7th & 8th try to win in the mud

Image: Bailey Walton(48) breaks away from a pack of Bulldogs — With 0:59 left in the game, Bailey Walton(48) stripped the ball from a Wortham Bulldog running back and rumbled 45-yards for Italy’s only score of the night.

Bailey Walton(48) breaks away from a pack of Bulldogs — With 0:59 left in the game, Bailey Walton(48) stripped the ball from a Wortham Bulldog running back and rumbled 45-yards for Italy’s only score of the night. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Italy shrugs off a Bulldog as he tries to gain ground.

Italy shrugs off a Bulldog as he tries to gain ground. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Everybody cheers — The Italy Junior High cheerleaders get some help from the audience.

Everybody cheers — The Italy Junior High cheerleaders get some help from the audience. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Kevin is covered — Offensive center Kevin Roldan heads for the sideline caked with mud.

Kevin is covered — Offensive center Kevin Roldan heads for the sideline caked with mud. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Ball is loose — Wortham loses the handle on the ball and Italy’s Cody Medrano(28) recovers it in the mud.

Ball is loose — Wortham loses the handle on the ball and Italy’s Cody Medrano(28) recovers it in the mud. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Cody up the middle — Medrano tries to gain yards between the Bulldog’s defensive ends.

Cody up the middle — Medrano tries to gain yards between the Bulldog’s defensive ends. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Coaches working hard — Coach Matt Coker, Coach Kyle Holley and Coach Josh Ward coach the Junior High team as Kyle Fortenberry gets set to go in.

Coaches working hard — Coach Matt Coker, Coach Kyle Holley and Coach Josh Ward coach the Junior High team as Kyle Fortenberry gets set to go in. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Got ’em! — Sampson and John(54) bring down a Bulldog.

Got ’em! — Sampson and John(54) bring down a Bulldog. (Barry Byers)

Image: Slick football — Ball control was a problem for the young Gladiator offense.

Slick football — Ball control was a problem for the young Gladiator offense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Rugby? — At times, the football game resembled a rugby match.

Rugby? — At times, the football game resembled a rugby match. (Barry Byers)

Image: Needing a bright spot — Coach Coleman tries to rally the team after trailing the entire game.

Needing a bright spot — Coach Coleman tries to rally the team after trailing the entire game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy gets tripped up on his way to the endzone.

Italy gets tripped up on his way to the endzone. (Barry Byers)

Image: Who wants it? — Italy’s Junior High defense digs in against the Wortham Bulldogs.

Who wants it? — Italy’s Junior High defense digs in against the Wortham Bulldogs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cody and Kevin — Cody Medrano(28) and Kevin Roldan(62) get in the huddle during an Italy timeout.

Cody and Kevin — Cody Medrano(28) and Kevin Roldan(62) get in the huddle during an Italy timeout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Staying low — Italy’s offensive line tries to stay low against the Bulldogs.

Staying low — Italy’s offensive line tries to stay low against the Bulldogs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kyle and Hank — Kyle Fortenberry(58) and Hank Seabolt(60) come off the field.

Kyle and Hank — Kyle Fortenberry(58) and Hank Seabolt(60) come off the field. (Barry Byers)

Image: Good sports — The game was a little muddy and the score was lopsided but at least the team had some fun in the mud.

Good sports — The game was a little muddy and the score was lopsided but at least the team had some fun in the mud. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cody covers ball — Cody Medrano takes the handoff from J.T. Escamilla against Wortham.

Cody covers ball — Cody Medrano takes the handoff from J.T. Escamilla against Wortham. (Barry Byers)

Image: Faces in the crowd — Lauren and Jaclynn ham it up after the game.

Faces in the crowd — Lauren and Jaclynn ham it up after the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Frazier plays fan — Corrin Frazier, a member of the Italy Gladiator’s JV team, was on hand to watch the Italy Junior High battle the Wortham Bulldogs.

Frazier plays fan — Corrin Frazier, a member of the Italy Gladiator’s JV team, was on hand to watch the Italy Junior High battle the Wortham Bulldogs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cody runs — Medrano follows his blocking around the end.

Cody runs — Medrano follows his blocking around the end. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gulp! Gulp! — Zain Byers tries to get hydrated.

Gulp! Gulp! — Zain Byers tries to get hydrated. (Barry Byers)

Image: Nice block! — Cody Boyd(32) leads the way for Cody Medrano(28) who tries to score a 2-pont conversion.

Nice block! — Cody Boyd(32) leads the way for Cody Medrano(28) who tries to score a 2-pont conversion. (Barry Byers)

Image: Opportunistic play — Linebacker Bailey Walton(48) spots the loosely held football, rips it away fom Wortham and then gets tackled as he crosses the goal line 45-yards later.

Opportunistic play — Linebacker Bailey Walton(48) spots the loosely held football, rips it away fom Wortham and then gets tackled as he crosses the goal line 45-yards later. (Barry Byers)

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