The Italy Gladiators get the season started off with an emotional win over their arch rival, the Maypearl Panthers, Friday night in Italy. Gladiator sophomore Eric Carson who was making his first official start on varsity received the opening kickoff and advanced the ball to Italy’s 45-yard line. A long run by Chase Hamilton moved the ball inside the Panthers’ 20-yard line. Moments later, with just 2:48 seconds into the game, senior center Brandon Souder seriously injured his left leg and had to be carted off the field and taken by ambulance to the hospital. 

Souder was able to encourage his teammates before leaving the stadium while Gladiator head coach, Craig Bales, moved sophomore left guard Kevin Roldan to the center position and sent in senior lineman Isaac Medrano to replace Roldan at guard. Roldan, who was also playing his first game as a varsity starter, managed to keep Italy’s offense heading in the right direction as senior quarterback Jase Holden hit Carson for a touchdown pass along the endzone’s right boundary line. Italy scores the 2-point conversion and takes an early 8-0 lead.

After a short kickoff by Roldan, Maypearl began from their own forty-eight. Using a no huddle approach, two runs moved Maypearl’s offense to the thirty-two of Italy with 7:39 still to play in the opening quarter. Maypearl completed a pass but Carson made the tackle to force a third down and 6-yards to go. Panther quarterback Frank Morphis ran for the first down.

On the next play, however, right defensive tackle Larry Mayberry, Jr. makes a stop in the Panther backfield. The Panthers were called for holding on the play and backed up 10-yards. With first and sixteen from Italy’s 35-yard line, the Panthers rush three times consecutively to get to the twenty-three. On fourth and eight, Morphis passes into the endzone but the catch by Cody Aydelott was ruled out-of-bounds with Hamilton knocking the Panther receiver toward the sideline fence for good measure. Italy retakes control of the ball but is unable to get out of the hole when Holden gets sacked by Colton Garrett to force a fourth and twenty punt.

The short punt comes to a rest inside Italy’s 40-yard line. Maypearl has the ball with 2:15 to play in the first when Gladiator linebacker Ryheem Walker makes the tackle for a three yard loss. Two plays later, Carson makes a sure tackle in open field to force Maypearl into a fourth and seven situation, 0:30 left. Garrett runs for a Maypearl first down to Italy’s 23-yard line and then picks up 2-yards on a sweep left play to bring up second and eight at the twenty-one to end the quarter.

Mayberry again makes the tackle in Maypearl’s backfield, slamming the Panther runner down for a 1-yard loss. Italy’s Walker keeps Maypearl from reaching a first on a fourth down run and the Gladiators are back in business, starting from their twenty. Twelve men on the field pushes Holden and his crew back 5-yards. A run for no gain, an incomplete pass intended for Devonta Simmons and another sack on Holden accomplished by Maypearl’s D.J. Crownover forces Italy to punt on fourth and long from just outside their own endzone. Blocked, the ball manages to reach the 18-yard line of Italy with 9:09 remaining in the first half.

Penalties and a tackle by Walker cause Maypearl to attempt a field goal. The Panthers miss the chip shot from 14-yards out and Italy retains their 8-0 advantage with 7:30 on the clock. The Gladiators start their ensuing possession from their own 20-yard line. Italy’s offense struggles to move forward and Kyle Jackson punts for the third time in the half. Jackson’s punt backs Maypearl to midfield. Italy’s Ethan Saxon foils a Panther screen play for a 5-yard loss and the dislodges the ball from a Panther runner on the next play with Maypearl recovering. Walker’s tackle on the next play brings up fourth and twelve and the Panthers decide to punt. The snap sails over the kicker’s head and Mayberry tackles the Panther punter back at Maypearl’s 25-yard line.

After an incomplete pass to Simmons in the endzone, Walker follows his blockers to the eight yard-line for a first down with 3:50 left before halftime. A false start penalty threatens to halt Italy’s scoring opportunity, but back-to-back carries by Walker net six more points for the Gladiators as they increase their lead, 14-0. Maypearl’s Ethan Eastwood keeps Walker from crossing the goal line on the conversion try and the score remains 14-0.

A short kick by Roldan gives Maypearl a fresh start from their own 45-yard line. Mayberry blasts thru the Panther offensive line once more and makes the tackle to bring up second down and fifteen with 1:00 left. Italy’s defense holds and the Gladiators trot off the field enjoying a 14-0 edge at the break.

Halftime.

The Panthers fumble the second half kickoff from Roldan and Paul Harris corrals the ball off the bounce and is tackled at the 34-yard line of Maypearl. After an incomplete pass, Hamilton advances the ball to the enemies 9-yard line. Looking to pass, Holden scrambles and then wisely throws the ball out-of-bounds to avoid another sack. Holden then hands off to Jackson who powers and spins his way to Maypearl’s 1-yard line. Jackson then runs behind his left tackle Omar Estrada and left guard Adrian Reed to score Italy’s third touchdown of the game, 20-0 Gladiators. Italy passes for the conversion with Hamilton making the catch, Italy leads 22-0 with 8:37 to play in the third quarter.

Maypearl grabs a bit of momentum after Tristan Spradling returns Roldan’s kickoff to the Panther 40-yard line. Italy forces the Panthers to punt but a penalty against the Gladiators keeps Maypearl’s drive alive. Moments later, Jackson hits Morphis hard in the Panther backfield to bring up fourth and twelve on Italy’s 39-yard line with 4:27 on the clock. Maypearl head coach Michael Farda decides to go for it and Italy’s Hamilton just misses a pickoff in front of the Panther faithful but the resulting deflection gives the ball back to the Gladiator’s offense.

With 4:08 left in the quarter and a solid lead, Gladiator head coach Craig Bales opts to drain some clock and gain yards with his triple threat backfield and Hamilton, Walker and Jackson advance the ball to Maypearl’s 34-yard line to end the third.

Italy continues to press forward into the fourth quarter and reaches Maypearl’s 26-yard line. Gunning for the endzone, Holden drops a perfect pass into the waiting hands of Simmons as Italy records their fourth touchdown and takes a 28-0 lead. Walker runs in for the conversion and Italy begins to relax with a thirty to zip cushion.

Maypearl, desperate to make something positive happen, drops Morphis back to pass on their first offensive play. Saxon and company sack Morphis and the Panther quarterback has to exit the game temporarily. With Morphis out, the Panther drive goes nowhere and the visiting team punts with 7:30 left in the contest. Carson fields the punt and zig-zags his way thru the converging Panthers. Carson is eventually slung out-of-bounds by Crownover but the Panther tackler is called for an illegal hit and the ball is placed at Italy’s 45-yard line.

Italy manages to take a few more minutes off the clock but the drive eventually stalls at Maypearl’s 42-yard line. Maypearl completes a pass on first down but a tackle by Italy’s Tony Wooldridge jars the ball loose with the Panthers recovering. Two plays later, Italy’s Braulio Luna catches Morphis in the backfield and makes the tackle to setup fourth and ten for Maypearl with 3:00 to go. Maypearl punts the ball away and Italy goes on to wrap up their 30-0 victory with Italy’s defensive coordinator Jeff Richters feeling proud of his defense for posting a shutout to start the season.

After the game, Coach Bales urged the team to keep making improvements and to get their sights set on the Mart Panthers. Mostly, the post game huddle focused on fallen Gladiator, Souder, as the team said a prayer for their teammate and replaced their usual battle cry of, “Italy Family,” with, “1, 2, 3, Brandon!” We all wish Brandon a speedy recovery.

Go Gladiators!

Update on Brandon Souder: After a surgery on Saturday, Brandon returned home last night to a welcoming crowd of about 50 Italy High School students lining the street and driveway in front of his home. Teammates, classmates and schoolmates all cheered as Brandon’s car made its way into the driveway. Emotionally overcome with this show of support, Brandon assured his friends “this will not get me down.”