Section implications loom when Fairmont takes on Titans
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FAIRMONT - Fairmont football left Montgomery last October with a sour taste in its mouth. The Section 3AAA quarterfinal matchup against Tri-City United ended with then Cardinals quarterback Joe Long unable to connect with Merritt Pomerenke for a 3-yard, game-tying touchdown as time expired. Their valiant comeback effort fell just short.
Fairmont finished last season at 4-5. Two of its losses came from the Titans. This Wednesday, however, a rematch is slotted at Mahoney Field. A rematch that will determine top seedings in this year's Section 3AAA bracket.
Both teams walk into the matchup on three-game winning streaks. Tri-City United's (5-1) victories over St. Peter, New Ulm, and, most impressively, Waseca have them in a top spot in the section's QRF (Quality Rating Formula). Fairmont's latest win over Belle Plaine stamped its 4-2 record and placed the Cardinals at the No. 3 spot.
"Regarding a section game, we are at a point to where we have a little bit of control over our destiny," Fairmont head coach Mat Mahoney said. "If we can continue to win, we are going to get a home playoff game, which we didn't get last year, and it stung. And that might've made the difference in the outcome of that game. Having a home field advantage instead of going on the road is a huge deal in high school football."
Scouting Tri-City United
Everything the Titans do starts with their offense. Tri-City United averaged a little over 25 points per contest in its six games. Much is thanks to an efficient Double Wing offense that has kept opposing defenses on their heels.
"This year, they aren't making mistakes or having turnovers," Mahoney said. "The beauty of their offense is that if you take one thing away, they have two or three other options. So you can't really focus on just one thing on their offense."
Kellen Jirik and Ty Smith take over quarterback and running back duties. But wingbacks Keegan O'Meara, Parker O’Malley and Eric Borchardt are more than comfortable blocking or carrying the ball depending on the play. The versatility of so many backfield players makes this offense tough to stop. Simple power and sweep runs are disguised through motion and deception.
"You have to be extremely disciplined," Mahoney said. "One of the things we talk about on defense is, 'Just do your job.' So if motion goes away, the guy has to stay home on the backside because something [else] is coming."
Tri-City United's offensive line paves the way for its rushing success. It's a unit that doesn't just average nearly 250 pounds per blocker, but is highlighted by sophomores Kale Tisdel (left tackle), Colton Dorweiler (right guard) and Tyson Sladek (right tackle). Tucker Skluzacek and Matthew Farr round out the left guard and center positions.
Mahoney says the Titans focus their defense to create a similar deception. A standard 4-3 front seven can shift into different looks with outside linebackers walking up towards the line of scrimmage.
"Their defense is a 4-3, but they'll walk their outside linebackers up so it looks like a 6-1. And then they can walk down their safety if they want to, and can play cover 3, cover 2, cover 4 behind it," Mahoney said. "They do a really good job of taking away something you do really well."
Tri-City United's defense has put its best foot forward the past two weeks after holding both New Ulm and Waseca to under 15 points. According to Mahoney, his offense needs to continue making the big plays they saw last Friday night versus Belle Plaine. Fairmont has averaged just under 40 points during its winning streak. A similar effort can put them in a good position to take home another victory.