http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/13280012.htm
When Lightening strikes
Jake Machacek - Pioneer Press prep football player of the year
It all started in the Machacek living room 15 years ago, with little Jake trying to run the football a few feet past his dad, Bob Machacek.
As Jake Machacek got older, bigger and faster, the feet turned into yards, and the yards multiplied until they hit 2,648, the fifth-best rushing total in a single season by a Minnesota high school running back. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Eastview senior, the Pioneer Press high school football player of the year, also scored 37 touchdowns and passed for two others.
"When he was little, there wasn't any furniture in the living room, and there was this little pathway," Bob said. "He'd run the ball and pretend he was trying to score a touchdown, and I'd tackle him. Oh yeah, he got past me. His mom used to get mad because sometimes he'd end up crying. I wonder if that isn't where he got his toughness."
It also could be where Machacek got his nose for the end zone. Eastview didn't pass much this season. The Lightning didn't have to. They had a home run threat from anywhere on the field  without putting the ball in the air.
Machacek's longest touchdown run of the season was a 95-yarder in the Lightning's first sectional playoff game against Owatonna.
"We had just stopped them on defense, and they punted us down to our 5," Machacek said. "It was our first offensive play. It was power, the hole was there, I broke an arm tackle or two, but it was straightforward. I just busted one loose.
"I felt like it was never going to end. It didn't seem like the end zone was getting closer. The last 15 yards, I looked back, and there was no one near me. It was a home game, but to be honest, I didn't notice the crowd roaring until after. During the run, there was too much stuff going on in my head to think of that."
Later in that victory, Machacek added a 68-yard scoring run, but the Owatonna game wasn't his biggest single-game rushing total. That came in the Lightning's second playoff victory against Rochester Century, in which he topped the 300-yard mark for the first time in his two years as Eastview's starting running back.
Machacek said his most meaningful touchdown this year was the one he scored against Bloomington Jefferson late in the game.
"It was the first game of the season, we were down by eight and there was two minutes left," Machacek said. "It was fourth and 1, and I was so nervous."
Nervous or not, Machacek scored from 29 yards out to bring Eastview to within two points. He scored the two-point conversion and then scored from 10 yards on the first play in overtime. The Eastview defense held, and the Lightning were on their way to an 11-2 season.
Machacek's touchdowns always began up front, with an offensive line that averaged 260 pounds. His linemen knew every play could result in a touchdown.
"We made goals each week for our whole line: how many pancake blocks we can get and see if we can get Jake into the end zone each time," junior right guard Scott Horvath said. "Our relationship with Jake is pretty strong. We talk a lot of football together and supported each other all the way through to the Metrodome. It was a pleasure playing with him."
The season ended at the Metrodome with a loss to Wayzata in the state semifinals. Even though the Wayzata defense managed to shut down Eastview's offense in the second half, Machacek streaked to a 68-yard score early in the game and finished with 139 yards.
It was a disappointing end to a dream season for a player who Eastview coach Kelly Sherwin describes as a "physical, hard-nosed runner, a hard-to-bring-down type guy" as well as "real down to earth and humble."
The question now: Where will Machacek play next year?
"I really don't even know," he said. "Nothing too big is happening. I've gotten letters, but nothing too big. I've had zero offers. It's frustrating at times, but I have to deal with it."
Machacek said he is willing to go anywhere and play football at any level. Some scholarship money would be nice, he said, but he just wants to play. He would consider walking on at the University of Minnesota if it came to that.
"That's my dream, to be a Gopher," he said. "But I don't know what they're looking for."
Wherever Machacek ends up playing, his parents will be there watching. Bob and his wife, Shelly, have told Jake they will be at all of his college games, no matter how far away. It's a habit Bob Machacek can't break; the former Faribault offensive lineman always has arrived at the stadium at 5:30 p.m. to stake out a favorite spot and watch his son play.
"I try to be the first," Bob said. "I'm superstitious. I am going to miss the games at Eastview. I'm still going through withdrawal right now."
The Machaceks still have the hockey season. Jake scored 25 goals as a junior right wing for the Lightning last year, and after taking a short break, he will be back on the ice this season.
"Coach told me to take two weeks off," Machacek said. "He doesn't want me to get sick of hockey yet. To be honest, if coach let me, I'd probably start tomorrow, but it's nice to have time to rest, come home and have time with my family."
Rick Shefchik can be reached at rshefchik@pioneerpress.com.
When Lightening strikes
Jake Machacek - Pioneer Press prep football player of the year
It all started in the Machacek living room 15 years ago, with little Jake trying to run the football a few feet past his dad, Bob Machacek.
As Jake Machacek got older, bigger and faster, the feet turned into yards, and the yards multiplied until they hit 2,648, the fifth-best rushing total in a single season by a Minnesota high school running back. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Eastview senior, the Pioneer Press high school football player of the year, also scored 37 touchdowns and passed for two others.
"When he was little, there wasn't any furniture in the living room, and there was this little pathway," Bob said. "He'd run the ball and pretend he was trying to score a touchdown, and I'd tackle him. Oh yeah, he got past me. His mom used to get mad because sometimes he'd end up crying. I wonder if that isn't where he got his toughness."
It also could be where Machacek got his nose for the end zone. Eastview didn't pass much this season. The Lightning didn't have to. They had a home run threat from anywhere on the field  without putting the ball in the air.
Machacek's longest touchdown run of the season was a 95-yarder in the Lightning's first sectional playoff game against Owatonna.
"We had just stopped them on defense, and they punted us down to our 5," Machacek said. "It was our first offensive play. It was power, the hole was there, I broke an arm tackle or two, but it was straightforward. I just busted one loose.
"I felt like it was never going to end. It didn't seem like the end zone was getting closer. The last 15 yards, I looked back, and there was no one near me. It was a home game, but to be honest, I didn't notice the crowd roaring until after. During the run, there was too much stuff going on in my head to think of that."
Later in that victory, Machacek added a 68-yard scoring run, but the Owatonna game wasn't his biggest single-game rushing total. That came in the Lightning's second playoff victory against Rochester Century, in which he topped the 300-yard mark for the first time in his two years as Eastview's starting running back.
Machacek said his most meaningful touchdown this year was the one he scored against Bloomington Jefferson late in the game.
"It was the first game of the season, we were down by eight and there was two minutes left," Machacek said. "It was fourth and 1, and I was so nervous."
Nervous or not, Machacek scored from 29 yards out to bring Eastview to within two points. He scored the two-point conversion and then scored from 10 yards on the first play in overtime. The Eastview defense held, and the Lightning were on their way to an 11-2 season.
Machacek's touchdowns always began up front, with an offensive line that averaged 260 pounds. His linemen knew every play could result in a touchdown.
"We made goals each week for our whole line: how many pancake blocks we can get and see if we can get Jake into the end zone each time," junior right guard Scott Horvath said. "Our relationship with Jake is pretty strong. We talk a lot of football together and supported each other all the way through to the Metrodome. It was a pleasure playing with him."
The season ended at the Metrodome with a loss to Wayzata in the state semifinals. Even though the Wayzata defense managed to shut down Eastview's offense in the second half, Machacek streaked to a 68-yard score early in the game and finished with 139 yards.
It was a disappointing end to a dream season for a player who Eastview coach Kelly Sherwin describes as a "physical, hard-nosed runner, a hard-to-bring-down type guy" as well as "real down to earth and humble."
The question now: Where will Machacek play next year?
"I really don't even know," he said. "Nothing too big is happening. I've gotten letters, but nothing too big. I've had zero offers. It's frustrating at times, but I have to deal with it."
Machacek said he is willing to go anywhere and play football at any level. Some scholarship money would be nice, he said, but he just wants to play. He would consider walking on at the University of Minnesota if it came to that.
"That's my dream, to be a Gopher," he said. "But I don't know what they're looking for."
Wherever Machacek ends up playing, his parents will be there watching. Bob and his wife, Shelly, have told Jake they will be at all of his college games, no matter how far away. It's a habit Bob Machacek can't break; the former Faribault offensive lineman always has arrived at the stadium at 5:30 p.m. to stake out a favorite spot and watch his son play.
"I try to be the first," Bob said. "I'm superstitious. I am going to miss the games at Eastview. I'm still going through withdrawal right now."
The Machaceks still have the hockey season. Jake scored 25 goals as a junior right wing for the Lightning last year, and after taking a short break, he will be back on the ice this season.
"Coach told me to take two weeks off," Machacek said. "He doesn't want me to get sick of hockey yet. To be honest, if coach let me, I'd probably start tomorrow, but it's nice to have time to rest, come home and have time with my family."
Rick Shefchik can be reached at rshefchik@pioneerpress.com.
