A week of intense preparation preceded tonight’s Class C championship clash of the undefeateds. Jay (11-0) and Bucksport (11-0) will meet on the Fitzpatrick Stadium turf at 6 p.m., having already discarded scouting videos and maybe even a worn-out remote control or two.

As a football fan, Mark Bonnevie could probably sit back and appreciate the skills of Bucksport tailback Nick Tymoczko watching his highlights on the six o’clock news. As a football coach charged with finding a way to at least contain the 2,000-yard back, though, Bonnevie would just as soon not see another videotape of Tymoczko again.

“He’s had some runs that I’ve seen on video that I wasn’t looking forward to rewinding and watching again,” the third-year Jay coach said.

“Not to down the backs in our league, because we had some great backs this year,” he added, “but he’s going to present something to us that we really haven’t seen.”

Bucksport coach Joel Sankey has seen a little bit of Jay in the spread offense of one of his Little Ten Conference opponents, Rockland, but…

“This is different,” said Sankey. “Their athletic ability, the QB’s poise in the pocket. He can throw the ball long, throw the ball hard, throw the ball with touch. Their offensive line is well-coached.”

Both coaches may not have believed their eyes when they reviewed game film this week, but they know their respective teams had better adjust to reality quickly for tonight’s game.

For Bucksport, that means finding ways to throw Jay quarterback Justin Wells off his game. The senior leads Jay to its first championship game since 1991 having completed 58 percent of his passes this year, compiling 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions while throwing for 1,890 yards and helping the Tigers average 32.2 points per game.

Whether it’s going downfield to Ryan DiPompo (43 catches, 710 yards, 6 TDs), looking over the middle or in the end zone for 6-2 Andrew Deering (40-577, 9) or dumping it to Joel Ouellette (21-367, 3), Wells finds a way to pick defenses apart, just as he did driving the Tigers 69 yards in the final two minutes to lead them to a 14-13 win over Livermore Falls last week.

The Golden Bucks, making their first title game appearance since 2001, have the athletes to pressure Wells. Deven Eaton, a 6-4, 210 pound defensive end has 10.5 sacks this year, and linebacker John Harvey poses a menacing figure when blitzing.

Protecting Wells from Eaton, Harvey et. al. will be a slightly altered offensive line consisting of Chris Jewett, Ben Irish, Derick Franchetti, Shane Gagnon and Eric Clark. Clark, a sophomore, will start at right tackle in place of junior Kyle Wells, who injured his elbow on the opening kickoff of the Livermore game.

The line has kept Wells on his feet most of the year, and the Bucks will have to stay disciplined and not act too eager to get to Wells, lest the Tigers elect to try to gash them with sophomore fullback Trevor McCourt on counter plays. McCourt leads the team with 619 yards and 12 TD’s rushing. Wells (231 yards rushing), a three-year starter, has also become more dangerous this year when flushed out of the pocket.

“We’re pretty quick, but I don’t know if we’re as quick as they are,” Sankey said.

The Bucksport offense definitely has quick-strike capability, having averaged 39.7 points per game this year. Tymoczko, who set conference records in rushing (2,419 yards) and touchdowns (37) is the most obvious reason why. The senior is one of the most complete running backs in the state, capable of running over or around defenders. He’ll run behind a physical offensive line that hasn’t missed a beat despite losing its bookend tackles to season-ending leg injuries early in the season.

Without Tymoczko to hand the ball to, senior QB Joey Carmichael might have put up Wells-type passing yardage numbers this year, according to Sankey. Carmichael still threw for 589 yards, five TDs and eight INTs while completing a little under 33 percent of his passes, and has shown a flair for the two-minute offense. Harvey (15 catches, 295 yards) and Eaton are his top receivers.

“If we get them in a position to throw, they’ve got some people that can make plays that way,” Bonnevie said.

The Tigers, who gave up just 7.4 points per game, haven’t yielded a passing touchdown all year. Led by linebackers McCourt and Ryan Bourassa, they’re small but speedy on defense. They matched up well against the more physical teams of the Campbell Conference with their gang-tackling and toughness, but dealing with Bucksport’s combination of size and athleticism, in addition to one of the best runners in the state, will be a new challenge.

“Tymoczko’s going to be tough to deal with, especially on that turf,” Bonnevie said. “We’re just going to have to contain him, wrap him up when the opportunity is there and not allow him to break off those big runs.”

And keep him out of the highlights.