Defense carries Jordan to20-13 victory over Fairmont in 3A playoffs

Jordan struggled defensively when it lost to Fairmont early this season, Hubmen coach Bo Wasurick said.

But on Saturday, Jordan held the Cardinals' offense in check in a 20-13 victory in the Class 3A quarterfinals at Prior Lake.

The Hubmen (9-3) forced three turnovers and limited the Fairmont offense to 247 yards and one fourth-quarter first down.

"To not play our best offensively, but for our defense to step up the way it did, it says a lot about the kids," Wasurick said.

Jordan quarterback Jonathan Draheim led the offense with 235 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Two of them were first-quarter scores, one for 18 yards to Marlon Wiley and the other a 40-yard completion to Adam Kreuser.

Fairmont rallied in the third quarter, cutting the lead to one point on a touchdown pass by backup quarterback Garrett Myren, playing after starter Nathan Kallenbach left the game with an injury.

Jordan scored on its next possession, with Draheim throwing another TD pass to Kreuser. Running back Tariq Smith helped seal the victory with 61 yards from scrimmage in the fourth quarter.

"I thought Garrett came in with a lot of poise," he said, "but I thought our kids stepped up and played their hearts out for him, too."

NATE GOTLIEB