The 2025 high school football season was a year of “almost” for the Algona Bulldog football team. Algona ended the season with a 4-5 record, with three of the five losses came by five points or less.
Head Coach Andy Jacobson felt it was a productive offseason leading into 2026, with the team focusing on leadership.
Senior quarterback Nathan Manske headlines the returning starters on the team, as Manske finished last season with 1508 yards passing, 14 touchdown passes and 8 interceptions, with 745 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
Algona brings back a veteran line which is expected to be one of the strengths of the team. The senior trio of Will Limbaugh, Brody Shipler, and Mason Ulrich give the line plenty of starting experience coming into the season. Tayten Rummel slots in at the tight end spot, and is another Bulldog that Jacobson feels had a good camp.
The offensive skill positions will largely consist of new faces in the starting lineup. 2025’s senior class, which included such as Evan Allie, Tate Garman, Will Weichert, and Taevyn Zinnel, claimed most of the snaps at running back, reciever, and tight end on the Algona offense.
For 2026, players such as Micah Kitzinger, Cael Rotert, Seth Moreno, Wyatt Kelly, Owen Moe, and Brooks Kuhlmann will be among the Bulldogs who will have the ball in their hands on offense.
Kitzinger and Rotert saw the most playing time among that group last season, as Kitzinger caught 12 passes for 168 yard and 3 touchdowns, while Rotert carried the ball 32 times for 101 yards.
Algona’s defense retained most of the starters on the 2025 unit. Manske led Algona in tackles and interceptions last season, and will be a key fixture in the secondary again, with Caden Kuecker and Kitzinger playing cornerback.
Two starting defensive linemen return to the picture as well, with Limbaugh and Ulrich.
Rummel, Shipler, and Rotert all bring starting linebacker experience into the fold, with Rummel leading the Bulldogs in sacks and tackles for loss last season.
Jacobson feels that if Algona stays focused on the process, the results will follow.
Algona opens the season by hosting Spirit Lake on August 28th.
