Frankfort's Braydn Tyler voted area co-Player of the Year

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SHORT GAP, W.Va. — Not only was Braydn Tyler the area’s most explosive player, he was among the most dangerous runners in the state of West Virginia.

We Frankfort’s junior speedster averaged 13.9 yards every time he touched the ball on offense, and he added six defensive or special teams touchdowns to rack up more than 2,039 all-purpose yards and 32 total touchdowns.

Tyler, who captained the Class AA All-State offense, delivered his “Heisman Moment” on the final play of Frankfort’s championship game, completing a 43-yard touchdown pass to Keiton Nester out of a Wildcat formation with three seconds left to secure a 49-42 victory over Bluefield and a 14-0 season.

It was a historic campaign for Frankfort’s star running back and defensive back, and Tyler earned a share of the Player of the Year from the area’s head coaches along with Fort Hill’s Braelyn Younger — a first for the Falcons in 35 years.

“I think he’s very deserving,” Frankfort head coach Kevin Whiteman said. “He did so much for us throughout the season from game one, all the way through the championship. He was phenomenal in all three phases of the game. Made so many big plays.

“He’s a speedy kid. He’s a physical kid. He loves the game. He studies the game. He became a great team player through the year and just did whatever he had to do to help us win football games.”

The area football awards were chosen at a meeting of the area’s head coaches in late December.

Six coaches attended the meeting. Tyler and Younger both received three votes each.

All award winners have now been revealed. The All-Area and All-Western Maryland Athletic Conference teams will be in Wednesday’s Times-News.

Keyser running back Grayson Lambka won the Morton W. Peskin Sr. Memorial Offensive Player of the Year, Allegany linebacker Khiante Bible is the Pepsi-Cola Defensive Player of the Year, Fort Hill center Casey Martz was named the John B. “Jack” Gilmore Memorial Lineman of the Year, and Whiteman was awarded Coach of the Year.

Frankfort’s only other area Player of the Year winner — an award that dates back to 1973 — was garnered by Chris Whiteman in 1990.

Tyler is just the third Frankfort player and 16th in area history to score 30 touchdowns in a season.

Julian Pattison scored 30 times last season, guiding Frankfort to its first 14-0 campaign, the beginning leg of the Falcons’ Mineral County-record 28-game winning streak — the third longest ever locally.

Travis Lynch garnered 35 touchdowns for Frankfort in 1997, a mark that stood alone as the area record until Younger matched the mark this fall.

Tyler had 102 carries for 1,032 yards (12.8 yards per carry) and 20 touchdowns, and he caught nine passes for 240 yards and six more scores.

In the return game, the junior had 14 returns for 375 yards and three TDs, and he intercepted four passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns.

“It’s nice to know you can rely on someone, that he can make your coaching staff look genius at times with what he does,” Whiteman said. “He enjoyed blocking and he blocked hard, and even when he wasn’t getting the ball, he did his job to the fullest of his ability, which helps the Frankfort Falcons win football games.

“He’s definitely one of the best players in the state of West Virginia.”

Tyler was in the running for the Kennedy Award, given to the Player of the Year in West Virginia. The only area player to ever win the honor was Petersburg’s John Koontz in 1981.

Tyler finished third in Special Teams Player of the Year voting in the state.

“I thank him for what he brought to the team,” Whiteman said. “He’s the kind of kid that you could give the ball to every play. He understands how to we run our offense and that we utilize multiple players. He accepted his role and he blossomed in that role.”

A defensive back on the other side of the ball, Tyler made 50 tackles (43 solo) broke up five passes and recovered a fumble.

Tyler still has another year to play in Whiteman’s Wing-T offense, and he’ll enter as the favorite to repeat as the area’s top award winner.

Just two players have ever gone back-to-back, Fort Hill’s Ty Johnson (2013-14) and Brayden Brown (‘15-16).

“We’re excited for sure about having him back,” Whiteman said. “He understands what we’re trying to do. I love the fact that he accepts his role and he’ll do the same next year. He’s only going to get better. He’s going to work harder.”

“He loves the game of football and you know, he wants to be the best he can be and we’re excited about what he brings to the table to our team coming back next season.”

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