PROSSER -- Steve Natho says his nickname is Fish, but he insists he has no idea where it came from or what it means. Doug Fassler, Prosser's longtime defensive coordinator, doesn't have a clue. "I don't think I've ever gotten more than 25 words out of Steve," Fassler said. "But what a great kid. He's as hard a worker as we've had here." That's saying a great deal, considering all the players who have contributed to the success Prosser has enjoyed in the past 22-plus seasons under coach Tom Moore.

The Mustangs have won 17 league titles in the last 18 years and three state championships. And in the process, they've sent several players to the college ranks, including quarterbacks Kellen Moore, Tyler Thomas and Tali Ena, and linemen Dan Gore and Josh Jelinek. But the critical pieces to the Prosser puzzle, Moore will tell you, are the Steve Natho types, the ones who might not grade high in height and weight but shoot off the charts in enthusiasm and determination.

"We're usually just a bunch of small, quick, smart, hard-working kids who love to play football," Moore said. "Players like Steve Natho are what our program is really all about." Natho, a durable 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, doesn't get much rest on Friday nights. He starts at defensive end, splits time at running back and plays on every single special teams unit.

Natho enters tonight's game at Toppenish as the Mustangs' leading rusher. But because he shares time with Drake Washington, and the fact the Mustangs are usually so far ahead by halftime, Natho's carries have been limited. Still, he's made the most of his 28 attempts, rushing for 278 yards (9.9 average) and three touchdowns. "I'm not concerned with how many times I run the football," Natho said. "We've got a lot of talent on this team, and sometimes the game dictates how many carries I get. I just try to do my best when my number's called." No big deal. Natho's major role is defense, where he starts at left defensive end opposite Mustangs standout Kellen Crawford. The two are also opposite in stature, with Crawford measuring in at 6-5, 215.

"They might look different, but they share some of the same characteristics," Fassler said. "They're both lean, strong and aggressive. Steve might not be as imposing, but there are times when we look at the film after a game and just say, 'Wow, how did he do that?' " Moore knows how. "Steve is a terror on the field," he said. "He flies around making plays all game long. He's relentless."

Natho's never-say-die approach to each play has helped the state's top-ranked 2A team blaze to another hot start. The Mustangs are 4-0 overall, 3-0 in the CWAC and have outscored their opponents 193-34. But that's not good enough at Prosser, where the ultimate goal is a state championship. The Mustangs are still smarting from their 37-35 loss to Centralia in the state semifinals last season but are poised for a shot at redemption. Some close to the program say this year's team might be more talented than the '06 squad. "It hurts to lose a player like Kellen, but this year's team is faster and deeper," Natho said. "But it's hard to say. We still have a lot of work to do."

Speaking of work, Natho manages to balance schoolwork and football with an interesting part-time job: He is a volunteer firefighter with the Prosser Fire Department. "I love it. It's what I want to do as a career," Natho said. Doug Merritt, the Prosser Fire Chief, said Natho is a welcomed addition to his team, too. When asked about Natho, Merritt was quick with a response. "Work ethic," he said. "Steve is an extremely hard worker and a great all-around kid. "We're lucky to have him."

Now, what about the nickname? "Fish," Merritt said with a laugh. "Yeah, that's what we call him. But we don't know what it means. When I asked him why his nickname is Fish, he just said, 'Because that's what people call me.' " Natho really doesn't care about his nickname. When Merritt calls him a valued employee, and his coaches call him a classic Prosser football player, that's what really counts.