XENIA — There are three unbeaten teams left in the Miami Valley League and week five arrives with the first showdown between two of those squads.
Xenia will travel to Vandalia to face off against Butler. Both teams are 4-0, the third straight such start for the Buccaneers while the Aviators are off to its best start since joining the MVL.
Two good defenses should be on display in this matchup. Butler has only allowed 20 points in three MVL games with its first string on the field, while Xenia has allowed a total of 20 points all season which is tied for the fewest in the state for any Division II team. Both sides are loaded with seniors possessing postseason experience.
Braylen Crump is one of the best defenders in the league, leading Butler in tackles and sacks and is a turnover machine. In addition to grabbing an interception, he has forced four fumbles already this season. Xenia’s front seven has been superb each week in forcing pressure on the opposing quarterback, already having six sacks and 26 tackles for loss as a group.
On offense, Deaunte White has exploded to be the league’s leading rusher for a dominant Xenia run game. Butler mostly gets it done by committee, but Mason Reckner takes care of the ball well at quarterback with an 8-to-1 TD to interception ratio.
A year ago, Butler was able to springboard a road win at Xenia into a long win streak that stretched into the playoffs. That game saw multiple turnovers by Xenia set up short field for Butler, with a late fourth quarter touchdown being the difference in a seven-point win.
Xenia seems to be the best team from the Valley Division, while this game will help define what to think of the Miami Division with Butler getting set to face the third unbeaten, Tippecanoe, on a short week next Thursday.
Beavercreek (2-2) at Miamisburg (1-3)
The Beavers despite being .500 have the best point differential of any GWOC team. Beavercreek was able to see the finish line to end the league losing streak at 35, but was unable to hold off a late charge against Northmont.
Miamisburg enters the game with its only win coming against winless Ponitz CTC. The Vikings have been outscored by 54 points against opponents at the D-III level or higher.
Landen Roberts is second in the GWOC in passing yardage, while Beavercreek as a team leads the league with five interceptions. The Vikings are averaging 1.8 yards per carry this season. Colton Lemons leads the defense with 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack from the lineback position.
Alter (2-2) at Bellbrook (3-1)
Bellbrook’s defense has been up to the challenge during its three-game win streak, allowing a total of 67 offensive yards the previous two games and 17 total points during the win streak.
Alter has yet to score more than 13 points in a game, but keeps games close with its running offense. Alter runs the ball on 80 percent of its snaps, and when it does throw is only completing 46 percent of those passes.
Connor Watkins and Wyatt Reifschneider lead a Knights’ defense which has been stingy. Both are at or near the GCL Co-ed lead for total tackles and make numerous stops in the backfield.
Carroll (4-0) at Talawanda (0-4)
Every team needs a bit of luck to enjoy success and Carroll got its share of it to survive a multiple overtime thriller last week. The Patriots can finish off an undefeated non-conference schedule with a win.
Despite the winless record, Talawanda has not lost by more than 21 points in any game. Cale Leitch has thrown for more than 600 yards wih a 61 percent completion rate.
Northeastern (3-1) at Cedarville (2-2)
Cedarville’s offense has stalled as Colt Coffey has been bottled up more. The Indians also have allowed 80 points in consecutive defeats are nearly shutting out both of its first two opponents.
The North Division is up for grabs and Northeastern is right in the thick of the race. The Jets put up 53 points last week and have one of the best offenses in the OHC.
Jackson Jones and Diezel Taylor are a 1-2 punch carrying the ball, and Garrett Chadwell gets into the end zone with regularly. Cody Houseman has nearly 50 tackes already and five sacks and five TFL.
Fairborn (2-2) at Stebbins (1-3)
Despite the loss last week, Fairborn played well enough to show they will be a tough out the rest of the way as they fight for another playoff berth. Defensive play for Fairborn may be the more important side in considering their chances, and this week they face an inconsistent Stebbins offense.
The offense for Stebbins has looked mighty in several games but struggled against strong defensive opponents. Devin McCormick is one of the MVL’s best passer-runner players.
Ayden McKenzie and Travis Marquez will be featured to try and stop Fairborn’s rushing attack.
Greeneview (4-0) at Triad (1-3)
Now in the state’s top-10 rankings, the target will be placed firmly on Greeneview’s back for the remainder of the season as the team everyone wants to beat in the OHC. No OHC team has scored more points than the Rams this season and now next line up against an opponent near the bottom in scoring.
Triad has struggled in its first two OHC crossover games losing by more than 20 points to Southeastern and Madison Plains. Cayden Everhart has been a “do everything” type of player this season. He ranks in the top-five for passing yards on offense and total tackles on defense amongst all league players. Awesom Mitchell, one of the leading returning rushers in the OHC from last season, has been limited this year in his carries.
2024 STATISTICAL LEADERS
(Through Week 4)
OFFENSE
Passing
Name (School), Comp-Yds-TD-INT
Gavin McManus (XEN), 46/63-569-6-0
Josh Holzinger (CAR), 44/71-522-3-3
Will Mossing (CED), 33/58-484-6-2
Alex Horney (GVW), 15/29-334-3-1
Calvin Svoboda (BVC), 8/8-228-2-0
Aiden Caswell (BEL), 14/26-162-2-1
Wesley Rohler (FBN), 7/13-108-1-1
Rushing
Name (School), Att-Yds-TD
Deaunte White (XEN), 72-721-14
Alex Horney (GVW), 54-594-9
Colt Coffey (CED), 65-495-7
Zane Piatt (BVC), 68-481-5
Zyaire Cavitt (FBN), 60-379-6
Chase Walker (GVW), 39-335-4
Vincent Epifano (BEL), 55-332-4
Tayshawn Brown (CAR), 44-248-5
Cameron Faircloth (FBN), 51-246-3
Tanner Stewart (BEL), 40-229-3
Isaiah Christian (CED), 19-202-2
Cooper Payton (GVW), 46-190-1
Isaiah Creditt (XEN), 24-185-0
Jayden Crawford (CAR), 44-170-2
Josh Holzinger (CAR), 35-160-3
Dana Johnson-Dennis (BVC), 17-158-4
Gage Cameron (BEL), 15-112-1
Aidan Davis (FBN), 15-105-1
Receiving
Name (School), Rec-Yds-TD
Trimonde Henry (XEN), 16-257-0
Joey Giannobile (GVW), 9-239-2
Jack McGeady (CAR), 12-221-3
Jayden Crawford (CAR), 16-215-1
Derek Orr (CED), 10-175-1
Shawn Fishwick (XEN), 16-155-3
Laken Pierce (BVC), 3-143-1
Scoring
Name (School), Pts (TD-2pt-FG-PAT)
Deaunte White (XEN), 90 (15-0-0-0)
Colt Coffey (CED), 54 (9-0-0-0)
Alex Horney (GVW), 54 (9-0-0-0)
Tayshawn Brown (CAR), 40 (5-5-0-0)
Zyaire Cavitt (GVW), 36 (6-0-0-0)
Chase Walker (GVW), 38 (4-0-0-14)
Dana Johnson-Dennis (BVC), 30 (5-0-0-0)
Zane Piatt (BVC), 30 (5-0-0-0)
Wesley Rohler (FBN), 30 (3-0-0-12)
Sean Leonard (XEN), 28 (0-0-2-22)
Riley Ferrin (BEL), 25 (0-0-3-16)
Nathan Van Loo (CED), 25 (2-0-0-13)
Vincent Epifano (BEL), 24 (4-0-0-0)
Conner Macek (BVC), 21 (0-0-3-12)
Jayden Crawford (CAR), 20 (3-1-0-0)
Josh Holzinger (CAR), 20 (3-1-0-0)
Jack McGeady (CAR), 20 (3-0-0-0)
DEFENSE
Tackles
Name (School), Tkls (Solo)
Isaiah Christian (CED), 43 (12)
Cooper Payton (GVW), 39 (19)
Gavin Thobe (BEL), 36 (20)
Blake Midlam (GVW), 35 (17)
Ronnie Butler (XEN), 33 (15)
Preston Pettit (BEL), 33 (24)
Nathan Terrell (CED), 33 (10)
Colt Coffey (CED), 30 (13)
Almari Byrd (FBN), 28 (13)
Jacob Daugherty (GVW), 27 (8)
Carson Pund (BEL), 27 (20)
Preston Valente (BEL), 27 (16)
Victor Smith (XEN), 26 (11)
Jude Omiatek (BEL), 25 (15)
Gavin Henry (GVW), 24 (8)
Cecil Piner (XEN), 24 (15)
Kale Webb (XEN), 24 (7)
Logan Johnston (BVC), 23 (8)
Eli Walker (BVC), 23 (12)
Jared Lauderman (FBN), 22 (8)
Derek Orr (CED), 20 (5)
Chase Walker (GVW), 20 (5)
Cameron Ashley (XEN), 19 (9)
Thomas Pierce (GVW), 18 (9)
Brant Dudley (XEN), 17 (9)
Kelvin Keys Jr. (BVC), 17 (12)
Jack Steward (CED) 17 (3)
Micah Burr (CED), 16 (9)
Louis Freeman (XEN), 16 (1)
Jack Kosins (BEL), 16 (10)
Lincoln Pyles (CED), 16 (5)
Johnny Brown (BEL), 15 (6)
Jackson Fifield (FBN), 15 (11)
Joey Giannobile (GVW), 15 (8)
Jase Hodges (GVW), 15 (5)
Caleb Lawson (GVW), 15 (9)
Sacks
Name (School), Sacks
Blake Midlam (GVW), 3
Chen Nelson (BVC), 3
Preston Pettit (BEL), 3
Gavin Henry (GVW), 2
Kelvin Okechukwu-Ozor (BEL), 2
Louis Freeman (XEN), 1.5
Wyatt Jolliffe (CED), 1.5
Tackles for Loss
Name (School), TFL
Colt Coffey (CED), 6
Jude Omiatek (BEL), 5
Victor Smith (XEN), 4.5
Almari Byrd (FBN), 4
Cohen Nelson (BVC), 4
Cecil Piner (XEN), 3.5
Keyshawn Carter (FBN), 3
Blae Midlam (GVW), 3
Preston Pettit (BEL), 3
Gavin Thobe (BEL), 3
Kale Webb (XEN), 3
Cameron Ashley (XEN), 2.5
Isaiah Christian (CED), 2.5
Garon Draughn (CAR), 2.5
Trimonde Henry (XEN), 2.5
Laithan Partee (XEN), 2.5
Kyran Rackley (XEN), 2.5
Jacob Brazel (CAR), 2
Johnny Brown (BEL), 2
Jackson Fifield (FBN), 2
Gavin Henry (GVW), 2
Torian Hill (XEN), 2
Jack Kosins (BEL), 2
Noah Lawrie (FBN), 2
Preston Pettit (BEL), 2
Carson Pund (BEL), 2
Mac Rader (CED), 2
Eli Walker (BVC), 2
Liam Brennaman (CAR), 1.5
Ronnie Butler (XEN), 1.5
Jordan Eckstein (CED), 1.5
Wyatt Jolliffe (CED), 1.5
Cameron Lloyd (CED), 1.5
Jack Steward (CED), 1.5
Interceptions
Name (School), Int
Noah Barrios (BEL), 2
Trimonde Henry (XEN), 2
Kelvin Keys Jr. (BVC) 2
Laithan Partee (XEN), 2
Jamarious Vinson (GVW), 2
Jamison Webster (BVC), 2
KICKING
Field Goals
Name (School), FG (long)
Sean Leonard (XEN), 2/2 (32)
Riley Ferrin (BEL), 3/4 (33)
Conner Macek (BVC), 3/4 (32)
Cooper Husted (CAR), 2/4 (29)
Wesley Rohler (FBN), 0/1 (0)
Chase Walker (GVW), 0/1 (0)
Extra Points
Name (School), XP
Riley Ferrin (BEL), 16/16
Sean Leonard (XEN), 22/23
Nathan Van Loo (CED), 13/14
Conner Macek (BVC), 12/13
Wesley Rohler (FBN), 12/13
Chase Walker (GVW), 14/17
Cooper Husted (CAR), 1/4
Punting
Name (School), Avg (No.)
Riley Ferrin (BEL), 37.7 (12)
Sean Leonard (XEN), 34.8 (5)
Conner Macek (BVC), 33.8 (5)
Wesley Rohler (FBN), 32.9 (8)
Derek Orr (CED), 32.0 (9)
Chase Walker (GVW), 30.8 (9)
Matthew Tipps (CAR), 27.5 (6)
Contact Steven Wright at 937-502-4498 and follow on X (formerly Twitter) @Steven_Wright_.
