The defending and 12 time Swedish champions, the Stockholm Mean Machines, have re-signed one of the key cogs to their 2018 championship season, as NAIA All American wide receiver Matthew Retzlaff from Southern Oregon University rejoins the team.
In The 5’11”, 190 lb native of Medford, Oregon, played a huge part in the Mean Machines return to the podium in 2018. In the championship final win over the Carlstad Crusaders, Retzlaff, who was named Game MVP, played both ways, scoring three touchdowns, two on pass receptions and one on a beautiful 49 yard end around.
Retzlaff led the Swedish league in receiving yardage recording 810 yards in pass receptions. He had a couple of outstanding games during the season including a 246 yard effort against Uppsala.
Retzlaff finished his career with the Southern Oregon Raiders as the career leader in receiving yardage, 3.373 yards, receptions (247) and touchdowns (40). He earned NAIA All American honors in 2016 and helped the Raiders win the national championship in 2014. He was Southern Oregon’s offensive MVP in both 2015 and 2016, and was named to the All-Conference team four times
One of his former teammates from Southern Oregon University is Patrick Donahue who played for Germany’s 2017 champions, the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns in 2015 and 2016. Retzlaff’sbrother Ryan played for the Munich Cowboys in 2015 leading his team in receiving yardage and finishing third in Germany.
Retzlaff comes from a true football family, and his grandfather played at college in Washington State in 1939-41 and later became a successful high school coach. Currently Matt is serving as the wide receivers and special teams coach for his alma mater, South Medford High School, playing in the Oregon state championship this weekend.
Check out his Southern Oregon career highlights
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