Montezuma’s Eddie Burgess to play football at Upper Iowa

Burgess will sign a letter of intent to play football at Upper Iowa in Montezuma on Dec. 15

​     Montezuma senior Eddie Burgess makes a play during the Audubon game  on Friday, Oct. 29, the last of his prep career. Burgess plans to play football at Upper Iowa University in Fayette next fall. “It was a place that wanted me, and showed effort into my recruitment,” said Burgess. “All around it just felt like home and the right fit for me.”

​By J.O. Parker
 
     Montezuma’s Eddie Burgess has been a state leader much of his prep career. He has received numerous honors and has been interviewed and written about in papers across the state, all while helping lead the Braves to back-to-back 10-1 seasons in 8-man football. 
        When asked what drives him to go out and give his best in every game, Burgess is quick to point out that his success is the team’s success.
      “Without them (the team) I wouldn’t be who I am today and the player I am today,” said Burgess, a senior at Montezuma. “I give 100 percent every time I get to compete alongside my brothers. I give everything I have because I know they are giving everything they have for me.”
     You could write a book about the 6’ 4, 230-pound all-around athlete. In 2020, Burgess helped lead the Braves to the UNI-Dome, the first time since the 2006 season, and a semifinal finish in a record-breaking game, falling to St. Mary’s Remsen, 108-94. The Braves wrapped up the 2021 season with a quarterfinal finish, falling to Audubon, 64-14.
       Burgess also plays basketball and was part of the 2020-21 Braves team that won a Class 1A State Championship, the first in 31 years for the school. He also plays golf and swings a bat, leading both teams to the playoffs earlier this year.
       Outside of the basketball championship, when asked what a memorable moment during his prep career was, Burgess said playing football at the UNI-Dome.
       “Making it to the dome was a surreal experience and I wouldn’t give that experience up for the world,” he said. “It meant so much to my teammates and I. Knowing that we were 2-7 just two years prior made all the hard work worth it.”
The future
      As for the future, Burgess has decided to play football for the Division 11 Peacocks at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. Upper Iowa is part of the Northern Sun Conference and the only Division II university in Iowa.
        When asked what led him to Fayette, Burgess said Upper Iowa felt like home.
        “It was a place that wanted me, and showed effort into my recruitment,” said Burgess. “All around it just felt like home and the right fit for me.”
        Burgess said plans are for him to play the tight end position.
       “Things could change as I get on campus and we dive more into my abilities and where I help the team most,” said Burgess.
        Burgess received offers from South Dakota State and Minnesota State, Mankato, the latter being a Division II college in the North Sun Conference. He also talked with Iowa and visited UNI.
      For now, Burgess said he is undecided on a career path, but is veering towards teaching after college.
     “Eddie is a great kid who always puts the team first,” noted Braves Head Football Coach John Beck. “He is a leader in and out of season and did a great job of getting our young kids to buy into the out-of-season stuff (lifting and speed training). Eddie is an exceptional young man who continues to excel in the classroom and as a person. The team is so excited for him to continue his education and athletic career at Upper Iowa and cannot wait to see what he accomplished there.
       Burgess will sign a letter of intent to play football at Upper Iowa in Montezuma on Dec. 15.
    “I love Montezuma and the community,” Burgess said. “Wouldn’t want to spend my high school days anywhere else.”