Italy receives rude welcome from three-time defending TAPPS Champs

Image: Heath Clemons fights for the endzone — Italy Gladiator Brandon Souder(62) tries to lead teammate Heath Clemons across the goal line and thru a pack of Waco Reicher Catholic Cougars during a Varsity scrimmage in Waco on Friday.

Heath Clemons fights for the endzone — Italy Gladiator Brandon Souder(62) tries to lead teammate Heath Clemons across the goal line and thru a pack of Waco Reicher Catholic Cougars during a Varsity scrimmage in Waco on Friday. (Barry Byers)

Image: There he goes again — After a 70-yard touchdown run on the first play in last weeks scrimmage against Valley Mills, Jalarnce Jamal Lewis goes 73-yards on Italy’s second carry in the JV scrimmage against Reicher. Lewis would later add another 70-yard touchdown run and finished with 3-touchdowns on the day.

There he goes again — After a 70-yard touchdown run on the first play in last weeks scrimmage against Valley Mills, Jalarnce Jamal Lewis goes 73-yards on Italy’s second carry in the JV scrimmage against Reicher. Lewis would later add another 70-yard touchdown run and finished with 3-touchdowns on the day. (Barry Byers)

Image: Room to run — JV quarterback Tony Wooldridge(6) escapes pressure in the backfield and picks up yardage for Italy.

Room to run — JV quarterback Tony Wooldridge(6) escapes pressure in the backfield and picks up yardage for Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lewis gets a crease — Jalarnce Jamal Lewis follows his blockers thru the hole and down the field for a 70-yard touchdown run.

Lewis gets a crease — Jalarnce Jamal Lewis follows his blockers thru the hole and down the field for a 70-yard touchdown run. (Barry Byers)

Image: In the open — Jalarnce Jamal Lewis cuts back in the open field to go the distance for the JV Gladiators.

In the open — Jalarnce Jamal Lewis cuts back in the open field to go the distance for the JV Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Harris defends — Italy’s Paul Harris(88) forces a Reicher receiver away from a catch in the back of endzone to help Italy’s JV complete a goal line stand.

Harris defends — Italy’s Paul Harris(88) forces a Reicher receiver away from a catch in the back of endzone to help Italy’s JV complete a goal line stand. (Barry Byers)

Image: Air show — High-flying Trevon Robertson grabs air and the pigskin for a catch to move the chains.

Air show — High-flying Trevon Robertson grabs air and the pigskin for a catch to move the chains. (Barry Byers)

Image: Chase drives thru — Italy’s Chase Hamilton(10) finds a running lane thru the Cougars’ defense during the JV game.

Chase drives thru — Italy’s Chase Hamilton(10) finds a running lane thru the Cougars’ defense during the JV game. (Barry Byers)

Image: I wanna be like Mike — Michael Clark(1) jukes his way for a nice gain against the Cougars. Clark would later add a touchdown run to his accomplishments.

I wanna be like Mike — Michael Clark(1) jukes his way for a nice gain against the Cougars. Clark would later add a touchdown run to his accomplishments. (Barry Byers)

Image: How it’s done — Italy JV cornerback Eric Carson creates a midair collision causing an incomplete pass by the Cougars.

How it’s done — Italy JV cornerback Eric Carson creates a midair collision causing an incomplete pass by the Cougars. (Barry Byers)

Image: Stopped in his tracks — Safety Trevon Robertson delivers a hard hit to the Cougars backup quarterback during the JV scrimmage.

Stopped in his tracks — Safety Trevon Robertson delivers a hard hit to the Cougars backup quarterback during the JV scrimmage. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kyle looks for a lane — Jasenio Anderson handsoff to Kyle Jackson during the Varsity scrimmage with the Reicher Cougars.

Kyle looks for a lane — Jasenio Anderson handsoff to Kyle Jackson during the Varsity scrimmage with the Reicher Cougars. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ethan snaps to Senio — Center Ethan Simon snaps to quarterback Jasenio Anderson near the Cougar goal line.

Ethan snaps to Senio — Center Ethan Simon snaps to quarterback Jasenio Anderson near the Cougar goal line. (Barry Byers)

Image: Erwin Green — Erwin Green makes the trip to Waco to support the Gladiators and proudly sports his Gladiator gear.

Erwin Green — Erwin Green makes the trip to Waco to support the Gladiators and proudly sports his Gladiator gear. (Barry Byers)

Image: Scenic Senio — Italy’s Jasenio Anderson creates a scenic landscape when he carries the ball behind his offensive line.
Scenic Senio — Italy’s Jasenio Anderson creates a scenic landscape when he carries the ball behind his offensive line. (Barry Byers)
Image: Two hits better than one — Brandon Souder(62) and Kyle Wilkins make a high-low tackle on an unfortunate Cougar ball carrier.

Two hits better than one — Brandon Souder(62) and Kyle Wilkins make a high-low tackle on an unfortunate Cougar ball carrier. (Barry Byers)

Image: We caught a Cougar — Ethan Simon(56) and Kyle Jackson(33) combine to catch a Cougar ball carrier in their trap.

We caught a Cougar — Ethan Simon(56) and Kyle Jackson(33) combine to catch a Cougar ball carrier in their trap. (Barry Byers)

Image: Into the game — Devonta Simmons takes a break from the scrimmage.

Into the game — Devonta Simmons takes a break from the scrimmage. (Barry Byers)

Image: Simon snags a Cougar — Linebacker Ethan Simon(56) hangs on to a Reicher runner.

Simon snags a Cougar — Linebacker Ethan Simon(56) hangs on to a Reicher runner. (Barry Byers)

Image: Pass interference — Italy’s Colton Campbell gets hit before the ball arrives and the Gladiators get the call.

Pass interference — Italy’s Colton Campbell gets hit before the ball arrives and the Gladiators get the call. (Barry Byers)

Image: He pushed off — Italy assistant coach Josh Ward looks on as De’Andre Sephus(24) and Devonta Simmons(10) try to disrupt this Waco Reicher receiver who makes the catch. The catch was nullified, however, thanks to an offensive pass interference call.

He pushed off — Italy assistant coach Josh Ward looks on as De’Andre Sephus(24) and Devonta Simmons(10) try to disrupt this Waco Reicher receiver who makes the catch. The catch was nullified, however, thanks to an offensive pass interference call. (Barry Byers)

Image: In the pocket — Jasenio Anderson(7) sets to pass behind his bodyguard Kyle Jackson(33).

In the pocket — Jasenio Anderson(7) sets to pass behind his bodyguard Kyle Jackson(33). (Barry Byers)

Image: Illegal stiff-arm — Waco Reicher’s quarterback illegally grabs and twists the facemask of Italy’s Justin Buchanan but the referees missed the call. It’s all part of the game.

Illegal stiff-arm — Waco Reicher’s quarterback illegally grabs and twists the facemask of Italy’s Justin Buchanan but the referees missed the call. It’s all part of the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Credit the Cougars — Reicher completes a pass over two outstretched Gladiators to score their second touchdown during the live quarter simulation.

Credit the Cougars — Reicher completes a pass over two outstretched Gladiators to score their second touchdown during the live quarter simulation. (Barry Byers)

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