Italy’s J.V. Gladiators shutout Maypearl 46-0

Image: Captains at midfield — Italy’s designated captains for the JV’s season opener were Adrian Reed(64) and Chase Hamilton(10).

Captains at midfield — Italy’s designated captains for the JV’s season opener were Adrian Reed(64) and Chase Hamilton(10). (Barry Byers)

Image: It’s finally here! — Zackery Boykin(55), Jake Escamilla(66) and Bailey Walton(52) get ready for the opening kickoff.

It’s finally here! — Zackery Boykin(55), Jake Escamilla(66) and Bailey Walton(52) get ready for the opening kickoff. (Barry Byers)

Image: Looking for yards — Trevon Robertson(9) returns a kickoff against Maypearl.

Looking for yards — Trevon Robertson(9) returns a kickoff against Maypearl. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Buckled up — Cody Medrano(75) gets in position to make a play against the Panthers.

Buckled up — Cody Medrano(75) gets in position to make a play against the Panthers. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Clash — Adrian Reed(64) Cody Medrano(75) and Jake Escamilla(66) and in there somewhere is center Bailey Walton(52) did a masterful job on Thursday controlling the line of scrimmage.

The Clash — Adrian Reed(64) Cody Medrano(75) and Jake Escamilla(66) and in there somewhere is center Bailey Walton(52) did a masterful job on Thursday controlling the line of scrimmage. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Italy’s on the move — Chase Hamilton(10) gets in one last block before Justin Wood(48) gets taken down after a nice gain.

Italy’s on the move — Chase Hamilton(10) gets in one last block before Justin Wood(48) gets taken down after a nice gain. (Barry Byers)

Image: Here comes Mike — Mike Clark #25 heads toward the outside to follow the blocks of Trevon Robertson(9) and Cody Medrano(75).

Here comes Mike — Mike Clark #25 heads toward the outside to follow the blocks of Trevon Robertson(9) and Cody Medrano(75). (Anne Sutherland)

Image: On the line — Italy’s JV offensive linemen are RT-Adrian Reed(64), RG-Cody Medrano(75), C-Bailey Walton(52), LG-Jake Escamilla(66) and LT-Zackery Boykin(55).

On the line — Italy’s JV offensive linemen are RT-Adrian Reed(64), RG-Cody Medrano(75), C-Bailey Walton(52), LG-Jake Escamilla(66) and LT-Zackery Boykin(55). (Barry Byers)

Image: Leaves ’em behind — #25 Mike Clark gave Italy an 18-0 lead as the Gladiators begin to pull away from the Panthers.

Leaves ’em behind — #25 Mike Clark gave Italy an 18-0 lead as the Gladiators begin to pull away from the Panthers. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: A friendly face — Miss Birdie Bell enjoys the Italy JV game from the stands. Italy took on Maypearl Thursday evening and made a statement with a 46-0 pounding over the Panthers.

A friendly face — Miss Birdie Bell enjoys the Italy JV game from the stands. Italy took on Maypearl Thursday evening and made a statement with a 46-0 pounding over the Panthers. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Kick it off — Kevin Roldan’s opening kickoff went from Italy and landed all the way over on the other side of Maypearl at about their 5-yard line where it was downed. Roldan’s leg later earned a touchback for Italy’s special teams.

Kick it off — Kevin Roldan’s opening kickoff went from Italy and landed all the way over on the other side of Maypearl at about their 5-yard line where it was downed. Roldan’s leg later earned a touchback for Italy’s special teams. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: The first of many — Newcomer Mike Clark scores his first touchdown as a Gladiator.

The first of many — Newcomer Mike Clark scores his first touchdown as a Gladiator. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Kix is blue — You too can achieve this blue appearance if you purchase refreshments from the concession stand. Coach Bales son, Kix, experienced the first ring pop of his life at the game. I think he liked it.

Kix is blue — You too can achieve this blue appearance if you purchase refreshments from the concession stand. Coach Bales son, Kix, experienced the first ring pop of his life at the game. I think he liked it. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Push ‘em back! — Chase Hamilton heads for the endzone….again. Italy’s offensive line controlled the panthers throughout the game allowing the backfield to rack up the yards and the points

Push ‘em back! — Chase Hamilton heads for the endzone….again. Italy’s offensive line controlled the panthers throughout the game allowing the backfield to rack up the yards and the points (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Crossing the line — Tony Wooldridge(6) crosses the goal line. Tell the score guy to put another 6 points on the board.

Crossing the line — Tony Wooldridge(6) crosses the goal line. Tell the score guy to put another 6 points on the board. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Stretching the muscles — Melissa, volunteer trainer from Baylor Medical in Dallas, helps Trevon Robertson with his cramps.

Stretching the muscles — Melissa, volunteer trainer from Baylor Medical in Dallas, helps Trevon Robertson with his cramps. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Hamilton’s big hit — Chase Hamilton(10) separates a Panther return man from the ball. Italy’s Eric Carson(28) recovered the resulting fumble that setup another JV Gladiator touchdown.

Hamilton’s big hit — Chase Hamilton(10) separates a Panther return man from the ball. Italy’s Eric Carson(28) recovered the resulting fumble that setup another JV Gladiator touchdown. (Barry Byers)

Image: Good job — New Defensive Coordinator Coach Jeff Richters, gives Dominic Wilson(88) a tap on the helmet for working hard.

Good job — New Defensive Coordinator Coach Jeff Richters, gives Dominic Wilson(88) a tap on the helmet for working hard. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Interception! — Paul Harris picks off a Maypearl pass at midfield and dashes to the Panther’s 20-yard line.

Interception! — Paul Harris picks off a Maypearl pass at midfield and dashes to the Panther’s 20-yard line. (Barry Byers)

Image: Blocked punt — Cody Medrano(75) and Mike Clark(25) disrupt the Panther punter’s rhythm and Eric Carson(28) wraps him up before he can kick the ball away. Italy recovered the ball on Maypearl’s 4-yard line.

Blocked punt — Cody Medrano(75) and Mike Clark(25) disrupt the Panther punter’s rhythm and Eric Carson(28) wraps him up before he can kick the ball away. Italy recovered the ball on Maypearl’s 4-yard line. (Barry Byers)

Image: Mike has big day — So this is what being a Gladiator feels like? Mike Clark leaves it all on the field during his debut at Willis Field in Italy.

Mike has big day — So this is what being a Gladiator feels like? Mike Clark leaves it all on the field during his debut at Willis Field in Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: “Big Time” play! — Hank “Big Time” Seabolt(76) makes a big play by recovering a fumble for the JV Gladiators and flips it over to Mr. Referee.

“Big Time” play! — Hank “Big Time” Seabolt(76) makes a big play by recovering a fumble for the JV Gladiators and flips it over to Mr. Referee. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s JV team — Coach Stephen Coleman takes a minute to wrap up the victory with his team.

Italy’s JV team — Coach Stephen Coleman takes a minute to wrap up the victory with his team. (Anne Sutherland)

Image: Look at that score! — You can see for yourself, there was a skunk at the football field in Italy on Thursday.

Look at that score! — You can see for yourself, there was a skunk at the football field in Italy on Thursday. (Anne Sutherland)

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