Braves are hitting on all cylinders in 5-0 start

Montezuma's Eddie Burgess plays tough in a game against BGM on Friday, Sept. 10, grabbing an interception in his first half play. The Braves won the game, 62-37.

By J.O. Parker

​   Montezuma’s Eddie Burgess and the Braves are taking care of business on the gridiron. Through five games, the Braves are hitting on all cylinders and beating their opponents by an average of 39-points, with four games left on the schedule.
    The Braves opened the season with a 57-24 victory at Iowa Valley; 56-20 at HLV; 64-26 at Grand View Christian; at home vs. BGM, 67-32 and at Melcher-Dallas, 61-8.
     Burgess, who does about everything one player can do in a game, is leading Montezuma and the state in 8-man football with 36 total touchdowns. This includes 1,190 passing yards for 17 touchdowns and 675-yards rushing for 15 touchdowns. He currently is fifth in the state in the rushing touchdown category.
      In the receiving category, Burgess has 148-yards and 4 receptions for 3 touchdowns. And he has 5 interceptions and 1 touchdown.
    Owen Cook, a junior on the Braves squad, has thrown for 3 touchdowns on 203-yards passing and Garrett Watts, a sophomore, has passed for 95-yards and no touchdowns.
    Cook is also leading the state with 2,083 kickoff yards. His closest competition is Ethan Gienger, a senior at Gladbrook-Reinbeck, who has 1,774-yards in the kickoff department.
      Cook is also a top leader in the state in the PAT department with 24 made (third in the state) on 29 attempts (second in the state).  
     In the rushing category, Connor Van Zee, a senior, has 25 carries for 118-yards and 1 touchdown while Watts has rushed for 40-yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Cruz DeJong has 23-yards on nine carries.
       In the receiving category, Masin Shearer, a junior, has caught 13 passes for 241-yards and 5 touchdowns while Cook has caught 14 balls for 412-yards and 4 touchdowns. Van Zee has 12 catches for 227-yards and 3 touchdowns while Camden Michalek, a senior for the Braves, has 219-yards on 10 catches and 2 touchdowns through five games.
      On defense, Burgess is leading the way with 34.5 tackles, including 29 solo. Van Zee has 18.5 tackles, including 15 solo while Martavious Knox is getting the job done with 16.5 total tackles, including 12 solo. Zach Bennett, a senior, has 21.5 tackles including 12 solo for the Braves while Watts has 10.5 tackles including 10 solo.
    Bennett has recovered three fumbles while Watts and Shearer both have one fumble recovery each as the second half of the season gets underway.
       Shearer has four two-point conversions to go with three by Burgess.
      The Braves will be home the next three out of four games. They face Southeast Warren on Friday, Sept. 25 for Homecoming. Next up is a home game against Twin Cedars on Oct. 1. Montezuma’s will then travel to Baxter on Oct. 8 before wrapping up the season at home against Woodward Academy on Oct. 15. Game time is 7 p.m.