Miami Valley League football year in review 2024

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

With the 2024 high school football season in the rearview, the time has come to look back at the great things accomplished across the Dayton area.

After beginning with a review of the Greater Western Ohio Conference, we turn our attention to the Miami Valley League.

Here is a rundown of what went down this season:

Champions: Tippecanoe (Miami Division) and Xenia (Valley Division)

Overall champion: Tippecanoe

Game of the year: Tippecanoe 35, Xenia 21 at Xenia, Week 10

Xavier Melton ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner in the fourth quarter, as the Red Devils won an instant classic at Doug Adams Stadium in Week 10. That overcame another big game for Deaunte White, who scored three touchdowns and ran for 135 yards for Xenia while senior quarterback Gavin McManus threw for 225 yards for the Buccaneers.

Ronnie Butler had 17 tackles, including two for loss, for the Buccs while Collin Isaac had 17 as well for the Red Devils.

Tipp's Xavier Melton carries the ball against Xenia Friday night. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

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Credit: Bill Lackey

Playoff results: Butler, Tippecanoe and Xenia all advanced to Round 2 before losing.

Leading passer: Tippecanoe sophomore Larkin Thomas threw for 2,679 yards, 38 touchdowns, 7 interceptions

Leading rusher: Xenia junior Deaunte White ran for 1,969 yards and 32 touchdowns

Xenia's Deaunte White avoids a tackle by Tipp's Collin Isaac as he carries the ball. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

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Credit: Bill Lackey

Leading receiver: Tippecanoe senior Jackson Davis had 1,153 yards on 71 catches with 20 touchdowns

Leading tackler: Senior Ronnie Butler of Xenia and junior Collin Isaac of Tippecanoe (tie), 153

Leader in sacks: Butler senior Enrique Lopez, 6

Leader in tackles for loss: Sidney senior Luke Carter, 15

Leader interceptions: Tayven Crump and Deryl Taylor, both of Butler, 6

Coach of the year*: Maurice Harden, Xenia

Players of the year:* Deaunte White, Xenia (Offense), and Ronnie Butler, Xenia (Defense)

Butler quarterback Mason Reckner is sacked by Xenia's Ronnie Butler during Friday's game. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

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Credit: Bill Lackey

All-State selections:

First team: Deaunte White, Xenia, 5-10, 180, jr. RB; Jackson Davis, Tippecanoe, 6-0, 185, sr. WR;

Collin Isaac, Tippecanoe, 5-10, 195, jr. LB; Ronnie Butler, Xenia, 5-11, 205, sr.; LB;

Second team: Isiah Stoudemire, Riverside Stebbins, 6-4, 314, sr. OL; Riley Nicholls, Tippecanoe, 6-2, 188, sr.

Third team: Gavin McManus, Xenia, 6-0 205, sr. QB; Larkin Thomas, Tippecanoe, 5-10, 188, so. QB; Alex Shellhammer, Tippecanoe, 5-10, 202, sr. OL; Trimonde Henry, Xenia, 6-0, 165, sr. WR; Gunnar Stephan, Xenia, 6-2, 280, sr. OL; Max Howard, Tippecanoe, 6-4, 212, sr. DL

Honorable mention: Andre McConnell, Stebbins, 5-10, 170, jr. WR; Luke Carter, Sidney, 6-3, 250, sr. OL; Kyle Knorpp, Troy, 6-6, 275, sr. OL; Kale Webb, Xenia, 6-3, 275, jr.; DL; Isaiah Martin, Piqua, 6-5, 219, sr.; DL; Braylen Crump, Vandalia Butler, 6-2, 170, sr. LB

Xenia QB Gavin McManus throws a pass at Troy during the 2024 high school football season.

Credit: Marcus Hartman

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Credit: Marcus Hartman

All-District selections

First team: Larkin Thomas, Tippecanoe, 5-10, 188, so., QB; Alex Shellhammer, Tippecanoe, 5-10, 202, sr., OL; Luke Carter, Sidney, 6-3, 250, sr. OL; Isiah Stoudemire, Riverside Stebbins, 6-4, 314, sr. OL; Gunnar Stephan, Xenia, 6-2, 280, sr. OL; Gavin McManus, Xenia, 6-0 205, sr., QB; Deaunte White, Xenia, 5-10, 180, jr., RB; Max Howard, Tippecanoe, 6-4, 212, sr. DL; Riley Nicholls, Tippecanoe, 6-2, 188, sr. DB; Kale Webb, Xenia, 6-3, 275, jr. DL; Ronnie Butler, Xenia, 5-11, 205, sr. LB; Braylen Crump, Butler, 6-2, 170, sr. LB; Jahmale Clark, Trotwood Trotwood-Madison, 5-9, 158, sr. DB; Darius Dennis, Trotwood Trotwood-Madison, 6-1, 205, so. DB

Tipp's Larkin Thomas stretches into the end zone for a touchdown despite several Xenia defenders trying to tackle him. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

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Credit: Bill Lackey

Second team: Andre McConnell, Stebbins, 5-10, 170, jr., RB; Cade Havill, Tippecanoe, 6-1, 206, so. WR; Will Strong, Tippecanoe, 6-1, 190, jr. WR; Ian Bickert, Tippecanoe, 6-2, 241, sr. OL; Chris Preece, Tippecanoe, 5-8, 171, sr. DL; Max Deckard, Tipp City Tippecanoe, 5-10, 160, jr. DB; Tayven Crump, Vandalia Butler, 5-10, 150, sr. WR; Tank Fleming, Sidney, 6-0, 170, sr. WR; Louis Freeman, Xenia, 6-2, 200, jr.; LB; Isaiah Martin, Piqua, 6-5, 219, sr.; LB; Sean Leonard, Xenia, 6-3, 215, sr. P

Xenia's Cristian Corbett intercets a Butler pass meant for Braylen Crump inside the five yard line during Friday's game. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

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Credit: Bill Lackey

Honorable mention: Xavier Melton, Tippecanoe; Owen Baileys, Tippecanoe; Gavin Newburg, Tippecanoe; Brycen Jones, West Carrollton; Devin McCormick, Stebbins; Dakota Manson, Troy; Deshawn Cunningham, Stebbins; Shawn Fishwick, Xenia; Chylan Ingram, West Carrollton; AJ Anderson, Xenia; Seth Gibson, Butler; De’Angelo Johnson, Stebbins; Keyshawn Carter, Fairborn; Enrique Lopez, Butler; Cecil Piner, Xenia; Cristian Corbett, Xenia; Andrew Wilson, Fairborn

*As voted upon by league

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