The Eagle Grove Eagles football team returns to action on Friday night, as they wrap-up the regular season with a road trip to Belmond to take on Belmond-Klemme at Belmond-Klemme High School. Eagle Grove enters with a record of 0-8, while Belmond-Klemme enters at 2-6. Eagle Grove won the last meeting between the two schools in 2022 by a score of 60-8, but the all-time series is tied between the two schools at 12-12-1, dating back to 1927.
Belmond-Klemme enters with a 2-6 record, with their 2 wins coming against North Union and AGWSR in district play. The Broncos run a balanced-attack on offense that’s been led by sophomore quarterback Brody Heifner, who’s thrown for 684 yards and 4 touchdowns, while rushing for another 281 yards and 3 scores, but has not played since their game against Newman Catholic on September 27th. Since then, Jose Alfaro has stepped in at quarterback and thrown for 419 yards and 3 scores. Junior Braden Dougherty has been the top target of the passing game, catching 44 passes for 518 yards and 5 scores, while sophomore Kysen Lamb has caught 26 passes for 324 yards. Junior Griffin Paulsen has also been effective, catching 12 balls for 172 yards and 3 scores. Sophomore Braeden Wright has been the top rusher for the Broncos, running for 392 yards and 4 scores this season.
Defensively, the Broncos linebackers have been a busy unit in 2024, led by freshman Jamie Steffenson, who’s accumulated 36.5 tackles and 2 TFL, while Braden Dougherty has 32 tackles, 6.5 TFL and a sack. Aiden Hobscheidt has 28 tackles, 2.5 TFL and 2 sacks, while Ruben Guido has 29.5 tackles and 3 TFL. Up front, Maxwell Swisher leads the defensive line as the team’s leading tackler with 50.5 tackles, 3.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks. Brody Heifner had been the top DB for the Broncos, collecting 4 interceptions, but his hole has been filled by a number of athletes for B-K.
Eagle Grove will try to build off their promising performance against Pocahontas Area, in which the rushing attack strung together long drives and big plays. The Eagles front will need to hold serve better against the Broncos then they did against Pocahontas if they want win #1.
Kickoff is slated for 7PM from Belmond-Klemme High School on Friday Night.