2019 Eight-Man Coaches Assn. Hall of Fame Class - Cory Eikmeier-Dodge

This is a post game photo taken on Halloween night, 1996 after Eikmeier rambled for 268 yards on just 14 carries in a 54-6 win over Clarkson. Cory's career rushing yardage had swelled to 7,378 yards at the time. Notice Eikmeiers high top shoes. Who says you can't set National Records in high tops.

This is a first of a series as I present to you the 2019 Nebraska Eight Man Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee Class. Up first is none other than Cory Eikmeier of Dodge, who still holds the all-class Career Rushing Record in Nebraska.

Cory Eikmeier’s Nebraska Single Season Rushing Record of 8,330 still stands as the best of all-time regardless of class. Eikmeier had incredible blocking but knew what to do after zipping past the line.

It seemed like nobody touched #20 from 1993-1996 and the fact his name is listed in the National Federation of State High School Associations record 20 times.

Below Eikmeier’s HOF profile are his national records in that publication after a recent glance

From 1993 to 1996, Cory led The Pirates to 3 state titles and in the process, established one of the most prolific rushing careers in the history of Nebraska Eight Man Football. Alongside Hall of Fame Coach Gordon Pilmore, he helped build the original foundation of the Dodge Football Dynasty of the 1990’s. Cory rewrote the state’s history books while leading the Pirates to the 1994, 1995, and 1996 State Titles. He set national records with 1,021 points in a career, 448 points in a season, 68 touchdowns in a season, and 41 career 100-yard games (22 consecutive). In his senior season, he rushed for 2,965 yards on his way to setting the all-time state record for career yards with 8,763. Cory received 1st Team All-Cornhusker Conference honors 3 times, was named 1st Team All-State 3 times, and was also selected to play in both The Shrine Bowl and The 1997 Eight-Man All Star Game---where he was named that game’s most valuable offensive player. He later finished his playing career at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The NEMFCA is honored to welcome him into the Eight Man Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019.

Cory Eikmeier’s Nebraska Single Season Rushing Record of 8,330 still stands as the best of all-time regardless of class. Eikmeier had incredible blocking but knew what to do after zipping past the line.

It seemed like nobody touched #20 from 1993-1996 and the fact his name is listed in the National Federation of State High School Associations record 20 times reinforces that statement.

Here are Eikmeier’s national records in that publication after a recent glance:

*Most 100-Yard Games, Career – 41 – 1993-96 – National Record (NR)

*Most 100-Yard Games, Consecutive – 22 – 1995-96 - NR

*Most 100-Yard Games, Consecutive – 8 – 1994 – Ranks No. 9

*Most Points, Career - 1,013 – 1993-96 – NR

*Most Points, Season - 448 – 1996 – NR

**Most Rushing Attempts, Game – 31 – vs. Humphrey St. Francis, 1996 – Tied for No. 24 (T24)

*Most Rushing Attempts, Game – 31 – vs. East Butler, 1994 – T24

*Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career – 155 – 1993-96 - NR (No. 2 is 113)

*Most Rushing Touchdowns, Season – 67 - 1996 – NR (No. 2 is 43)

*Most Rushing Touchdowns, Season – 43 - 1995 – T2

*Most Rushing Touchdowns, Season – 29 - 1994 – No. 15

*Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game – 8 – 1996 vs. Friend – T3

*Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game – 8 – 1996 vs. Mead – T3

*Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game – 7 – 1996 vs. Newman Grove – T13

*Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game – 7 – 1996 vs. Mead – T13

*Most Rushing Yards, Career – 8,330 – 1993-96 - NR (No. 2 is 6,959)

*Total Offense Career, 8,783– 1993-96

*Most Rushing Yards, Season – 2,971 – 1996 - No. 3

*Most Rushing Yards, Per Game, Season – 228.5 – 1996 - No. 14

*Most Touchdowns, Career – 155 – 1993-96

I also have Cory Eikmeier’s game by game rushing chart fo you. The last regular season game and the playoff games were tough to figure out. The stats are official from the beginning of his freshman season until game 7 of his senior year.

The career total will add up to more than 8,330 yards, so they may have gone back through the films and adjusted some yardage totals, which is normal when striving for accuracy when a record is involved. Not a big deal, they knew what they were doing up there in God’s Country, aka Dodge in this case.

Cory Eikmeier: Game by Game Rushing statistics, carries and touchdowns.

Freshman season (1993);

Opponent……….Yards/Carries..TDs

Clarkson……………...105-22……….1

Newman Grove……139-21……….1

Lindsay HF……………..39-11……….1

Cedar Bluffs………….186-19…..….3

Howells……..….……..110--14……..2

Mead…………………...120-20……...2

Humphrey SF………..134-9………..3

Humphrey…………….137-16……...3

Leigh……………………...22-12……….0

Freshman Totals…..992-137…...16

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Sophomore season (1994); * = playoff game

Opponent……….Yards/Carries..TDs

Clarkson……………...131-17……….1

Newman Grove……..62-14……….1

Lindsay HF..…….……159-13……….2

Cedar Bluffs………….110-12…..….3

Howells……..….……..173-18……...3

Mead…………………...223-25……...3

Humphrey SF………..128-22….…..3

Humphrey…………….125-23……...1

Leigh……….………..….150-23..….…3

*NL-Scotia….………...219-19……...2

*Nelson…………………..96-16……...3

*East Butler…………..189-31……...1

*Overton……………….210-24……...5

Sophomore Total-1,975-257…..31

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Junior season (1995); * = playoff game

Opponent……….Yards/Carries..TDs

Lindsay HF…………….82-10……….1

Leigh……………...…...185-16...……2

Newman Grove..….159-13……...6

Humphrey SF………...62-18…..….0

Howells……..….……..269-22..…...6

Mead…………………...223-22……...2

Humphrey SF………..128-22….…..3

Clarkson……………....193-26……...3

Humphrey…..…..…..209-17...…..6

Omaha B-Talbot…...190-14……...4

*Bancroft-Rosalie….283-24……...3

*St. Edward…………..185-24……...4

*Stella SE……….……..201-29……...4

*Orchard……………...197-26……….2

Junior Year Total-2,487-27……...43

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Senior season (1996); * = playoff game

Opponent……….Yards/Carries..TDs

Lindsay HF……………215-19………3

Leigh……………...…...174-23...……5

Newman Grove..….271-20……...7

Humphrey SF……….408-31…..….5

Howells……..….……..231-20..…...4

Mead…………………...257-22….....8

Clarkson……………....268-14……..5

Senior Year Total-1,824-149….36 (Through 7 games)

Career Total……...7,378-810...128 (up to this point)

…..So, Eikmeier had 6 games remaining and I know he gained 952 yards in those six outings. I do not have the game by game totals for those, but do know he had 189 in that 1996 state final vs. Anselmo-Merna.

Incredible numbers, incredible athlete who had superior vision and an exceptional offensive line throughout his illustrious career playing for Hall of Fame coach Gordon Pilmore.