Metro Player of the Year: Eastview's Jake Machacek

Last update: November 23, 2005 at 11:29 PM

Eastview football coach Kelly Sherwin was taught an important lesson this season, though it had nothing to do with what happens in a game. Sherwin figured out it was a mistake to walk behind senior running back Jake Machacek when the team entered and exited the field on game nights.

"Every kid wanted to give him a high-five, and half of them missed and hit me," Sherwin said. "In the community, I think everyone wanted to be Jake Machacek."

But there is only one Machacek (pronounced "muh-HA-check"), and he rose to the top this fall by posting some astonishing numbers and leading the Lake Conference, one of the state's best leagues, in rushing for the second consecutive year. Today Machacek is honored as the Star Tribune's Metro Player of the Year.

As a junior, Machacek ran for 1,100 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. This season he ran wild, carrying the ball 345 times for 2,643 yards and 38 touchdowns as Eastview reached the Class 5A state semifinals before losing to Wayzata. Machacek averaged 26.5 carries and 203 yards per game.

His 2,643-yard total ranks fifth in single-season state history and is the highest total for any 5A runner.

"After last year, we felt he would be one of the best in the state," Sherwin said. "We thought he would have more yards and more touchdowns, but I don't think we ever imagined that he would more than double both the yardage and the touchdowns."

Machacek ran behind offensive linemen whose average size was 6-3 and 262 pounds. Center Evan Sanford, guards Scott Horvath and Chad Eul, and tackles Jeremy Yeazle and Chris Morgan formed a smart, physical unit that created season-long seams for Machacek.

"They did a phenomenal job," he said.

And once he cleared the line of scrimmage, the first tackler almost always failed to bring him down.

"I don't do much spinning or juking, I just go straight forward," Machacek said. "I hate running out of bounds. I don't know why, I think it's just kind of a personal thing. I always like giving big hits."

One of the best examples of Machacek's abilities, as well as Eastview's dependence on him, came in the Section 1 semifinals against Rochester Century. The Lightning (11-2) held a 21-14 lead at halftime but had its hands full.

Eastview opened the second half with an 80-yard, 13-play scoring drive in which Machacek carried 10 times for 66 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown. The next time Eastview had the ball, the Lightning went 80 yards in 15 plays, with Machacek rushing 10 times for 67 yards, including 6 yards on fourth-and-1, 3 yards on third-and-1 and an 18-yard touchdown that clinched a 42-28 victory.

Machacek finished the game with 46 carries and 309 yards, both career highs.

"I think that sums it up," Sherwin said. "And it wasn't any 60-yard runs. It was 3 yards, 5 yards, 8 yards and getting all the tough yards. I wish we could figure out what his yards after contact was this season. I would bet it's close to 1,600 or 1,800 yards."

The only team to get a grip on Machacek and beat Eastview during the regular season was Eden Prairie. He carried 16 times for 51 yards against the Eagles before leaving the field in an ambulance. After a third-quarter collision, he was put on a backboard and in a neck brace as a precaution. He spent a few hours in a hospital, shook off some soreness and five days later -- in the Wednesday game of MEA week -- scored five touchdowns against Burnsville.

"He is first and foremost tough, as tough as any player I've ever seen," Sherwin said. "Second, he's very unselfish and unassuming. He's the guy who wants the ball, and he demands it by his performance, not by his words. As a coach, you love a kid like that."

NUMBERS ALL AROUND

Eastview senior RB Jake Machacek's 2005 statistics and other information

13

Games

345

Carries

2,643

yards

203

yards per game

38

Touchdowns

46,

309,

5

Machacek's carries, rushing yards and touchdowns, respectively, vs. Rochester Century in Class 5A, Section 1 championship game

Other sports:

Hockey, track

College plans:

Undecided

All-Metro first team

Offense

Adam Weber

Mounds View, QB • 6-2, 206, sr.

Completed 137 of 250 passes for 1,913 yards, 12 TDs, also rushed 118 times for 504 yards, nine TDs, committed to Gophers

Jake Machacek

Eastview, RB • 5-11, 195, sr.

Metro Player of the Year after averaging 203 yards per game and scoring 38 TDs for the 11-2 Lightning.

Alexander Robinson

DeLaSalle, RB • 5-10, 180, sr.

Rushed for 2,351 yards and scored 31 TDs. Had state record 464 yards in one game. Scary fast, breaks tackles, too.

David Gilreath

Mpls. Washburn, WR • 5-11, 155, jr.

Caught 48 passes for 702 yards

and 13 TDs, also had 396 yards in

kick returns and 150 yards rushing.

Taylor Marx

Bloom. Jefferson, WR • 6-0, 175, sr.

Deep threat, averaged 20.1 yards per catch. Had 48 receptions for 964 yards, 16 TDs.

Shane Potter

Becker, WR • 6-2, 192, jr.

Mississippi 8 Player of Year. Has 50 catches for 903 yards, 15 TDs. Also DB with 43 solo tackles.

Brad Albano

Farmington, TE • 6-2, 230, sr.

Primarily a blocker, who was one of the keys to the running game. It averaged 343 yards per game.

Andy Brinkhaus

Bloom. Jefferson, OT • 6-4, 270, sr.

Great drive blocker. Can pass block too -- gave up no sacks. Committed to U, where brother Tony plays.

Matt Carufel

Cretin-Derham Hall, OT

6-5, 280, sr.

State's top college prospect with 15+ offers. Three-year starter. Consistently graded Raiders' top lineman.

Trey Davis

Farmington, G • 6-2, 250, jr.

Best line on metro area's top rushing team. Pulls and traps well. Tigers ran behind him on key plays.

Scott Horvath

Eastview, G • 6-3, 265, jr.

Averaged nine knockdowns a game

as second-year starter on team, which rushed for 3,931 yards

Dan Schoen

Maple Grove, G • 6-1, 230, sr.

Named Northwest Suburban's

MVP on offensive line. Graded team's top O-lineman past three seasons.

Adam Hegedus

Wayzata, C • 6-3, 255, sr.

Biggest surprise on O-line. Extremely mobile, pulled on sweeps, made inside running game go. D-line backup year before.

Defense

Eric Bergman

Becker, DE • 6-4, 230, sr.

Intimidating pass rusher with nine sacks, 10 QB hurries and six tipped passes. Also has 39 solo and 24 assisted tackles.

Brandon Hoey

Mounds View, DE • 6-5, 280, sr.

Disrupted opponents with six sacks and 22 tackles for losses. Had 96 total tackles, 61 solo. Committed to Wisconsin.

Sean McWhirter

Orono, DE • 6-4, 255, sr.

Quickness enabled him to get

19 sacks, also in on 71 tackles. Three-year, two-way starter, long snapper, too.

Kyle Anderson

Bloom. Jefferson, DT • 6-4, 285, sr.

Plugged up middle of defense with team-high 95 tackles, including 18 for losses plus six sacks.

Jake Fabian

Blaine, NG • 6-1, 240, sr.

Northwest Suburban's MVP on

defense; 38 tackles, 10 for losses, plus 51/2 sacks, three blocked kicks.

Tommy Becker

Wayzata, LB • 6-2, 230, sr.

Extremely physical, made lot of

big hits all over field. Great natural instincts. Has 96 tackles, 63 solo.

Kevin Lauer

Hastings, LB • 6-1, 230, sr.

Three-year starter averaged more than 100 tackles per season. Tenacious, fast. Also played TE, RB or SB.

Blake Sorensen

Eden Prairie, LB • 6-0, 205, jr.

Eagles' fastest LB in 14 years. His

99 tackles, 47 solo, tied for team lead. Also two interceptions.

Freddy Coleman

St. Paul Johnson, DB • 6-4, 210, sr.

St. Paul City MVP. Had 23 tackles, five pass break-ups, and three INTs through section playoffs. QB, too.

Brady Ervin

Eden Prairie, DB • 6-2, 195, sr.

Leader of defense which held

nine foes to one TD or none. Had 49 solo, 50 assisted tackles, seven interceptions.

Bobby Klint

Totino-Grace, DB • 6-1, 189, sr.

Three-year starter on teams

that won two Class 4A state titles. Had 76 tackles, 48 solo, three interceptions. Quick.

Tony Pastoors

Totino-Grace, DB • 6-2, 187, sr.

Moved to FS early in season to solidify secondary. Responded with 27 solo, 28 assisted tackles.

Played a lot at QB, too.

Kim Royston

Cretin-Derham Hall, DB •

5-11, 185, sr.

Coach calls him Raiders' best CB ever. Has few statistics because nobody throws his way. Committed to Wisconsin.

Special teams

Sean Barrett

Mahtomedi, P • 6-2, 175, sr.

Has averaged 35.9 yards on 51

punts, including 12 inside opponents' 20-yd. line, with a long of

67 yards

Shawn Bibeau

White Bear Lake, K • 6-0, 190, sr.

Perfect on 28 extra-point kicks and made four of six FG attempts from 33, 40, 42 and 44 yards. Put 31 of 45 kickoffs into end zone.

Tony Kubes

New Prague, KR • 6-1, 180, jr.

Averaged 14 yards on 16 punt returns, 23 yards on 14 kickoff returns. Had two TDs on returns, always threat to break one.

All-metro second team

All players seniors, unless noted:

OFFENSE

QB: Marcus Brumm, Lakeville South, jr

RBs: Chris Atkins, St. Paul Johnson, jr.; Mark Masso, Farmington; Matt Voigtlander, Centennial, jr.

WRs: Tim Langer, Becker; Maurice Turner, Mounds View

TE: Trevor Johnson, Chisago Lakes; Nathan Calderon, Mahtomedi

OL: Josh Griebel, Delano; Erik Kottom, Eden Prairie; Grant Krumme, Spring Lake Park; John Schantzen, Stillwater; Matt Slater, Cretin-Derham Hall

DEFENSE

DL: Andew Johnson, Maple Grove; Willie Mobley, Eden Prairie, so.; Jake Schoenecker, New Prague; Jim Sharpe, Wayzata

LBs: Adam Johannsen, Mahtomedi; Corey Knuppel, Eagan; Joe Lindgaard, Cambridge-Isanti; Ross Petterson, Osseo

DBs: Delorien Caraway, St. Paul Johnson, jr.; Blake Hedstrom, Blaine; Matt Risinger, Minnetonka; Eric Werdahl, Chaska

SPECIAL TEAMS

P: Dean Priddy, Eden Prairie

K: Sam Buckman, Minnetonka

KR: Pat Whinnery, Maple Grove

All-metro third team

QB: Matt Jeans, Mahtomedi

RBs: Jalon Hopkins, Minnetonka; Josh Rose, Litchfield

WRs: Brandon Mickelson, Champlin Park; Tom Whalen, Fridley

TE: Jimbo Bell, Holy Family

OL: Matt McDonough, St. Paul Johnson; Josh Ostrue, South St. Paul; Evan Sanford, Eastview; Sam Sterner, Waconia; Max Stoll, Minneapolis North.

DL: Norman Bell, St. Paul Highland Park; Matt Haas, Tartan; Kyle Krusenstjerna, Eastview; Brady MacIver, Anoka.

LBs: Mike Bofferding, St. Paul Highland Park; Blayne Johnson, Litchfield; Mike May, LeSueur-Henderson; Bryce McNaul, Eden Prairie, jr.

DBs: Ben Anderson, Annandale; Joela Davis, St. Paul Central; Tom Flicek, Montgomery-Lonsdale; Dillon Powell, Eastview.

SPECIAL TEAMS

P: Ben Spencer, Cretin-Derham Hall

K: Jon Huebner, St. Croix Lutheran

KR: Josh Wallert, Concordia Academy (Bloomington)