Axtell remains undefeated in district after 35-28 win over Italy

Image: Italy’s Bobby Wilson(64) recovers a fumble for the Gladiators — Brandon Souder(63), Jasenio Anderson(11) and De’Andre Rettig(60) signal Gladiators’ ball after Bobby Wilson(64) recovers an Axtell Longhorn fumble. Despite Italy’s best efforts, Axtell knocks the Gladiators out of the playoff race with a 35-28 win at Ellison Field in Axtell.

Italy’s Bobby Wilson(64) recovers a fumble for the Gladiators — Brandon Souder(63), Jasenio Anderson(11) and De’Andre Rettig(60) signal Gladiators’ ball after Bobby Wilson(64) recovers an Axtell Longhorn fumble. Despite Italy’s best efforts, Axtell knocks the Gladiators out of the playoff race with a 35-28 win at Ellison Field in Axtell. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cool shadow — Italy High School Cheerleaders Taylor Turner, Destani Anderson and Haylee Love admire their shadows casting across Ellison Field in Axtell.

Cool shadow — Italy High School Cheerleaders Taylor Turner, Destani Anderson and Haylee Love admire their shadows casting across Ellison Field in Axtell. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Captains — Italy’s Larry Mayberry(77), Ethan Simon(50) and Jasenio Anderson(11) are ready to represent the Gladiators at midfield for the coin toss.

The Captains — Italy’s Larry Mayberry(77), Ethan Simon(50) and Jasenio Anderson(11) are ready to represent the Gladiators at midfield for the coin toss. (Barry Byers)

Image: Go, Anna, go! — IHS Cheerleader Anna Viers gets her groove on before the game.

Go, Anna, go! — IHS Cheerleader Anna Viers gets her groove on before the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ready to run — Gladiators De’Andre Sephus(20), Heath Clemons(2) and Corrin Frazier(25) await the game’s opening kickoff.

Ready to run — Gladiators De’Andre Sephus(20), Heath Clemons(2) and Corrin Frazier(25) await the game’s opening kickoff. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coming at you! — Gladiator quarterback Jasenio Anderson(11) gets help from his blockers, Ethan Simon(50) and Brandon Souder(63), and then heads for the first down marker.

Coming at you! — Gladiator quarterback Jasenio Anderson(11) gets help from his blockers, Ethan Simon(50) and Brandon Souder(63), and then heads for the first down marker. (Barry Byers)

Image: No holding back — The Longhorn defense tries to slow down Jasenio Anderson(11) and the Gladiator offense.

No holding back — The Longhorn defense tries to slow down Jasenio Anderson(11) and the Gladiator offense. (Barry Byers)

Image: All night long — Axtell’s quarterback Justin Stranacher(1) hands off to fullback Brandon Bordovsky(20)….or does he? The Longhorns ran the triple option offense and kept the Gladiators guessing on defense.

All night long — Axtell’s quarterback Justin Stranacher(1) hands off to fullback Brandon Bordovsky(20)….or does he? The Longhorns ran the triple option offense and kept the Gladiators guessing on defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Extra point try — Bobby Wilson(64) and Jamal Jalarnce Lewis(30) get set to try and block a field goal attempt by Mykel King(7).

Extra point try — Bobby Wilson(64) and Jamal Jalarnce Lewis(30) get set to try and block a field goal attempt by Mykel King(7). (Barry Byers)

Image: Tough “D” — Italy’s Corrin Frazier(25) tries to contain Axtell’s quarterback Justin Stranacher(1) while being blocked by Axtell’s Mykel King(7).

Tough “D” — Italy’s Corrin Frazier(25) tries to contain Axtell’s quarterback Justin Stranacher(1) while being blocked by Axtell’s Mykel King(7). (Barry Byers)

Image: Ground attack — Ethan Simon(50), Larry Mayberry(77), De’Andre Rettig(6) and Kyle Wilkins(7) try to locate the Axtell runner.

Ground attack — Ethan Simon(50), Larry Mayberry(77), De’Andre Rettig(6) and Kyle Wilkins(7) try to locate the Axtell runner. (Barry Byers)

Image: Loud and proud — IHS Cheerleaders Mary Tate, Destani Anderson, Casandra Jeffords and Morgan Cockerham try to help the Gladiators rise over the Longhorns.

Loud and proud — IHS Cheerleaders Mary Tate, Destani Anderson, Casandra Jeffords and Morgan Cockerham try to help the Gladiators rise over the Longhorns. (Barry Byers)

Image: The ‘Beast’ is loose — Jasenio Anderson(11) finds running space down Italy’s sideline.

The ‘Beast’ is loose — Jasenio Anderson(11) finds running space down Italy’s sideline. (Barry Byers)

Image: Penned in — The Longhorns defense corrals Jasenio Anderson(11) near the line-of-scrimmage.

Penned in — The Longhorns defense corrals Jasenio Anderson(11) near the line-of-scrimmage. (Barry Byers)

Image: Scary tunes — Alex Minton, who is ready for Halloween, plays a little number before the Gladiator Regiment Band and Flag Corp’s halftime performance.

Scary tunes — Alex Minton, who is ready for Halloween, plays a little number before the Gladiator Regiment Band and Flag Corp’s halftime performance.

Image: Here they come! — Anna Viers and the IHS Cheerleaders welcome Jasenio Anderson(11), Heath Clemons(2), Omar Estrada(56), Jase Holden(6), Ethan Simon(50) and the rest of the Gladiators out to start the second half.

Here they come! — Anna Viers and the IHS Cheerleaders welcome Jasenio Anderson(11), Heath Clemons(2), Omar Estrada(56), Jase Holden(6), Ethan Simon(50) and the rest of the Gladiators out to start the second half. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sephus returns — De’Andre Sephus(20) catches the kickoff and begins to run as Heath Clemons(2) and Corring Frazier(25) get in blocking position.

Sephus returns — De’Andre Sephus(20) catches the kickoff and begins to run as Heath Clemons(2) and Corring Frazier(25) get in blocking position. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jasenio to Kyle — Kyle Jackson(28) prepares to take the handoff from Jasenio Anderson(11) and follow offensive lineman Larry Mayberry(77) thru the hole.

Jasenio to Kyle — Kyle Jackson(28) prepares to take the handoff from Jasenio Anderson(11) and follow offensive lineman Larry Mayberry(77) thru the hole. (Barry Byers)

Image: Looking downfield — Jasenio Anderson(11) rolls right and searches for a receiver downfield while Axtell’s Ryan Linkous(11) and Jeremy Riser(63) put on pressure.

Looking downfield — Jasenio Anderson(11) rolls right and searches for a receiver downfield while Axtell’s Ryan Linkous(11) and Jeremy Riser(63) put on pressure. (Barry Byers)

Image: The launch — Jasenio Anderson(11) is about to launch the deep ball as Brandon Souder(63) and Bobby Wilson(64) keep the Longhorns out of the passing pocket.

The launch — Jasenio Anderson(11) is about to launch the deep ball as Brandon Souder(63) and Bobby Wilson(64) keep the Longhorns out of the passing pocket. (Barry Byers)

Image: Troy in coverage — The newest Gladiator, Troy Scott(24), matches up with Longhorn receiver Randal Outlaw(3).

Troy in coverage — The newest Gladiator, Troy Scott(24), matches up with Longhorn receiver Randal Outlaw(3). (Barry Byers)

Image: Words of wisdom — Coach Jeff Richters talks with the Gladiators’ defense late in the game.

Words of wisdom — Coach Jeff Richters talks with the Gladiators’ defense late in the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Big play — Italy’s Corrin Frazier(25) stops Brandon Bordovsky(20) on fourth and short to give the Gladiators’ offense a chance to the tie in the game’s closing moments.

Big play — Italy’s Corrin Frazier(25) stops Brandon Bordovsky(20) on fourth and short to give the Gladiators’ offense a chance to the tie in the game’s closing moments. (Barry Byers)

Image: One last prayer — Axtell’s quarterback Justin Stranacher(1) has his prayers answered as the Longhorns defeat the Gladiators 35-28 and remain undefeated in district.

One last prayer — Axtell’s quarterback Justin Stranacher(1) has his prayers answered as the Longhorns defeat the Gladiators 35-28 and remain undefeated in district. (Barry Byers)

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