Makovicka era comes to end BY DIRK CHATELAIN WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER • Fremont Bergan 35, East Butler 19 - Oct. 31, 2007 GALLERY FREMONT, Neb. - An era in Nebraska high school football ended Wednesday night with four Makovicka boys posing for a photo on a tattered grass football field. East Butler's Jordan Makovicka is tackled by Fremont Bergan's Christian Victor on Wednesday. Makovicka followed brothers Jeff, Joel and Justin as players for the Tigers. Sweat-stained Jordan Makovicka, East Butler's star running back, stood beside older brothers Jeff, Joel and Justin. Moments earlier, Jordan's career had ended with a playoff loss to Fremont Bergan. "It's been a lot of years," Joel said. It's been a lot of Friday nights. Nebraska football fans know the oldest three Makovickas as Husker fullbacks. But more than that, the family is synonymous with East Butler football. The boys punished hundreds of linebackers who dared fill a hole. They were as tough as October nights are cold. Accomplishments span more than 100 games, dating back to 1987. John Makovicka, the family patriarch, remembers the Tigers' state title in 1989, Jeff's junior year. He remembers East Butler battling four-time state champion Falls City Sacred Heart into triple overtime when Joel was a senior. He remembers playoff triumphs and heartbreaks. He remembers lugging Justin and Jordan, too young for Pop Warner, around Miami until 4 a.m., the night after Nebraska's first national championship. John, who helped coach the past few Tiger teams, graduated from East Butler 45 years ago. Wife Connie is also a graduate. "I think that school will always be a part of us," John said. Dad and Mom watched Jeff and Joel set the bar so high. They worried if Justin and Jordan could meet their own expectations. They usually did. Not without family support, though. Wednesday night, Connie, Jeff and Justin tried to keep warm on the cold bleachers. John and Joel studied the game from the press box. The only Makovicka daughter, Jenny, watched from the car with her 2-week-old son, the fifth Makovicka grandson. That's a lot of running backs.