The Le Mars Community football team finished their 2024 season with a lot of momentum winning four-straight football games.
Despite that run of success, the Bulldogs were the first team out of the Class 4A postseason. Head coach Ken Vigdal says that disappointment paired with the motivation to meet the standard is driving Le Mars heading into the new season.
Le Mars will have some continuity at the quarterback position with Jami Sitzmann set for his second season under center. Coach Vigdal says he is leading the offense well with a year of experience under his belt.
Thankfully, the Bulldogs bring back a lot of skill guys to make plays as well. A lot of those skill guys thrived in the secondary which was a calling card of the Bulldog defense last year led by Tegan Bogh who picked off six passes. Coach Vigdal says all those returning playmakers are set for another big year.
A playmaker that returns on defense outside of the secondary is Andrew Grant. In his sophomore season last year, Grant led the Bulldogs in tackles for loss and sacks proving his place among the best pass rushers in the area. Coach Vigdal says he has earned the right to be a key cog in the defense again this year.
One unsung hero for Le Mars football the last few years has come in the kicking game with the leg of Jovany Kabongo. If the Bulldogs reached the 30-yard line the last few years, there was no worry about whether or not Le Mars could get a few points on the drive. Now, that luxury is not there. Coach Vigdal says the kicking game may not be as strong in distance, but it still has that reliable consistency.
Le Mars is preseason ranked ninth by Radio Iowa and is set to play four teams ranked in the preseason throughout their nine-game 2025 slate. Coach Vigdal says heading into a schedule with the goals Le Mars has requires a level of consistency in everything they do.
Le Mars’ season begins tonight at Council Bluffs AL. The game can be heard on KLEM Radio with coverage beginning at 6:15 and kickoff to follow at 7. It will also be streamed on the KLEM Radio YouTube channel.
