Star Unmasked Disobedient Runner Shines Before Injury

Mike MacKenzie nailed his first test as Eastern Washington’s starting running back. Flat-out aced it, he did, rushing for a career-high 172 yards and two touchdowns in last Saturday’s 35-11 Big Sky Conference rout of Weber State.

So how did the fourth-year junior from Vancouver, British Columbia, end up in coach Mike Kramer’s doghouse?

By flunking his bar exam.

“And to be honest with you, I’m furious about it,” Kramer said earlier this week after watching video of the Weber State game and the third-quarter tackle that prematurely ended MacKenzie’s dream debut and long-shot chance at EWU’s single-game rushing record of 271 yards.

Kramer had no problem with the Wildcats defender who dragged MacKenzie down by his facemask, stuck a finger deep into his right eye and slammed his head to the ground, causing a mild concussion.

“That was just one of those football things,” Kramer explained. “The guy was just trying to get a hand on him and make a play. And the referee flagged him for it.”

What flared Kramer’s nostrils was MacKenzie’s reluctance to scrap the open, double-bar facemask he has worn since the start of the season.

“I told him three weeks ago to change that facemask,” said Kramer, a staunch advocate of the cage-style masks that have protective bars running vertically and horizontally. “I could put my entire fist inside there, so I told him that pretty soon he’d be blowing his nose out the side of his cheek because somebody was going to get a hand in and smash up his face.

“I’m not real happy with him right now, because I don’t tell those guys stuff like that just to hear my own voice.”

As a result of the injuries suffered Saturday night, MacKenzie did not practice until Wednesday afternoon. He skipped Monday’s workout to have his eye checked by an ophthalmologist, and watched Tuesday’s practice in sweat clothes.

“It’s still kind of sore right behind my eyeball, but it’s not too bad,” MacKenzie said, adding that he expects to be cleared to play Saturday at Montana State. “The doctor looked at everything and said there was no bleeding in the eye and that the retina was O.K.”

The only lingering effect of the rough tackle, he explained, was a dull headache caused by swelling behind his eye.

“It should go away in a couple of days,” MacKenzie said.

But even if it does, MacKenzie realizes he won’t get the start in Bozeman this weekend.

Forget last Saturday’s career effort. Forget that he ranks No. 2 in Big Sky Conference rushing with 466 yards and five touchdowns on 70 carries.

MacKenzie’s role heading into the season was that of a backup to senior Rex Prescott, who suffered a mild shoulder separation in a 31-14 victory over Portland State two weekends ago. And with Prescott healthy again, that’s what it will be this weekend.

“It won’t be that hard to deal with,” MacKenzie said. “It was exciting getting my first start, but Rex and I know we’re both going to play and that either one of us can step in and do the job if the other is hurting.”

Still, MacKenzie admits his threeyear wait for meaningful playing time has been trying.

He came to Eastern following a spectacular prep career at Vancouver (British Columbia) College Senior Secondary School, where he amassed 7,470 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns as a three-year starter.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder has run a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and provided a brief glimpse of his immense potential against Walla Walla Community College in a 1995 junior varsity game in which he rushed for 250 yards and five touchdowns.

“We recruited him very hard,” admitted Kramer. “You could watch him on video and see he was just an outstanding back.

“But he has languished here behind some pretty good runners - David Lewis, Joe (Sewell) and now Rex. He’s just had to be patient and wait his turn, because he was not going to supplant those guys.”

“Waiting my turn has been tough,” MacKenzie admitted.

Now that MacKenzie has had his chance, Kramer sees him as a perfect complement to Prescott, a 5-7, 170-pounder.

“Rex is explosive and a long strider - if you can be a long strider when you’re 5-7,” Kramer said. “Michael is a tip-toer with quick feet; a changeof-direction guy with a burst. So, they really are different.

“The one thing they have in common, though, is that they’re both elusive. It’s tough to get a good shot at either one of them.”

MacKenzie said he and Prescott get along well and are among each other’s biggest fans.

“Every time I came off the field (against Weber State), Rex was all excited for me,” MacKenzie recalled. “And that’s the way I am for him when he’s playing.”

MacKenzie said he will be cheering for Prescott this weekend, adding that he’ll be ready to fill in when needed.

“But when he comes in this time, he’s going to have a helmet with so many bars on its facemask that he might not be able to see the football,” Kramer said.

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