Willis Field, Italy — On a beautiful day for football, the Italy Jr. High Gladiators played their first home game of the 2011 season with the Hubbard Jaguars stopping by to visit and perhaps hash out some past grievances. Choosing not to be very neighborly, the Jaguars struck the first blow in the first quarter by piecing together a long drive and rushing for a touchdown. Hubbard added the 2-point conversion to lead 8-0.

Hubbard added another score late in the second quarter after a 40-yard run by Braydon Gillham. The Jaguars pulled the backside guard and Gillham punched his way in for the conversion to up Hubbard’s advantage 14-0, 3:36 to play before halftime.

Displaying plenty of character, however, the Italy squad showed no quit and executed a reverse play with quarterback Ryan Connor handing to Jaray Anderson, who then handed to Cameron Carter. Carter galloped 45-yards before being taken out at the Jaguar 12-yard line with under one minute on the clock.

Connor then ran a keeper for 4-yards at which time Italy’s coaching staff called a timeout. After the brief break, a pass from Connor intended for Kevin Johnson went incomplete but the Gladiators at least had Jaguars on their back paws. Anderson then sweeps, avoids being tackled before the pylon and then steps across for a touchdown. Connor’s conversion try fell just short of the goal line and the score remained 14-6 with 0:36 left.

The ensuing onside kick by Italy’s David De La Hoya was recovered by teammate Dylan “Red Shoes” McCassland leaving the Gladiator offense 0:24 to work with.

After an incomplete pass, Italy utilizes the reverse again, but this time, Anderson keeps the ball instead of handing to Carter and sprints to the 12-yard line where he is forced out by Gillham, stopping the clock with 0:15 to go.

Connor then steps back and fires a bullet to the back of the endzone where Darren Cisneros makes the catch and courageously hangs on despite a viscous hit applied by the Jaguars. With the score 14-12, Connor keeps and crosses the goal line with authority to tie the game 14-14.

With 0:08 left in the half, De La Hoya boots the kickoff deep and Johnson makes a perfect waist high tackle to bring the Jaguar return man down on Hubbard’s side of the 50-yard line, 0:04 to play. The Jags try a hail mary pass that lands incomplete near Italy’s 15-yard line to end the exciting first half of play.

Catching a break late in the third quarter, a combination tackle by Fabian Cortez and Celis forces the Jaguars to fumble. Connor recovers the loose ball and Italy takes control with 1:42 remaining in the quarter.

A pass from Celis on the following play almost resulted in a miraculous catch by Levi McBride after Anderson, the intended receiver, tipped the ball. Unfortunately, McBride was unable to grasp the ball before it hit the ground leaving Italy with second down and 10-yards to go.

Going back to the reverse that had worked so well for Italy on their first two tries during the first half, Italy was less fortunate on the third attempt as the handoff exchange in the backfield was fumbled. The Jaguars quickly pounced on the gift and had a first down at Italy’s 15-yard line with 1:25 to play in the third.

Three plays later, Hubbard scores on a quarterback keeper and leaps back in front, 20-14. The Jags keep it again and run up the middle for the conversion points to lead 22-14 with 0:11 to play.

Celis covers Hubbard’s onside kick attempt but is unable to escape the grasp of the Jaguars at Italy’s 35-yard line. Anderson carries for a first down to the 44-yard line of Hubbard to end the quarter.

Three plays into the fourth quarter, Italy fumbles over to the Jaguars. Hubbard begins their search for Italy’s endzone and finds it after a 35-yard run puts six more points on the board for the Jags. The conversion run counted leaving Hubbard well in control, 28-14, with 3:14 to play in the game.

Kenneth Norwood, Jr., the man in the middle on Italy’s front line of their kickoff return team, covers a squib kick from Hubbard with 3:13 to play in the contest. Connor sends a pass out to Cortez along the right side line who runs for first down to Hubbard’s 37-yard line. After Connor runs for 2-yards, an incomplete pass intended for Carter, a sack by Hubbard and another incomplete pass intended for Cortez gives the ball back to the Jags on downs as Hubbard takes over at their own 41-yard line, 0:32 left in the game.

Italy’s Adrian “Chacho” Acevedo bullies his way into Hubbard’s backfield and delivers a hard hit on the Jaguar runner but the Jags hang onto the ball and get the 28-14 win as time expires on the Gladiators.

There is no shame in Italy’s game as both sides played a hard-hitting physical contest. Every play seemed to have that familiar cracking sound associated with football and the Italy Jr. High squad was delivering their share of brutal hits. Worth the price of admission, be sure to watch these aspiring young stars next Thursday, September 22, starting at 5:00 in Italy against Red Oak Life.

2011 Italy Jr. High Gladiators:

Go Italy!