Xavier Gaston, a senior inside linebacker for Caney Valley football team, was named to the 2023 Tri-Valley All-Defensive team after his junior season, which just so happened to be his first season in a Bullpups’ uniform. It’s not terribly surprising that he gained that recognition so quickly since, in his first game as a Bullpup, Gaston recorded an incredible 22 tackles.
Gaston moved to Caney Valley from Fairland, Oklahoma prior to last football season, and the Bullpups were glad that he did. The move has obviously worked pretty well, for Gaston, too, but it has not come without its challenges, “It’s given me kind of a short window to gain the recognition I need from the collegiate level. I really strive to reach the next level and chase down my future.”
The Bullpups have started the season with a solid 3-2 record, with the losses coming to two very good teams in Humboldt and Christ Prep Academy. Caney currently sits at third in the competitive Tri-Valley League, and Gaston’s leadership has played an important role in that success, “I see myself as a leader for the guys on the field. With the help of my coaches, I command the defense. Coming into this season, I set my sights on just gaining experience as a leader – both for the defense and the team – and honing my overall knowledge of the game.”
Gaston says that his love of the game comes naturally, as his family has a football background, “As a child I grew up watching my dad play every form of football. Watching him play in college ignited a passion in me. I have goals to get to where he was and hopefully go even further. I have followed so closely in his footsteps that my position is even the same.”
In the springtime, Gaston is a catcher for the Bullpups’ baseball team. After graduation, Xavier plans to continue his education and his football career at the collegiate level.
