(See the All-County Football Team.)

The Capital Gazette Communications' football Player of the Year has thrown an astonishing 34 touchdowns for an undefeated Arundel team that will host Broadneck in the Class 4A East Region championship tomorrow.

Elko is five touchdown passes shy of breaking the all-time single season state record for public schools. But helping his team advance to its first state semifinal game in 24 years weighs much heavier on his humble mind.

"Of course, I'm thinking about the record but I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for my team," Elko said Tuesday night while eating dinner at a teammate's house. "I put it on everyone else around me. Yeah, I throw the ball but it's been my teammates that have made it happen. It's the system that has allowed us to do it together."

Friendly's Joe Haden set the public school record last season and is now a starting defensive back at the University of Florida. Keith Ricca, a 2004 St. John's Prospect Hall graduate now playing at Division III Catholic University, holds the all-time single season state mark with 45 touchdowns.

"Nick deserves to be mentioned along with those guys," said Arundel coach Chuck Markiewicz, who has groomed young quarterbacks in the county for 20 years. "He's fortunate to have been in our program for four years and we're fortunate to have him. He came to us with great fundamentals and it's been a fantastic experience to watch him get better and better."

In Markiewicz's multiple-receiver spread offense, Elko completed 182 of 304 passes for 2,293 yards and led the Wildcats to an 11-0 record. It's the second consecutive year the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Odenton resident has led the county in yards and touchdowns.

"It's been a fun ride so far," said Elko, who has also kicked four field goals and 29 extra points for Arundel. "The offense we run is definitely exciting."

The kid's got some wheels, too. Elko, one of the fastest players on the team, leads the Wildcats in rushing and is ranked eighth in the county with 143 carries, 733 yards and nine touchdowns.

"He just has great judgement in the pocket," Markiewicz said. "He knows when to throw the ball away and you don't see a lot of high school quarterbacks do that. When defenses stack people in the box or drop back, he knows how to react."

Elko has connected with senior wide receiver Brandon Johnson-Farrell for 16 touchdowns this season. The pair has been playing together in recreation leagues since the sixth grade but no scoring strike was as important as last week during a 34-29 win over visiting North County in the region semifinals.

Facing a fourth-and-12 from their own 45-yard line with less than a minute left, Elko and Johnson-Farrell had the liberty of calling their own play.

"It was fourth down and I know Brandon thrives in that situation," Elko said. "I mean we were one play away from ending our season and neither one of us wanted to go out like that."

Johnson-Farrell avoided tight man coverage, made a great catch on a fade route and ran in for the winning touchdown.

"I'm really close with the wide receivers so it just makes my job easier," Elko said.

Alec Lemon, Sean Fitzgerald and Josh Hutchins have combined for 1,206 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns.

Elko overthrew Johnson-Farrell during a quarterback challenge event at M&T Stadium on Sunday. High School quarterbacks get to show their skills during halftime of the Ravens' games and lucky for Elko, he got another chance. His second attempt connected with Lemon for 49 yards and was enough to beat the contingent from Loch Raven.

"It was really cool to play in front of so many people," Elko said. "I really like playing at our field, too. I think our fans are awesome and our team really feeds of them."

Elko participated in college passing camps last summer and despite his record-setting pace this fall, college offers have been thin. James Madison, Georgetown and Bowie have all showed interest. Elko hopes a possible run at the state crown will provide more exposure and attract Division I recruiters.

"It's sort of frustrating but all I can do is go out there and play my game," he said.