Lexington High School Football: A Century of Dominance and Community Pride

For nearly 100 years, Lexington High School football has been a source of excitement and pride for students, alumni and the local Ohio community. With 11 state championships and hundreds of wins, the Lexington Minutemen have established themselves as one of the most dominant Division III programs in Ohio high school football history.

History and Tradition of Excellent Since 1920

Football began at Lexington High School shortly after the school opened its doors in 1920. In the early years, the team played on a small field located on campus. In 1934, a new football stadium, Lexington Community Stadium, was constructed to house the growing fanbase.

Over the last century, Lexington football has amassed an incredible winning tradition. The Minutemen have laid claim to 11 Ohio state titles, including back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. Their most recent crown came in 2013 when the Minutemen went 15-0 en route to the Division III title.

Other championship seasons:

• 2000 – Division II Champions
• 1994 – Division IV Champions
• 1981 – Class AA Champions
• 1979 – Class AA Champions

In 2016, Lexington reached the state semi-finals before falling to eventual champions Granville by a single point in overtime, 28-27. This near miss only fueled the team‘s motivation to get back on top.

By the Numbers

• 11 – State Championship Titles
• .712 – Lexington‘s all-time winning percentage
• 28 – Consecutive playoff appearances from 1982-2009
• 7 – Players named Ohio Player of the Year
• 3 – Undefeated seasons (1989, 1990, 2013)

MOAC Conference Dominance

Since joining the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference in 2006, Lexington has dominated conference play. The Minutemen have brought home six MOAC football championships in the last 12 seasons.

“It’s a great honor to be able to win the MOAC each year,” said head coach Taylor Gerhardt. “Our conference is competitive, with several strong programs, so each title represents how hard our kids work.”

Beyond football, Lexington has won titles in various MOAC sports including baseball, track and field, cross country, and cheerleading – demonstrating the school‘s broad athletic excellence.

Gameday Atmosphere

Friday nights in the fall at Lexington High School mean one thing: Minutemen football. The entire community comes out to support the team. Tailgating begins hours before kickoff, the stands fill up with nearly 10,000 loud fans, cheerleaders lead chants through megaphones, and the smell of popcorn and hot chocolate wafts through the air.

Lexington Community Stadium, with its artificial turf field, has a seating capacity of 15,000. “Running out of that tunnel on Friday nights, with the student section going crazy, it‘s surreal,” said senior quarterback Aidan Rogers. “We feel the energy from the community.”

Lexington Legends

Some of the school‘s greatest players share memories of what it meant to suit up for the Minutemen:

• Bryant Jones (Class of 2002) – Set the school record with 49 rushing touchdowns in a season. He helped lead Lexington to back-to-back state titles in 2000 and 2001.

“Playing for Lexington formed bonds that will last a lifetime. My greatest memories were made on that field.”

• Derek Miller (Class of 2009) – A dual-threat quarterback, he passed for over 4,000 yards and rushed for over 2,500 yards in his career.

"The community support in Lexington is unbelievable. I‘ll never forget the big crowds that showed up for our playoff runs."

• Alex Bruton (Class of 2011) – A hard-hitting middle linebacker, Bruton was a tackling machine. He went on to play at Ohio State University.

"I really appreciated the lifelong lessons that football taught me, like work ethic, teamwork and perseverance."

Pride of the Community

For the dedicated fans of Lexington, the football program represents far more than just a successful sports team. The tradition of Lexington football bonds generations and gives the community an identity.

“Every August, you see the town buzzing with excitement for the upcoming season,” notes Amy Rogers, editor of the Lexington Times. “Local businesses put up signs of encouragement. You can feel the energy and it brings everyone together.”

When Lexington won the state title in 2013, an estimated crowd of 13,000 turned out when the team returned home, despite it being almost midnight on a school night.

"That‘s the kind of support we‘ve always gotten," said head coach Gerhardt. “It makes us proud to represent Lexington.”

For nearly a century, Lexington High School football has sustained excellence on the field. But most importantly, it has given students, alumni and an entire community a source of identity and pride. Under those Friday night lights, the Minutemen have forged lifelong memories and a spirit that bonds generations.