The Belmond-Klemme Broncos finished 3-6 this fall, but the program’s growth was unmistakable in a season that delivered school records, a playoff berth and the team’s most wins since 2020.
The Broncos finished the season currently ranked third in Class A in passing yards with 1,891 and fourth with 20 passing touchdowns. Junior quarterback Brody Heifner led the offense through the air, along with senior receivers Braden Dougherty, Griffin Paulsen and Jackson Johanns. Wide Receivers junior Kysen Lamb and sophomore Blaze Paulsen were also key contributors. On the ground, the team was led by a group of underclassmen who scored 15 touchdowns while collecting 1,077 yards.
Despite the progress the team made this season, Head Coach Josh Faaborg says the group still feels it has more to accomplish.
“Overall, it was nice to get several wins in the column, but ultimately our final record wasn’t quite what we set out to do,” says Faaborg. “Our boys and our coaches and the entire team set our goals much higher than that, but we were in a lot of close battles against some good football teams.”
As the Broncos look to take another step forward next year, Faaborg says the team must raise its standard in the offseason.
“We have to put in an even bigger offseason than what we had last year,” says Faaborg. “Number one, participation has got to be even better. And that’s really become kind of an expectation for us now that the kids have really bought into and answered. So, now it’s not just getting in there. Now it’s getting after it while they’re in the weight room and in speed and agility trainings, or even if they’re playing another sport, is going out and attacking it like they attacked football this last year. I think those big three things are going to be really important for us to have even more success into the 2026 season.”
The Broncos will graduate six seniors in the offseason, but will return several key underclassmen for the 2026 campaign.
