JH & JV Gladiators battle Lions inside the Willis Field arena

Image: Gladiators hang on to a Lion but Blooming Grove holds on for win — Italy’s JaRay Anderson(9), Colton Petrey(6) and Kyle Fortenberry(50) rough up a Blooming Grove Lion running back during solid performance by both Junior High squads. At the final buzzer, the Lions let out a roar after winning 14-0 at Willis Field in Italy.

Gladiators hang on to a Lion but Blooming Grove holds on for win — Italy’s JaRay Anderson(9), Colton Petrey(6) and Kyle Fortenberry(50) rough up a Blooming Grove Lion running back during solid performance by both Junior High squads. At the final buzzer, the Lions let out a roar after winning 14-0 at Willis Field in Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: In the clear — Italy’s John Escamilla(7) rushes for a first down thru the middle of the Lions’ defense.

In the clear — Italy’s John Escamilla(7) rushes for a first down thru the middle of the Lions’ defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Hip, hip, Jaray! — Italy’s Jaray Anderson(9) pulls down a Blooming Grove runner in the Lions’ backfield.

Hip, hip, Jaray! — Italy’s Jaray Anderson(9) pulls down a Blooming Grove runner in the Lions’ backfield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Defense! — Caden Petrey(35) and John Byers(56) force an awkward pass attempt by the Lions that fell incomplete.

Defense! — Caden Petrey(35) and John Byers(56) force an awkward pass attempt by the Lions that fell incomplete. (Barry Byers)

Image: The tough yards — Levi McBride(28) leads the way for JH Gladiator quarterback Ryan Connor.

The tough yards — Levi McBride(28) leads the way for JH Gladiator quarterback Ryan Connor. (Barry Byers)

Image: Grass flying tackle — Caden Petrey and Ryan Connor(17) force the Lions’ Quarterback out of bounds.

Grass flying tackle — Caden Petrey and Ryan Connor(17) force the Lions’ Quarterback out of bounds. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lean on us — The Gladiators always have their cheerleaders to lean on for support. Haylee Turner, Kelsey Nelson and Brit Chambers are proud of their team.

Lean on us — The Gladiators always have their cheerleaders to lean on for support. Haylee Turner, Kelsey Nelson and Brit Chambers are proud of their team. (Barry Byers)

Image: Busting thru — John Escamilla(7) powers his way into the Blooming Grove secondary.

Busting thru — John Escamilla(7) powers his way into the Blooming Grove secondary. (Barry Byers)

Image: Can’t escape JaRay — A thorn in the side of the Lions all game, Italy’s Jaray Anderson(9) sacks the Blooming Grove quarterback.

Can’t escape JaRay — A thorn in the side of the Lions all game, Italy’s Jaray Anderson(9) sacks the Blooming Grove quarterback. (Barry Byers)

Image: Peck picks his way — Lance Peck picks his way thru a pack of Lions. Lance Peck picks his way thru a pack of Lions. Lance Peck picks his way thru a pack of Lions. “That’s hard to say three times!”

Peck picks his way — Lance Peck picks his way thru a pack of Lions. Lance Peck picks his way thru a pack of Lions. Lance Peck picks his way thru a pack of Lions. “That’s hard to say three times!” (Barry Byers)

Image: Ty Windham — Ty loves gameday.

Ty Windham — Ty loves gameday. (Barry Byers)

Image: JV takes field — The Italy JV Gladiators enter the Willis Field arena to battle the Blooming Grove Lions.

JV takes field — The Italy JV Gladiators enter the Willis Field arena to battle the Blooming Grove Lions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Seabolt tightens grip — Noseguard Hank Seabolt(76) was well suited for the rugby scrum match down the middle of the field. Seabolt had multiple tackles including this one that resulted in a loss of yards for the Lions.

Seabolt tightens grip — Noseguard Hank Seabolt(76) was well suited for the rugby scrum match down the middle of the field. Seabolt had multiple tackles including this one that resulted in a loss of yards for the Lions. (Barry Byers)

Image: In the grasp — Trevon Robertson(9) gets help from Eric Carson(28) in bringing down a Blooming Grove runner.

In the grasp — Trevon Robertson(9) gets help from Eric Carson(28) in bringing down a Blooming Grove runner. (Barry Byers)

Image: Working together — Italy’s Eric Carson(28) and teammate Paul Harris(7) team up for the takedown.

Working together — Italy’s Eric Carson(28) and teammate Paul Harris(7) team up for the takedown. (Barry Byers)

Image: Before the snap — Italy’s Eric Carson(28) looks over the Lions’ defense before receiving the snap from Bailey Walton.

Before the snap — Italy’s Eric Carson(28) looks over the Lions’ defense before receiving the snap from Bailey Walton. (Barry Byers)

Image: Richters talks football — Coach Richters talks with the JV Gladiators’ defensive unit during a timeout.

Richters talks football — Coach Richters talks with the JV Gladiators’ defensive unit during a timeout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lions make a play — Italy’s Trevon Robertson(9) tries to haul in a pass for the 2-point conversion.

Lions make a play — Italy’s Trevon Robertson(9) tries to haul in a pass for the 2-point conversion. (Barry Byers)

Image: Two tough — Italy’s Kevin Roldan(60) and Trevon Robertson(9) combine for a stop.

Two tough — Italy’s Kevin Roldan(60) and Trevon Robertson(9) combine for a stop. (Barry Byers)

Image: It’s a trick — Whatever you do, do not look at Haylee Turner standing behind Sarah Coleman.

It’s a trick — Whatever you do, do not look at Haylee Turner standing behind Sarah Coleman. (Barry Byers)

Image: ‘Football Finder’ — Sometimes it’s hard to know who’s making the tackle but Jake Escamilla makes this one.

‘Football Finder’ — Sometimes it’s hard to know who’s making the tackle but Jake Escamilla makes this one. (Barry Byers)

Image: We see you, Hank — Italy’s Hank Seabolt is spotted on the ‘Football Finder’ making the tackle against the Lions.

We see you, Hank — Italy’s Hank Seabolt is spotted on the ‘Football Finder’ making the tackle against the Lions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bailey and Hannah — Italy JH Cheerleaders Bailey DeBorde and Hannah Washington show who is number one.

Bailey and Hannah — Italy JH Cheerleaders Bailey DeBorde and Hannah Washington show who is number one. (Barry Byers)

Image: I Believe — Italy JH Cheerleader Madison Washington.

I Believe — Italy JH Cheerleader Madison Washington. (Barry Byers)

Return to story