Thursday night at the Chilton ISD football facilities, lightning did strike and thunder rolled as the Italy Gladiators JV rained on the Chilton Pirates’ parade.

After rain and lightning delayed the start of the game, Italy was not out of the storm just yet. Against the Chilton Pirates, Italy was outsized by better than thirty pounds a man. That did not deter the hard hitting Gladiator JV who played their hearts out.

Italy dominated Chilton in the first half holding the Pirate offense to 4-first downs and 40-yards total offense. The JV Gladiators racked up 150-yards plus in the first half, scoring two touchdowns and a two point conversion.

The first touchdown came early in the 2nd quarter, after a thirty minute lightning delay. Chase “Thunder” Hamilton hit pay dirt on a 3rd and five from the five as he punched through the middle of the Chilton defense. Corrin Frazier scored the two point conversion on an end around to make the score 8-0 Gladiators.

With less than two minutes left in the half, Kyle Jackson scored the second touchdown on a quarterback keeper around the end on a 6-yard scamper, the extra point failed making the score 14-0, Gladiators in control at the half.

Halftime

The second half went back and forth with the Gladiators getting inside the Chilton 20 on all but one drive. Italy’s drives seemed to stall due to the wet conditions on the field.

The Pirates finally scored with less than two minutes left in the game on a sweep play for 15-yards. The extra point kick was blocked. The Gladiators took over and ran out the clock by converting a couple of key first downs to end the game 14-6. The win gives Italy’s JV their second win on the season, making their record 2-0.

Offensively the Gladiator controlled the field with Ethan Saxon carrying the ball 10 times for 36-yards, Chase Hamilton 11 carries for 81-yards and a touchdown, and Kyle Jackson 10 carries for 100-yards and a touchdown.

The defensive standouts were Brandon Souder with 5-tackles, Corrin Frazier with 5-tackles and Isaac Medrano with 8-tackles. Brandon Jacinto broke up a pass that surely would have ended up a touchdown for the Pirates.

All in all the Gladiator JV dominated the game even though the score did not show it.

The Italy JV will play their first home game Thursday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. against the Palmer Bulldogs.

Good luck to the Gladiator JV football team!

Statistics and game summary provided by DeeDee Hamilton