This year, there are nearly 100 Cubs on the Monett football team, all looking forward to Friday nights under the lights.
For one Monett senior, he’s set on finally putting his touchdown celebrations to good use.
“After catching a pass against East Newton last year, on a varsity night, he was the happiest guy in the world,” said Monett senior Edgar Mercado.
It might just be a simple football play, but every chance on the gridiron is worth a celebration dance for Eli Eiskina who went from Monett football team manager to Monett football player.
“It was fun and I hit big guys,” the senior said.
Eiskina is born with Microcephaly, an intellectual disability. When Ben Mauk took over as head coach in 2024, the new head coach didn’t understand why Eiskina wasn’t playing sooner.
“He’s earned it, he’s been at every workout. ” Mauk said. “He’s worked hard just like everyone else and so he deserves the same opportunities as every other kid on our football team.”
And the players know he belongs.
“Just having him out here all the time he is ready to play football,” Mercado said.
“He gives me motivation, seeing what he can do every day,” said Monett senior Miles Young. “I mean if he is out here doing all of what he does, I mean that just pushes me. I should go even harder because he just has a love for the game.”
“[It’s] kind of like a morale boost having him out here,” said Monett senior Collin Umfleet. “He just really lights up the room for us.”
Eiskina’s teammates bring him just as much joy. He says his closest friend and teammate is Landyn Brandt, who graduated last season. Eiskina will be repping Brandt’s old jersey number, 16.
Beyond more wins this season, the Monett football team is looking for Eiskina’s first trip to the endzone.
“That will be a memory he will cherish forever and I mean we only have one more year left this season, so I really hope we can get it done for him,” Young said.
The celebration dances might come a plenty this season and Eiskina has an idea of what what his endzone moves will look like.
“A griddy maybe,” Eiskina said.
“He loves Justin Jefferson so that wouldn’t surprise me he does it all the time,” Young said.
Eskina will not be the only one living up his touchdown when the day comes.
“Everyone at school knows him so when they see that happen they’re going to love it,” Mercado said. “He’s going to love it, he’s going to have the best night of his life.”
“We all might end up rushing the field give him the biggest celebration we can,” Umfleet said.
