PORTLAND – Nick Tymoczko carried the ball just 50 times as a junior for the 2003 Bucksport High football team.

But within those carries -and a 10-yard per carry average – Golden Bucks’ coach Joel Sankey saw great potential.

A year later, Tymoczko put together one of the best seasons in Maine high school history, rushing for 2,741 yards and 40 touchdowns in leading Bucksport to an undefeated season and the Class C state championship.

And for Tymoczko, a final reward came Sunday night, as he was named the recipient of the 34th annual James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy symbolic of the top high school senior player in Maine.

“Football this year is the best time I’ve had in my life so far,” said Tymoczko, who played tailback and outside linebacker. “The guys I played with, we were all really close friends. We all worked hard together and great things happened.”

Tymoczko becomes just the second non-Class A player to receive the award, following Lee St. Hilaire of Winthrop in 2001, and is the first Eastern Maine player to earn the honor since Gardiner’s Nate Sergent was selected in 1997.

Tymoczko was one of two Class C players from the Eastern Maine LTC ranks to emerge among the three finalists – the first time that has happened since the award criteria was expanded to include Class B and C players in 1996.

Other finalists were Bobby Gilbert of Class C Foxcroft Academy, and Matt O’Donnell of Class A champion Bonny Eagle of Standish.

“I was up there with two other tremendous athletes, and to be walking away with the Fitzpatrick Trophy is just great,” said Tymoczko, who plans to play football in college while studying to be an elementary school physical education teacher. “I don’t know how to put into words how I feel right now. It’s just great.”

Tymoczko had a year to remember in leading Bucksport to its first state title since 1983. He set LTC regular-season records with 2,071 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns, and capped off the Golden Bucks’ 12-0 season with 330 yards and three TDs in his team’s state championship-game victory over Jay.

“I don’t know what the state records are for the state game or one season, but those numbers speak for themselves,” said Sankey.

Tymoczko was expected to share time at tailback this season with classmate John Harvey, but when Tymoczko and the Golden Bucks got off to a quick start, Harvey shifted to fullback where he was a key blocking presence for the future Fitzy winner.

Tymoczko, a blend of physical toughness and sprinter’s speed who also helped Bucksport win the 2004 Class C state outdoor track championship, rushed for at least 140 yards in every game this fall.

“It’s just great for Nick, it’s great for our school, our community, Eastern Maine football and the LTC,” said Sankey. “He’s a quality kid. Not only is he an outstanding football player, but he’s just so articulate, so humble.”

Gilbert earned his status as Fitzpatrick Trophy finalist in just his third year of organized football. As a senior, he rushed for school-record totals of 1,979 yards and 37 touchdowns, and also led the Ponies with 105 tackles.

As a junior, Gilbert led Foxcroft to an undefeated season and the Class C state championship. This fall, the Ponies finished 9-2 and earned a berth in the Eastern Maine final, where they suffered a last-second 26-25 loss at Bucksport. During his three years at Foxcroft, Gilbert rushed for nearly 3,500 years as coach Paul Withee’s Ponies compiled a 32-3 record during that span.

“I never pictured this, not once,” said Gilbert. “Being a finalist for the Fitzpatrick Trophy is something I never really thought about as a goal, but it’s a great honor. It just shows you that any kid can do it. It doesn’t matter how small or fast you are, you just have to work hard it.”

O’Donnell led Bonny Eagle to its first Class A state title, amassing 2,564 rushing and passing yards, 1,343 on the ground and 1,221 yards through the air. He also accounted for 29 TDs, passing for 18 and rushing for 11. On defense, the free safety had a team-high six interceptions.

O’Donnell rushed for 147 yards and passed for 131 in the Class A state final, where 12-0 Bonny Eagle defeated Bangor 29-19.