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Three winning records in the last four seasons is the first time in 20 years the Xenia High School football program has had sustained success. Graduating a large group of seniors — 23 in total and nine of its 11 defensive starters — the next group is ready to try and keep up the momentum.
It’s not just the next batch of men stepping up. The junior class that will primarily make up the experience of the roster has been familiar with winning each step of their journeys — including consecutive seventh and eighth grade undefeated seasons leading into their high school careers.
“We’re excited for a bunch of young guys to come out here and compete at a high level and kind of prove some people wrong,” head coach Maurice Harden said. “We don’t like to use the term rebuild. We want to use the term reload, and we’re excited about the young talent that we have and the direction we are having as a football team.”
While there will be much to replace on defense, the offense is set to potentially carry the load early with returning juniors Gage Stephan at quarterback and Cincinnati-commit Jaxon Austin at tight end flanking an offensive line with size.
“We’re all really young and I love the family and connection through all of us because I feel like we really have a great relationship with each other and we’re all together as a group. I love that,” junior Max Greene said.
Xenia has given Tippecanoe a challenge in the Miami Valley League the last two seasons and isn’t ready to give up its status as a league contender yet.
“Just how much we’re doubted, and how much we have to prove this year, I can’t wait to prove it,” said Buccs senior Alex Gragg.
Xenia Buccaneers
2025 Record: 8-3 (7-2, MVL Valley champions), Division II regional quarterfinalist
Coach: Maurice Harden (6th year, 39-17)
League: MVL
Need to know: Xenia has finished outside of the top-two in the MVL Valley Division standings just once in the reformed league’s seven-year history.
Players to watch
Jaxon Austin, TE, 6-3, 190, jr. (5REC, 48YDS, 3TD)
Alex Gragg, LB, 5-10, 170, sr. (46TKL, 3TFL, 2.5SACKS, 1INT)
Marqus Keller, RB, 5-10, 190, so. (47ATT, 324YDS, 2TD)
Max Greene, OL, 6-2, 250, jr.
Kyran Rackley, DL, 6-2, 250, sr. (42TKL, 4.5TFL, 2SACKS, 2FR)
DeMarco Ruffin, WR, 5-10, 150, so. (23REC, 319YDS, 2TD)
Gage Stephan, QB, 6-1, 180, jr. (115/177, 1,343YDS, 17TD, 3INT)
Tyler Thompson, DB, 5-10, 165, jr. (53TKL, 2TFL, 2INT, 3PB)
Sincere Valdez, RB, 5-7, 150, jr. (53ATT, 266YDS, 2TD)
Schedule
Aug. 21 - at Beavercreek
Aug. 28 - Troy
Sept. 4 - Butler
Sept. 11 - at West Carrollton
Sept. 18 - at Sidney
Sept. 25 - Piqua
Oct. 2 - at Tippecanoe
Oct. 9 - Fairborn
Oct. 16 - Greenville
Oct. 23 - at Stebbins
Continue reading...
It’s not just the next batch of men stepping up. The junior class that will primarily make up the experience of the roster has been familiar with winning each step of their journeys — including consecutive seventh and eighth grade undefeated seasons leading into their high school careers.
“We’re excited for a bunch of young guys to come out here and compete at a high level and kind of prove some people wrong,” head coach Maurice Harden said. “We don’t like to use the term rebuild. We want to use the term reload, and we’re excited about the young talent that we have and the direction we are having as a football team.”
While there will be much to replace on defense, the offense is set to potentially carry the load early with returning juniors Gage Stephan at quarterback and Cincinnati-commit Jaxon Austin at tight end flanking an offensive line with size.
“We’re all really young and I love the family and connection through all of us because I feel like we really have a great relationship with each other and we’re all together as a group. I love that,” junior Max Greene said.
Xenia has given Tippecanoe a challenge in the Miami Valley League the last two seasons and isn’t ready to give up its status as a league contender yet.
“Just how much we’re doubted, and how much we have to prove this year, I can’t wait to prove it,” said Buccs senior Alex Gragg.
Xenia Buccaneers
2025 Record: 8-3 (7-2, MVL Valley champions), Division II regional quarterfinalist
Coach: Maurice Harden (6th year, 39-17)
League: MVL
Need to know: Xenia has finished outside of the top-two in the MVL Valley Division standings just once in the reformed league’s seven-year history.
Players to watch
Jaxon Austin, TE, 6-3, 190, jr. (5REC, 48YDS, 3TD)
Alex Gragg, LB, 5-10, 170, sr. (46TKL, 3TFL, 2.5SACKS, 1INT)
Marqus Keller, RB, 5-10, 190, so. (47ATT, 324YDS, 2TD)
Max Greene, OL, 6-2, 250, jr.
Kyran Rackley, DL, 6-2, 250, sr. (42TKL, 4.5TFL, 2SACKS, 2FR)
DeMarco Ruffin, WR, 5-10, 150, so. (23REC, 319YDS, 2TD)
Gage Stephan, QB, 6-1, 180, jr. (115/177, 1,343YDS, 17TD, 3INT)
Tyler Thompson, DB, 5-10, 165, jr. (53TKL, 2TFL, 2INT, 3PB)
Sincere Valdez, RB, 5-7, 150, jr. (53ATT, 266YDS, 2TD)
Schedule
Aug. 21 - at Beavercreek
Aug. 28 - Troy
Sept. 4 - Butler
Sept. 11 - at West Carrollton
Sept. 18 - at Sidney
Sept. 25 - Piqua
Oct. 2 - at Tippecanoe
Oct. 9 - Fairborn
Oct. 16 - Greenville
Oct. 23 - at Stebbins
Continue reading...
