Class 2A football: State title finally in Connell's grasp

TACOMA — Steven Stoker had spent a lot of time wondering what it would feel like, but when the moment finally came yesterday, it was like nothing he'd imagined.

The running back rushed 26 times for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns, carrying his Eagles to a 41-14 victory over Elma in the Class 2A state championship game at the Tacoma Dome.

Celebrating in a sea of purple and gold-clad Connell teammates after the game, he was overwhelmed.

"I didn't think it was going to feel like this," said the 5-foot-8, 180-pound senior. "I knew it would be good, but not this good. I can't even describe it."

Stoker, one of 19 seniors on Connell's roster, recalls a promise he and his teammates made as freshmen — to win the Franklin County school's first state title.

"We've all wanted this since we were freshmen," he said. "We set our goal in the first practice of our freshman year, and we worked toward it."

Top-ranked Elma (11-2), defending state 2A champion and playing in its fourth title game in six seasons, entered yesterday's final riding the wave of a stunning come-from-behind 20-19 victory over Lynden Christian in last week's semifinal. But by the end of the first half, inexperienced Connell made it seem as if Elma was the team new to the Tacoma Dome.

Connell (12-1) drove from its own 14-yard line to cash in a 32-yard Carlos Gil field goal on its first possession. And after forcing two-straight Elma three-and-out possessions, Connell scored the first touchdown of the game off a blocked punt.

Defensive back Sterling Salisbury blocked Todd Basler's punt, and defensive tackle Doug Pioveson scooped the ball up in the end zone to put his team up 10-0 with 2:45 left in the first quarter.

Connell took a 17-0 halftime lead with a 4-yard Stoker touchdown run with 4:31 left in the half.

Elma threatened another comeback early in the second half, inching as close as 20-14 with touchdown passes of 3 and 45 yards from Danny Hill to Justin Zepp on its first two possessions.

Elma looked poised for a second storybook comeback, but a handful of big plays from the Connell defense ended any chance. Hill was intercepted four times — with three grabbed by defensive back Kase Wells — and Elma lost a fumble and gave up several sacks.

"We call our defense the Big Purple Hurt," said Pioveson, who also had a sack. "And we laid some hurts down today. You could really tell they were frustrated."

Elma's only previous loss of the season was a 21-10 setback to Class 3A Columbia River in the second game of the year.

Elma, which scored at least 40 points eight times this season and put up 91 in a Week 5 win over Tenino, finished with 234 total yards, 113 on 24 carries from star running back Todd Basler. Basler, who was slowed by the flu, had just 32 yards at halftime, and 48 of his yards came on one play.

"Their defense is tremendously fast, and they pursued like crazy," said Hill, who completed 8 of 24 passes for 103 yards. "Our hats are off to them. They played a heck of a game."

Basler, who owns the state record with 97 career touchdowns, was just one reason Connell Coach Wayne Riner was nervous as he prepared for Elma this week.

While he knew Elma was a formidable foe, the third-year coach was more concerned about letting down fans back home in Connell.

"I've been an emotional wreck," Riner said after the win. "I haven't been sleeping very well for the past few days. I'm going to take some days off and go fishing."