When it came time for The Franklin County Times to name a Coach and Player of the Year, there were two strong candidates in both fields.

Michael Jackson of Russellville had a 9-3 record playing against tough 5A opponents, while John Ritter had an 8-4 mark playing against solid 2A opponents.

Both coaches played against a possible state champ, both led their teams to the playoffs and one postseason victory and both coaches have been at the helm of their respective program for two years or less.

Tyler Boyd of Russellville and Matt Belue of Red Bay presented a similar challenge. The numbers separating them are 19 yards and one total touchdown.

Given how close these two categories were, the FCT has decided to name Jackson and Ritter Co-Head Coaches of the Year.

“I was proud of our team this season,” Jackson said. “Our seniors did a lot to help us get where we were, and I had a great group of coaches helping me.”

“It’s a prestigious honor, especially since this is my first year,” Ritter said. “We got off slow because of our late start, but we were able to overcome adversity and where we ened up is a tribute to our kids and how hard they worked.”

Boyd and Belue have been named Co-Players of the Year for the 2012 season based on their performances and how much they each meant to their team.

“Matt was a catalyst for our offense,” Ritter said. “He got a lot of carries and yards, and he opened up a lot of things for us. He was a leader in the locker room and on the field, and he brought his hard hat to practice every day. He was our driving force.”

“[Tyler] was a great leader, a hard worker, a great team captain and a positive player,” Jackson said. “Our offensive line loved blocking for him, and he had a great year. He averaged over 8 yards a carry, he was durable and he never missed a day of practice or a game.”

The FCT would like to congratulate Boyd and Belue for being named Co-Players of the Year and Jackson and Ritter for being named Co-Head Coaches of the Year for the 2012 football season.