Fairmont beats Perham in Class 3A football semifinals

This was much more to Fairmont's liking.

The Cardinals' six-point victory over Cannon Falls in the snow and cold of the Class 3A quarterfinals last week was more of a chore than they liked.

"The conditions weren't ideal for us," Fairmont coach Mat Mahoney said. "We're kind of a finesse passing team."

Out of the elements and operating on fast turf, Fairmont relaxed and play its style in defeating Perham 29-14 in a 3A semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Perham drove 69 yards on its opening possession and scored on Ty Moser's 3-yard dive to take a 6-0 lead.

Fairmont struck back quickly, scoring on a 32-yard, fourth-down pass from quarterback Garrett Myren to wide receiver Dustin Schultz. The duo had narrowly failed to connect on a similar route one play before.

"I just know he's always open," Myren said.

The Cardinals increased their lead on their next possession after Myren's 58-yard pass to running back Jordan Wolter put them deep into Perham territory. Three plays later, Myren and Schultz hooked up again, this time for an 11-yard touchdown and a 15-6 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, the Cardinals scored twice in a span of just over four minutes. Wolter's 74-yard touchdown run was followed by cornerback Daniel Reiter's 39-yard interception return for a commanding 29-6 lead.

Perham added a touchdown to cut the deficit to 29-14.

Although too young then to remember much, Myren said the 2011 team — the only other Fairmont team to play in a Prep Bowl (it lost to St. Croix Lutheran) — was a standard the Cardinals have strived to reach.