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ALGONA – If there were any doubts that this version of Bishop Garrigan is ready to compete for a third eight-player state football title in four years, they were quickly erased here Thursday night.
With inclement weather in the forecast for Friday, the longest-standing Catholic rivalry game between the Golden Bears and St. Edmond was moved up a day.
That didn't affect Bishop Garrigan.
The Golden Bears (4-0 overall) scored on the opening kickoff with a return by Dalton Klenz, claiming a 63-0 victory. Bishop Garrigan has won 27 consecutive regular season games since a 2023 loss to the Gaels (2-3), and is on a 16-game win streak overall dating back to the 2024 state semifinals. They now lead the all-time series with St. Edmond, 43-24.
After the Klenz kickoff return, the Garrigan defense forced a three-and-out, and Mike Joyce hit Brad Meister on the first play from scrimmage for a 66-yard touchdown. Joyce would get a chance to field the next punt, scampering to the end zone himself.
CJ McGregor took his first handoff 61 yards for a score and his second 33 to the end zone. On the third offensive series of the game for the Golden Bears, Joyce found a streaking Meister from 55 yards out. Bishop Garrigan scored five times in under 10 minutes, and on just four snaps.
In the first quarter, Bishop Garrigan ran five plays from scrimmage for 205 yards, returning both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns. The first play of the second quarter resulted in a 63-yard TD run by Carter Cink.
The Golden Bears finished off the first-half flurry with a 48-yard pitch-and-catch from Joyce to Weston Rosenmeyer. Joyce was 3-for-3 for 169 yards and three passing TDs and a punt return for a score, as Meister had two touchdown catches for 121 yards.
McGregor had 94 yards rushing and Cink 73 on just four carries, scoring three times.
Thomas Ehn had 114 yards passing, hitting Griffin Laufersweiler nine times for 84. Ty Mericle added four receptions.
Bishop Garrigan will head to Bedford next Friday. The Bulldogs are 3-0 with dominating wins over Sidney, Lenox and CAM.
St. Edmond is off next week before returning to the field on Thursday, Oct. 1 at GTRA for district action. The Gaels were scheduled to host Siouxland Christian, but they cancelled their season and merged with Remsen St. Mary's.