Small-town back is big-time threat

The small guy on the small team combined from two small schools in one small town terrorizes the small class known as B-8 football.

And after this mouthful of small stuff, all small talk will officially cease.

Nick Koller stands 5 feet 8 and weighs 140 pounds on what he says is "a good day."

His team consists of 30 players.

From two high schools.

In a town with a population of "around 450" people.

To play B-8 football, where, appropriately, eight players on each team square off at a time.

But when you're as fast as Nick Koller and as good as undefeated Lacrosse-Washtucna and play in a league where speed's the name of the game, then throw size right out the proverbial window.

"Size doesn't really matter," Koller said. "I guess my speed pretty much makes up for it. No one has ever told me I'm too small."

Chances are, they probably couldn't catch him. This season, no one has.

Not people looking for a spare minute between his job as student-body vice president, his Future Farmers of America presidency, his spot on the Students Against Drunk Driving executive board, his membership in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or his hours spent working on the family farm.

Not opposing defenses who watched Koller sprint up and down the open fields, racking up 1,734 yards, 24 touchdowns and leading his team to its first state-championship game — tomorrow against Touchet — in two decades.

No one could. And maybe that's why his size has played out so insignificantly.

"Speed can dominate B-8 football," Touchet Coach Jeff Nelson said. "That makes Nick extremely dangerous."

Like most running backs at any level Koller is quick to credit his offensive line for his yardage output. He points to a thunderbolt reward system, where Lacrosse-Washtucna players are given bolts for big blocks, tackles and playing fundamental football — not for yardage.

As such, his helmet might lack full decoration. But to consider only stickers or yardage would be to miss the boat on Koller altogether.

Case in point: during the fourth quarter of L-W's semifinal victory last weekend, the offense faced a fourth-and-long. Nelson wasn't sure what to call. So he asked Koller.

Koller held up six fingers in the huddle — for a six-route-post, a deep pass to himself — and then caught a touchdown pass from Ryan Dorman.

That's why Nelson says his offense starts with Koller, moves through Koller and excels because of what Koller can do.

"You can bet we'll run and run," Nelson said. "That starts with Nick."

It's those kind of plays that have the local town buzzing with the team's best season since 1982.

"It seems like everyone's famous around here," Dorman said. "But not as much as Nick."

Koller just shrugs it off. There's another game to be won, more odds to buckle.

"He's a great guy," teammate Blaine Hill said. "Even when there aren't holes there, he makes something out of nothing. I couldn't ask for a better teammate. He gets a lot of ink. But it's definitely not important to him."

What is important is what will help his team win tomorrow against Touchet. And that starts with Touchet Coach Wayne Dickey's first concern.

"Speed," he said. "He's got breakaway speed. To win, we're going to try to contain it."

Greg Bishop: 206-464-3191 or gbishop@seattletimes.com.