PORTLAND – Jay knew exactly what to expect. They had film, they had defensive schemes and they had hungry players to execute those schemes.

But they didn’t have Bucksport running back Nick Tymoczko.

“I saw enough of him on the news programs on Friday and Saturday nights all season,” said Jay coach Mark Bonnevie. “We knew what was coming.”

What the Tigers didn’t know was just how much of him they were going to see.

Tymoczko torched the Jay defense for 330 yards on 38 carries and three touchdowns, a fitting final performance for a senior that has helped to carry his team all season.

“He’s just so powerful,” said Bonnevie. “We had guys sliding off of him all over the place. There were times where even I saw nothing from where I was and he turned it into five or 10 yards just like that.”

“He’d be starting for any high school in the state,” said Bucksport coach Joel Sankey. “I have seen a lot of good players in my day, coaching for Maine Maritime and Bangor, and Nick is easily up there in the top two or three in my 30 years.”

Perhaps the defining play of Tymoczko’s day, and perhaps even his career, came on a first-and-36 from the nine, after penalties drove the Bucks back from their own 35. The play called was a counter, a play Tymoczko said should have gone “just for five or six yards, usually,” and he slipped.

Recovering, Tymoczko grabbed the handoff from quarterback Joey Carmichael and raced up the right sideline 82 yards to the Jay nine-yard line.

“I actually gave him grief after that,” said Sankey. “That’s the first time all year he gets caught from behind on any play. It actually happened twice tonight.”

“You just can’t game-plan a kid like that,” said Bonnevie. “One time, he was running sideways and still managed a first down. He’s just a great athlete.”

Tymoczko appreciated that run, but called his third touchdown of the game his toughest run.

“That was tough, that nine-yarder,” said Tymoczko. “They were still hitting hard. They have a very quick defense and it was tough running against them at times.”

As usual, Tymoczko thanked his line for giving the extra push, but even when the holes closed up, he found ways to get a few yards. Only seven of Tymoczko’s 38 runs were for less than three yards, while 14 of them went for more than five, and eight went for 10 or more.

According to Sankey, several colleges have inquired about Tymoczko, including the University of Maine.

“If he’s not one of the best backs in the state, I don’t know who is,” said Sankey.

Right about now, the Jay Tigers are probably nodding in agreement.