The incomparable Mat Eikmeier of Howells, soon to be a valued member of the NEMFCA Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Mat, along with 13 others, will be inducted next Saturday at halftime of the Sertoma 8-Man All-Star Football Game at Adams Central High School.
It’s that time of year again. As a member of the NEMFCA Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, I am honored to introduce to you our third of 14 members of the NEMFCA Class of 2022 Hall of Fame. My third salute goes to one of the greatest all-around players/managers in the history of 8-a-side football, Howells Bobcat Mat Eikmeier. The guy could do anything. Eikmeier was 3 times drafted in football (DB, QB, QB) and was named basketball player during his junior and senior seasons.
Something I distinctly remember about Mat was his vicious block AFTER handing or throwing the ball to a running back from his quarterback position. Mike Spiers ran a million swipes in his legendary State Championship run at Howells, and one sight that struck real FEAR in a defender, was Mat Eikmeier rolling to his right side, throwing the ball to a ball carrier. ball, then completely destroying a potential tackler with a penalty block.
I’ve seen more than one defensive player turn sideways, back off, then get flattened by a rampaging Mat Eikmeier. Most important was the leadership of Mat Eikmeier. I have never seen an 8-Man player with such leadership skills on the football field as this young man possessed.
Never. And a 51-1 career record in high school football with FOUR D-1 State Championships is living proof of that. Honestly, if Howells had fielded a table tennis team in his Eikmeier days, Mat would have been an all-state selection in that sport as well!
And now we proudly present the NEMFCA Hall of Fame biography of Mat Eikmeier;
MAT EIKMEIER – HOWELLS HIGH SCHOOL
From 2000 to 2003, Mat was a generational player for legendary coach Mike Speirs. He was on the losing side of the scoreboard only once in his entire high school career (51-1) and in doing so played a major role in 4 straight state championships for the Bobcats.
As a player, Mat was honored multiple times, including: 3-time 1st All-District Team, 3-time 1st All-State Team, he was selected as Class D-1 Player of the Year twice ( 2002 and 2003). He was also named both 1st Team Super-State and 1st Team All-Nebraska as a senior.
On the field, Mat finished his career setting school records for season yards and touchdowns by a QB (1,068/23), touchdowns in a game (6) and interceptions made on defense (9). In the summer of 2004, Mat was selected to play in the Nebraska Shrine Bowl and was also named All-Eight All-Star Game Most Valuable Offensive Player.
He would later go on to have a very successful college baseball career at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Mat is very proud of the opportunity he had to play with and for all the talented teammates and coaches he worked with at Howells HS (especially Coach Speirs), and the 11 state football titles the Eikmeier families of Howells and Dodge have accumulated in their cumulative careers.
The NEMFCA is honored to now welcome him to the Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
