Costly third quarter fuels Fairmont’s loss to Waseca
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WASECA - If you told Fairmont football head coach Mat Mahoney that his team would be down by just one score heading into halftime of Friday night's contest against Waseca, he would call that a major win.
The lightly drizzled opening 24 minutes saw both teams slosh through tough playing conditions. Neither side gained much ground. A nine-play series starting at the Bluejays’ own 18-yard line proved to be not only the lone first-half score, but their longest drive of the contest.
Running back Samuel Selthun's goal-line fumble bounced into Waseca's grasp for the 7-0 lead with 4:06 on the clock. But outside of a favorable roll, both teams were even-keeled heading into the intermission.
However, a third quarter filled with momentum-swinging plays decided the final result. Two turnovers and a solid punt return placed the Bluejays inside Fairmont's 30-yard line on three straight series. Cashing in on each short-field chance, Waseca's three-score blitz ultimately powered its 28-0 victory over the Cardinals.
"I was just very proud of the boys," Mahoney said. "Going in, I told them, 'All I care about is that you play hard today. I need your very best.' And I got that. I thought they played extremely hard.
"You can really break this game down to three plays," he continued. "The opening kickoff [of the second half], their big punt return and the interception. Without those three plays, it was a whole different ballgame."
Seconds into the third quarter, the Bluejays had the ball deep in Fairmont territory. An opening kickoff return by Travohn Harvey got knocked loose trying to get past a slew of blue jerseys. Kellen Klinger capped the five-play drive with his first of two touchdowns.
Another Fairmont punt ended in the hands of a ready Nolan Dufault. Dufault's initial cut to the left took the sophomore to the Cardinals’ 30-yard line for a big return. Selthun’s 23-yard scamper to the pylon put the Bluejays at the Cardinals’ 1-yard line, and Isaiah Dymeck punched it in on the ensuing play
Waseca's final touchdown got aided by Fairmont quarterback Jensen Livesay. After a 10-yard first-down rush, the signal caller threw an interception on his pass to the left. The Bluejays' best field position yet, Fairmont's 6-yard line, was capitalized on by another Klinger run. Nine minutes of game time saw Waseca's lead hurdle to four possessions.
"There's not an answer for it. It's just a tough break," Mahoney said. "But the pretty part of this game was that our kids never gave up. They never put their heads down. We just had some tough luck there."
Fairmont's second straight loss didn't waver Mahoney or his coaching staff. Mahoney knew before the season started that this team had to continue climbing to reach their ceiling.
The players’ attitudes haven't changed either. According to Mahoney, the group continues to attack this early adversity with the right mindset and headspace. Increased repetition will be the key in taking Fairmont to its goals. That starts with getting better on the practice field next week, each day being a chance to improve.
"I think we are still tweaking to get our best 11 [players] on both sides of the ball, and it's getting closer," Mahoney said. "It's one day at a time. It's one practice at a time, and I can't wait to get back to work on Monday to fix what we need to fix and get better."