Montezuma’s Eddie Burgess named Gazette Player of the Year

By  J.O. Parker
 
  Montezuma’s Eddie Burgess, who finished the 2020 football season with 5,094 all-purpose yards and a record 89 touchdowns has been named by the Cedar Rapids Gazette as the Overall Player of the Year.
  The 6-4, 215 pound junior helped lead the Braves to a 10-1 record and semifinal finish in 8-player state football action at the UNI-Dome in November.
  The Braves have only been to state football twice in school history. They finished as Class 1A runner ups during the 2006 season.
  “The statistics are mind-boggling, even for 8-player competition,” noted Gazette staff. “Burgess led the entire state in seven offensive categories, ranging from total touchdowns to pass completions.”
  “I knew I probably had to put up numbers in order to win, but I knew I had my teammates behind me and no matter what, we were going to work together, come together as a family and get it done,” Burgess told the Gazette. “The team aspect of football is everything. You can’t do everything by yourself.”
  In addition to the Gazette honors, Burgess was named First Team Offense and Offensive MVP honors in Class 8 – District 4 All-District Team. And The Des Moines Register named Burgess to the 2020 All-Iowa Football Team in 8-player action. 
  Joining Burgess on the Register All-Iowa Team is Trey Shearer, a 5-11, 160 pound senior who was recognized as wide receiver and Cole Watts, a 5-11, 180 pound senior as defensive back.
  Shearer and Watts were also recognized by the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Shearer received wide receiver honors while Watts received utility player honors.