ABOVE: Fairmont defenders swarm New Ulm quarterback Owen Castleman during Friday night's contest at Mahoney Field.

FAIRMONT – On a sub-60-degree Friday night at Mahoney Field, it was the Fairmont defense bringing the heat to New Ulm as the Cardinals powered their way to a 43-8 win in a Southeast Central District, Red Subdistrict football matchup.

Fairmont quarterback Joe Long added three touchdowns to his season total, along with his 108 yards on nine completions. Running back Ty Tumbleson churned 181 yards on the ground with two touchdowns. Receiver Tavian Harvey brought in five catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns.

Adversity struck immediately for Cardinals head coach Mat Mahoney on the team’s opening drive of the contest. After taking three consecutive carries for over 10 yards to open things up, running back Cole Brockmann hobbled over to the sideline with an apparent knee injury, bringing in Tumbleson to carry the load.

Brockmann wouldn’t return for the rest of the contest.

On a third-and-4 at midfield, Long connected with Owen Terfehr for a big reception across the middle. However, after an incompletion, a 1-yard Tumbleson gain and a false start, Fairmont found themselves in a difficult situation on third-and-goal.

The next play, Long attempted to scramble into the end zone, gaining a yard and facing fourth down. Going for it, Long scrambled left in hopes of finding an elusive target. Instead, the senior play caller was brought down for a sack, ultimately ending the nine-play drive.

Fairmont’s defense, like a majority of the night, was able to take back the momentum in their favor.

After getting penalized for a delay of game to move back the sticks, New Ulm attempted a wide receiver pass from Zach Hubbard deep over the left sideline.

The trick play was snuffed out immediately. Cornerback Dakota Wiley read the ball in the air accordingly, coming down with the interception and turning the tide in the Cardinals’ way.

This time, the offense was able to capitalize while in favorable field position, using a 25-yard touchdown run from Tumbleson to start the game’s scoring.

“With Cole Brockmann going down there, I thought Ty jumped in and did a heck of a job running the football,” Mahoney said. “I thought our guys up front did a great job.”

Fairmont’s defense continued to swarm the next drive. Facing a third-and-15, Eagles quarterback Owen Castleman bounced around the pocket to avoid pressure. After getting his arm knocked during his release, linebacker Aaron Becker came down with the ball for the second forced turnover of the contest.

Again, with great field position, it was the Cardinal offense failing to punch it past the goal line. After working their way down to the Eagles’ 1-yard line with a big reception from Jordan Thompson, Long’s quarterback sneak attempt was stuffed on fourth down for another turnover.

“Offensively, we did a lot of things, but we just didn’t finish during that first half,” Mahoney said. “You know, I think our guys got a little frustrated a little bit, but sometimes that’s okay. We needed a little bit of growing pains going forward. Things we got to work on.”

However, it was the Cardinal defense picking up the rest of the team.

With their backs against the wall, the Eagles failed on a screen pass on first down, hoping to separate from the end zone and create some comfort.

Fairmont was able to dial up the pressure on the very next play.

Castleman was unable to escape the Cardinal defensive line’s presence, getting his arm hit again, and the ball fell right into the hands of Tumbleson for an easy pick-six at the end of the first quarter.

“That’s what you have to do, just bend but don’t break,” Mahoney said. “Our guys just never really gave New Ulm an opportunity to succeed. Really proud of the guys.”

From then on out, the Cardinal offense converted at a high level against the Eagles.

After turning over New Ulm on downs in their own territory, Long found Harvey for his first touchdown pass of the game at the eight-minute mark of the second quarter.

Following another turnover on downs from the Eagles offense, Fairmont churned out a nine-play touchdown drive capped off by yet another Long-Harvey connection, chewing up the remaining time in the quarter and going into the locker room up 25-0.

“He’s just a solid field general,” Mahoney said about Long. “As a head coach, you want a guy like Joe Long at quarterback.”

Fairmont’s defense started the second half much like they played all game. Following Castleman’s eight-yard screen pass to Hubbard for a first down, the Cardinals pushed back to force a loss of yards on the next three plays to give the ball back to Fairmont.

The next offensive possession for the Cardinals was the most impressive one yet.

Grinding out seven minutes of game clock with multiple carries from Tumbleson and Keyon Schutz, Long completed the fourth and goal conversion with a 15-yard connection to Terfehr in the end zone.

New Ulm found some life on their next drive, however.

Jeffrey Kral was the spark plug for the Eagles, picking up 70 yards on consecutive jet sweep runs to put his team on the board, 31-8.

But after getting called to carry the load for a majority of the night, it was Tumbleson who put on the finishing touches for Fairmont.

On the Cardinals’ first play of their next drive, the senior broke an up-the-middle run loose, sprawling across the goal line to give Fairmont six more points.

Mason Bicknase scored the Cardinals’ last points on a quarterback keeper late in the fourth quarter, pushing the scoreboard to 43-8.

Fairmont (2-0) continues the season next week with another home contest, this time against Waseca. New Ulm (1-1) will host Albert Lea next Friday.