The Blue Earth Area football team opened their season on the road in Fairmont in a rare Saturday morning game on Aug. 22. Fairmont capitalized on three Buccaneer turnovers converting them to touchdowns to defeat the Bucs 27-0.

Fairmont started the game with the ball, but the Buccaneer defense held them to just three plays forcing the Cardinals to punt from their own 37-yard line.

Blue Earth Area took possession at their 31-yard line but fumbled on their first play from the line of scrimmage, giving the ball right back to Fairmont.

The turnover proved costly. The Bucs defense forced the Cardinals into a fourth down and 11 yards to go situation. The Cardinals elected to go for it and a blown pass coverage left a Cardinal receiver wide open for a touchdown to put the home team up early in the first quarter. The point after touchdown was good and the Cards were on top 7-0.

Late in the first quarter the Bucs would drive deep into Fairmont territory. The big play on the drive was quarterback Bailey Olson’s pass completion to Tyler Hannaman for a 30-yard gain that set the Bucs up on the Cardinal 11-yard line. The Bucs advanced to the six-yard line before Olson was sacked on fourth down to end that scoring opportunity. Fairmont’s next score came late in the second quarter after an interception gave them the ball at the BEA 30-yard line. Seven plays later the Cardinals found the end zone again and the successful PAT made it 14-0 in favor of the Cardinals.

A 29-yard scoring drive on their first possession of the second half would boost the Cardinal lead to 20-0. The PAT was good to make it 21-0.

The Cardinals final score of the day came on a blocked punt in the fourth quarter that was returned 40 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt failed, but still giving Fairmont a 27-0 victory.

“We just need to play better,” says Bucs head coach Randy Kuechenmeister. “We need to improve, take care of the ball and have fewer penalties.”

Kaylan Legred was the leading rusher for the Bucs with 27 yards on three attempts. Bailey Olson completed six passes for 61 yards and Tyler Hannaman had four receptions for 39 yards.

The Bucs played host to the St. James Saints on Aug. 28. Coverage of that game will be in next week’s Faribault County Register.