Gladiators give Mart all they can handle but Panthers survive with a 21-8 win

Image: Kyle Jackson(28) lunges forward for the first down behind blockers Ethan Saxon(44), Kevin Roldan(60) and Zain Byers(50). Italy had plenty of success against the 1A defending state champs but Mart held on for a 21-8 win.

Kyle Jackson(28) lunges forward for the first down behind blockers Ethan Saxon(44), Kevin Roldan(60) and Zain Byers(50). Italy had plenty of success against the 1A defending state champs but Mart held on for a 21-8 win. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Brandon Souder(63) addresses the IHS student body during the pep rally before the big hunt for the Mart Panthers begins.

Senior Brandon Souder(63) addresses the IHS student body during the pep rally before the big hunt for the Mart Panthers begins. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy High School, where glory is achieved and tradition never dies.

Italy High School, where glory is achieved and tradition never dies. (Barry Byers)

Image: The IHS and JV/JH cheerleaders surround Brandon with love.

The IHS and JV/JH cheerleaders surround Brandon with love. (Barry Byers)

Image: The cheerleaders test the spirit of the band. 

The cheerleaders test the spirit of the band.  (Barry Byers)

Image: Kyle Jackson(28) practices punting before the game and later boots a 74-yard punt against Mart.

Kyle Jackson(28) practices punting before the game and later boots a 74-yard punt against Mart. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator head coach Craig Bales looks on as quarterback Jase Holden delivers a warmup pass to Jalarnce Jamal Lewis.

Gladiator head coach Craig Bales looks on as quarterback Jase Holden delivers a warmup pass to Jalarnce Jamal Lewis. (Barry Byers)

Image: Peering thru their masks as if looking thru sniper scopes on rifles, Gladiators Devonta Simmons(9), Isaac Medrano(70) and Omar Estrada(56) get ready to hunt down the Panthers.

Peering thru their masks as if looking thru sniper scopes on rifles, Gladiators Devonta Simmons(9), Isaac Medrano(70) and Omar Estrada(56) get ready to hunt down the Panthers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach Craig Bales studies the progress of sophomore center Zain Byers(50) who was moved up from JV to try and fill the cleats of senior center Brandon Souder who is out for the season.

Coach Craig Bales studies the progress of sophomore center Zain Byers(50) who was moved up from JV to try and fill the cleats of senior center Brandon Souder who is out for the season. (Barry Byers)

Image: IHS Cheerleaders Destani Anderson and Ashley Harper add a touch of style to the Panther’s stadium.

IHS Cheerleaders Destani Anderson and Ashley Harper add a touch of style to the Panther’s stadium. (Barry Byers)

Image: The IHS cheerleaders sing the school song before the game. (L to R) Kelsey Neson, Bailey DeBorde, Ashley Harper, Kendra Copeland, Destani Anderson, mascot Sa’Kendra Norwood, Beverly Barnhart, Felicia Little, Meagan Hooker and Kaitlyn Rossa.

The IHS cheerleaders sing the school song before the game. (L to R) Kelsey Neson, Bailey DeBorde, Ashley Harper, Kendra Copeland, Destani Anderson, mascot Sa’Kendra Norwood, Beverly Barnhart, Felicia Little, Meagan Hooker and Kaitlyn Rossa. (Barry Byers)

Image: Megan Buchanan practices the flags before taking the field with the band and flag corp.

Megan Buchanan practices the flags before taking the field with the band and flag corp. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ethan Saxon(44) and Hayden Woods(8) stare down midfield toward the coin toss.

Ethan Saxon(44) and Hayden Woods(8) stare down midfield toward the coin toss. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jase Holden gets ready to pull the trigger as the Gladiators go hunting for Panthers.

Jase Holden gets ready to pull the trigger as the Gladiators go hunting for Panthers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Madison Washington and Kaitlyn Rossa respectfully watch Mart’s sideline sing their school song.

Madison Washington and Kaitlyn Rossa respectfully watch Mart’s sideline sing their school song. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jase Holden, Kyle Jackson, Omar Estrada and Larry Mayberry, Jr. represent Italy at midfield as captains.

Jase Holden, Kyle Jackson, Omar Estrada and Larry Mayberry, Jr. represent Italy at midfield as captains. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(11) finds a crevice to sneak thru behind Adrian Reed(64).

Italy’s Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(11) finds a crevice to sneak thru behind Adrian Reed(64). (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Larry Mayberry, Jr.(77), Kevin Roldan(60), Adrian Reed(64) and Omar Estrada(56) help Kyle Jackson(28) dart thru the heart of the Panthers defense.

Italy’s Larry Mayberry, Jr.(77), Kevin Roldan(60), Adrian Reed(64) and Omar Estrada(56) help Kyle Jackson(28) dart thru the heart of the Panthers defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Devonta Simmons(9) catches a pass and then gets taken out of bounds during Italy’s opening drive. First down!

Gladiator Devonta Simmons(9) catches a pass and then gets taken out of bounds during Italy’s opening drive. First down! (Barry Byers)

Image: Devonta Simmons(9), Felicia Little, Destani Anderson, Jase Holden(3) and Kaitlyn Rossa stand pinky-locked during the playing of Italy’s school song.

Devonta Simmons(9), Felicia Little, Destani Anderson, Jase Holden(3) and Kaitlyn Rossa stand pinky-locked during the playing of Italy’s school song. (Barry Byers)

Image: Two base drums? No problem for IHS powerlifter and Gladiator Regiment Marching Band member Kaytlyn Bales.

Two base drums? No problem for IHS powerlifter and Gladiator Regiment Marching Band member Kaytlyn Bales. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach Craig Bales praises his team for a well played game against one of the top teams in the state.

Coach Craig Bales praises his team for a well played game against one of the top teams in the state. (Barry Byers)

Image: Isaac Medrano(70), who made a couple of big plays in Mart’s backfield from his noseguard position on defense, gets a ride back to the locker room after he rolled his ankle during the contest. 

Isaac Medrano(70), who made a couple of big plays in Mart’s backfield from his noseguard position on defense, gets a ride back to the locker room after he rolled his ankle during the contest. 

Image: Ethan Saxon and the Italy Gladiators are on the hunt for the district championship.

Ethan Saxon and the Italy Gladiators are on the hunt for the district championship. (Barry Byers)

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