomer played a key role in the Cardinals' record-setting pace of allowing just 9.2 points per outing, and will return to anchor the defense in 2024.

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Jacob Wilmes (Martin Co. West) -- The 6-3, 215-pound junior linebacker delivered both solid run-stop defense and pass coverage on a Mavericks' alignment that allowed just 14 points during its three victories on the campaign.

The vastly-improved tight end generated a dozen receptions for 82 yards to close out a solid season.

Wilmes will return to provide stability to the MCW lineups as a two-way varsity starter in the fall of 2024.