Hailey Leonard is an ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover North High School for AZPreps365.com 

At 5 feet 5 inches tall, Xavier “X” Gracia may be one of the smallest players on any high school football field, but his size is exactly what makes him stand out.

“I knew that I could move,” Gracia said. “I knew what I’m going to do and what I have to do for the team.”

The North High School Mustangs played the Central High School Bobcats in their first region game of the 2025 season on Thursday, Oct. 2. Instead of season-long starter Eli Manzanares who was sidelined by injury, Graciastepped in as Mustangs quarterback and used his speed to set the tone for region play.

The Mustangs relied on their run game and Gracia usually excels. On his first snap, he rushed for 11 yards and a first down. Later that drive, he scrambled 3 yards into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game.

“That touchdown meant that I could do this,” Gracia said. “I started gaining my confidence slowly. I knew if I really wanted to, I could do it.”

Gracia’s run game powered North to a 21-0 shutout over Central. Running back Mareon Davis added two touchdowns, and the defense capped the night with a pick-six. 

The shutout marked the Mustangs' first of the season. After the game, Mustangs' head coach AJ Liebau gave props to the newest member of their defensive coaching staff, Todd Palmer.

“Our new guys stepped up,” said Liebau. “Everyone’s playing for each other.”

Liebau also credited his new quarterback for the Mustangs’ win.

“X is just that guy,” Liebau said. “He’s gonna come out here and just be aggressive and run the ball, and that’s all we asked him to do.”

And run he did.

Though a team effort, Gracia played more than half the total snaps, doubling as quarterback and as a defender.

After they fell to Central 21-20 last year on their senior night, Manzanares said that this game in particular was important to his team.

“It (winning this game) means the whole world to us,” Manzanares said, who spent the game supporting his team, running up and down the sideline and making sure the other players off the field kept their energy up.

“I’m just trying to make sure they have confidence in themselves,” Manzanares said. “I’m trying to give us energy because our energy has been down a couple of games.”

After the game, Gracia was all smile but already focused on what's next.

“Now win region, stay healthy and keep it going," Gracia said. "Keep the wins going."