Elma's Basler rushing toward No. 100

Elma running back Todd Basler isn't trying to be selfish. But even with his team just one victory away from its second straight Class 2A state title, it's hard for the 6-foot-1, 225-pound senior to overlook his state-record 97 career touchdowns.

When Basler's Eagles (11-1) take on fourth-ranked Connell (11-1) at the Tacoma Dome tomorrow, the big back will have a championship — and 100 touchdowns — on his mind.

"You know it," Basler said with a laugh. "You know I'm going to push extra hard to get three on Saturday. That would be pretty cool."

Even if he doesn't become the first player in state history to reach that milestone, Basler has racked up a long list of accomplishments as a three-year starter.

Not only does he own the state record for all-purpose touchdowns for all classifications, but Basler has piled up over 5,000 career rushing yards and broken every rushing record at Elma. After rushing for 2,240 yards and 43 touchdowns in a breakout junior season, Basler has managed 1,916 yards and 27 touchdowns on 263 carries this season.

"Nobody at our school has ever come close to him," said Elma Coach Jim Hill, who has taken his team to the state-championship game four times in the past six years, winning twice. "He's head and shoulders above anybody else that's ever run here. (Opposing coaches) are glad he's graduating."

So are Division I-A recruiters. Basler, whose brother Kyle is a 19-year-old redshirt freshman punter at Washington State and whose father was a defensive lineman at Idaho State, is considering a scholarship offer from Stanford and has generated interest throughout the Pac-10.

He has been a running back from the moment he first stepped onto a football field.

"It's a great position because you can run anywhere," he said. "I'm not picky at all. Wherever it's open."

His size — and his notable bursts of speed — make Basler a unique threat, but nothing can match his knack for scoring.

"I haven't played against many running backs like Todd," said Elma quarterback Danny Hill, who also plays safety. "I guess he's just got an instinct for the end zone. He's got great vision."

In Elma's improbable last-minute 20-19 victory over Lynden Christian last week, Basler struggled to just 24 yards on 10 carries and didn't score.

But Basler didn't lose his composure even when Lynden Christian shut him down using nine men at the line of scrimmage.

"If he had a chance to be frustrated or upset, it would have been in that last game on Saturday, but he wasn't upset at all," Jim Hill said. "He didn't have many carries or yards, but he was as excited as everyone else on the team about us winning."

Basler was on the field in his usual defensive tackle spot during last week's bizarre game-ending play, watching with disbelief as teammate Caleb Rose's fumble recovery for a touchdown gave the Eagles a 20-19 semifinal victory over Lynden Christian. On Saturday, Elma will need its star back to play a bigger part tomorrow.

The Eagles want Basler to establish his running game early — and maybe even reach the end zone for the 100th time.

"He doesn't really brag about his stats, and we don't bring it up," said Danny Hill, who ranks 10th in career passing yardage in state history. "He'd rather talk about somebody else. But it would be really cool if he did it."

Jabari Ritchie: 206-464-8294 or jritchie@seattletimes.com.