Poland senior running back/linebacker Tyler Tucci has helped lead the Knights into a new era. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)

POLAND — When Poland’s return to the playoffs is the subject, senior Tyler Tucci sounds like a coach pointing out a rookie is no longer a rookie when he enters the playoffs of his first season.

“We’re trying to go into the playoffs with a whole new mindset, like, we’re here (in the playoffs). We took our year to rebuild. Now it’s time to show it,” he said.

The eighth-seeded Knights (3-5) are decided underdogs in Friday night’s Class D South quarterfinal game at top-seeded Wells (8-0), the defending state champions. They can already declare the season a success, having tripled their win total under first-year coach Spencer Emerson, thanks in large part to Tucci’s contributions as a standout two-way player and team leader.

Tucci got a taste of what the playoffs are like as a starter on the 2016 Poland team that lost to Cape Elizabeth in the Class C South quarterfinals. Missing out on the postseason last year made him appreciate one more shot, even though all D South teams were guaranteed a playoff spot this year.

“It was rough not having one for a year,” Tucci said. “It’s definitely a whole different atmosphere (in the playoffs). You’re real excited. There are lots of fans, lots of hype for it.”

Seniors and new coaches sometimes don’t mix in high school athletics. Players may not want to end their careers having to learn a whole new system and role in their final year.

Change could have been even more frustrating for Tucci, a two-year captain who last year moved from tight end to guard to help a struggling young line.

“It’s easy to have seniors who are just kind of here for the ride and aren’t willing to put in that work because they haven’t seen the fruits of their labor,” Emerson said. “Since summertime, really, he’s showed up every single day, not just on time but first guy here. He’s been a vocal leader and does everything the right way on and off the field.”

“He’s just a high-character guy,” Emerson added. “He’s an extension of the staff. Everything we ask him to do, he’s done it.”

Tucci credited Emerson with making him and the other seniors feel like a vital part of the program’s future.

“He was really energetic and he told the seniors, ‘This is where it starts out. You’re the foundation. You need to work hard and show these guys what new Poland football is about,'” Tucci said. “He laid the expectations out, and he put them kind of high, and he let us know he wanted us to lead the team.”

“I think we’ve definitely set the foundation for the future,” Tucci said. “We haven’t won as many games as we’ve hoped, but we’ve played really tough in a lot of games.”

Tucci sets a toughness tone for the Knights. At 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, he is one of the more physical running backs in Class D.

“It’s almost like a defensive mindset where he invites contact,” Emerson said. “He likes to punish people. He’s kind of a bruiser back, but he’s sneaky fast. He’s had some long touchdown runs for us.”

“I always just protect the ball and then it’s just get what you can get,” Tucci said. “I’ve never been a speedster or a dancing back.”

He’s not very flashy on the other side of the ball, either, but the Knights’ defense revolves around him at middle linebacker. 

“He does a really good job of letting the game come to him,” Emerson said. “He does everything we ask him to do defensively. He has a level of intelligence that allows him to play a step ahead of everybody he’s playing with and around. I think he’s one of the best linebackers in our league.”

Tucci makes the calls and makes sure everyone is where they need to be in what can sometimes be a complicated defensive scheme. 

“As (middle) linebacker, you’re there to lead the defense,” Tucci said. “Coach wants me to make sure everyone is in position to do the best they can do and the coaches put me in position to do what I’m able to do well.” 

He’s done everything well enough to draw interest from Division III schools such as Maine Maritime and Springfield College to continue his playing career.

Emerson, who has coached at the University of Maine and Bates College, believes Tucci is a dream recruit, too.

“He’s the type of kid you tell something once and he’ll do it,” Emerson said. “He makes my job a lot easier.”