The Le Mars Community football team begins their 2026 season this week coming off a 5-5 year that saw them sneak into the Class 4A playoff picture.
The Bulldogs have continued a run of making the playoffs in three of the five years Ken Vigdal has been the head coach. Coach Vigdal says he has enjoyed seeing the classes that have come through continue to instill what playing Bulldog football is all about.
Le Mars had great participation in the offseason with guys eager to get better for the fall. Coach Vigdal says adding a strength and conditioning coach is not only beneficial to his program, but it is beneficial to all the sports Le Mars offers.
The Bulldogs graduated many pieces offensively, but the signal caller catches everyone’s eye. With Jami Sitzmann out, sophomore Jordan Kopperud steps in to lead the Bulldog offense. Coach Vigdal says he has been impressed with Kopperud’s leadership early on.
On the defensive side, injuries hindered the full impact for the Bulldogs last year. Thankfully, some of those guys who were hurt return to the roster this year for their senior season. Coach Vigdal says he has enjoyed seeing what his front unit can do so far.
The Bulldogs scrimmaged Central Lyon/George-Little Rock last week to prepare for the season. Coach Vigdal says he likes the parts to his offense, and now it is time to get them moving cohesively.
Defensively, Coach Vigdal says the Bulldogs are just a few tweaks away from being ready to go for week one.
Le Mars’ first matchup takes place at home at Jim Lorenzen Field on Friday night when the Bulldogs welcome in the Lynx from Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln.
Listen to our full interview with Le Mars head coach Ken Vigdal in the player below.
LE MARS BULLDOG FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
August 28 – COUNCIL BLUFFS AL
September 4 – at Bishop Heelan
September 11 – SIOUX CENTER
September 18 – at MOC-Floyd Valley
September 25 – at Spencer *
October 2 – SIOUX CITY WEST * (Homecoming)
October 9 – at Sergeant Bluff-Luton *
October 16 – FORT DODGE *
October 23 – at Storm Lake *
