LE MARS, IOWA (KCAU) – The Le Mars Bulldogs had been a workforce that bought increasingly stronger as final 12 months progressed. Ending with a 6-4 general file for his or her most wins in a season since 2016, this system is able to take that subsequent leap: profitable within the postseason.
The Bulldogs had small victories all through the 2022 season, most notably in direction of the top main into the workforce’s first playoff look since 2013. The workforce loses some manufacturing up entrance in addition to its top-two receivers in Sione Fifta and Connor Jalas with high rusher in Dordt product Elijah Dougherty.
The excellent news is the group retains extra seniors than they misplaced. Excited to mesh its expertise and new faces collectively, hoping to construct off the robust battle they noticed in themselves final fall in direction of its first postseason win since 2006.
“Final 12 months I believe we actually fought in each sport,” Le Mars senior quarterback/defensive again Teagen Kasel mentioned. “That was the large factor, you bought to ‘end empty’, end each play, end each quarter and sport. I believe final 12 months we did a very good job of ending video games late and by no means giving up and that’s actually what we’re gonna play off of this 12 months.”
“They’re rivals,” Le Mars head coach Ken Vigdal mentioned. “It doesn’t actually matter if we’re going one-one-ones with models or workforce, they’re competing. Certainly one of our core values is ‘End Empty’ and they also take that fairly severely. We wanna have the ability to make the playoffs and see the place we land and attempt to win a playoff sport for the primary time right here in fairly some time.”
One of many shiny spots for the Bulldogs is within the pocket, returning senior beginning quarterback Teagen Kasel after putting top-five within the district with 1,373 passing yards and 12 passing touchdowns. Combine in an skilled backfield and protection, and the workforce has loads to sit up for on each ends.
The larger job now lies in specializing in the small print and enhancing bodily and mentality. All with the aim of being probably the most energetic workforce on the sphere whereas ending in all facets of the sport.
“We’ve been engaged on bringing extra power and ending video games and ending each single factor with power,” Le Mars senior center linebacker/heart Evan Jalas mentioned.
“We’ve a Peak Efficiency program that they undergo within the springtime and it’s loads about mindsets and the way we do issues. Our core values is ‘powerful individuals win and ‘no CBE’ and ‘properly executed is best than properly mentioned’. We’re right here to be one p.c higher. We’re right here to get higher at the moment than what we had been yesterday,” Vigdal mentioned.
Le Mars opens the 2023 season visiting MRAC foe Sergeant Bluff-Luton. It’s the third 12 months in a row the Bulldogs will face the Warriors to kick off the 12 months. Sport time in Sergeant Bluff set for 7:00pm on Aug. twenty fifth.
