Braves take down unbeaten Baxter Bolts, 45-24; to open first round playoffs at home against New London Friday night

Montezuma's Eddie Burgess shows who is number 1 following a 45-24 win at Baxter on Friday, Oct. 8. The Braves finished the regular season, 9-0, after Woodward Academy forfeited the final game of the season. The Braves, who earned the 8-player District 7 title, open the playoffs at home on Friday, Oct. 22 against New London. Game time is 7 p.m.

    There were knock downs, knock outs, high-flying catches bruising runs. It was everything any Iowa high school football fan would want in a game.
   Montezuma’s Eddie Burgess and company traveled to Baxter on Friday night, coming home with an impressive, 45-24, victory over the previously unbeaten Bolts, who fell to 6-1 on the season.
    The number one Braves end the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record, thanks to Woodward Academy forfeiting the final home game, earning the 8-player District 7 title in the process. The win secured the Braves spot in the playoffs.
    The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Burgess scored 6 touchdowns in the game, finishing the night with 447 total yards, giving him 2,960 for the season and 53 total touchdowns, tops in the state.
    Of his 6 total touchdowns, Burgess went 18 for 26 passing and 2 touchdowns and rushed for 168 yards on 27 carries and 3 touchdowns. He leaped into the air in the third period and grabbed a 17-yard pass from Owen Cook for a TD. The leaping catch in the corner of the endzone followed a late hit on Burgess. After sitting out a down, he returned as a wide receiver to put the Braves ahead for good. Later, Burgess scored on a gut-busting run, running over and dragging several defenders on the way to the endzone.
    Burgess finished with 3 two-point conversions and Cook had 1 two-point conversion.
   Connor Van Zee had 1 interception for 6 points and picked up 2 more scores on 4 rushes for 89 yards. Masin Shearer has a good night as well, finish the game with a 111 yards on 8 receptions.
     On defense, Burgess finished the game with a 11 tackles including 9 solo. Van Zee finished with 7.5 tackles including 6 solo. Cook finished the game with 4 solo tackles and Eli Bustamonte finished the game with 5 tackles, 4 being solo. Others had tackles for losses.
     Cook had 7 kickoffs with 6 being touchbacks for 312 yards.
    The Braves will face New London on Friday, Oct. 22 at Badger-Gabriel Field in the first round of the playoffs. Game time is 7 p.m.