Gladiators prepare for Maypearl; Italy Jr. High has first practice

Barry byers Posted Italy Gladiator Football
Image: Gladiators kick it into high gear this week against Maypearl — Jasenio Anderson kicks the simulated P.A.T. (point after touchdown) during Wednesday’s practice as the Gladiators get tuned up for the Mayperal Panthers.

Gladiators kick it into high gear this week against Maypearl — Jasenio Anderson kicks the simulated P.A.T. (point after touchdown) during Wednesday’s practice as the Gladiators get tuned up for the Mayperal Panthers. (Barry Byers)

The Italy JV Gladiators:
Today’s game has been pushed back 1-hour. Instead of a 6:00 p.m. start time, the game will kickoff at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, at Maypearl.

The Italy Varsity Gladiators:
Italy will host Maypearl at Willis Field on Friday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m.

The Italy Gladiators had one of their best practices Wednesday. There is definitely an energy surrounding Willis Field in anticipation of the upcoming football games against Maypearl.

The Varsity offense appears to be finding it’s rhythm with quarterback Jasenio Anderson at the helm. Success also has a way of developing team chemistry, and it’s obvious the 2009 Italy Gladiators are coming together as a team.

The Gladiators will have to overcome some early season adversity with a couple of key injuries and the recent passing of Henry Sollers, the father of Italy’s Defensive Coordinator Robert Sollers.

With heavy hearts, the Gladiators seem to be keeping their focus on the task at hand. No doubt Italy’s Head Coach, Craig Bales, will sleep a bit easier after Wednesdays practice.

This may be a non-district game but there is always plenty on the line when Italy and Maypearl compete against one another. Even a game of Yahtzee between these two would turn ugly.

Needless to say, this week’s football games will not only be entertaining, both Gladiator teams will get a chance to see just how much they’ve improved since last season.

GO GLADIATORS!

Italy Jr. High Football:
The Italy Jr. High football teams had their first workout on Wednesday as well. Equipped with helmets and an eagerness to get their season rolling, the 7th and 8th graders were ready to get down to business.

After some warming up, the lineman worked on their stances with Coach Matt Coker, the backs worked on handoffs with Coach Bales, the receivers ran routes with Coach Josh Ward and the quarterbacks threw passes over the watchful eye of Coach Kyle Holley.

The Jr. high didn’t run any actual play sets today, but if they had, it looked as though they would have been up for the challenge.