Italy’s Gladiators rise to the challenge and defeat the Jaguars 36-22 in Hubbard

Image: The Italy High School Cheerleaders unite during the playing of the school song by the Gladiator Regiment Marching Band before the matchup between Italy and the Hubbard Jaguards.

The Italy High School Cheerleaders unite during the playing of the school song by the Gladiator Regiment Marching Band before the matchup between Italy and the Hubbard Jaguards. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator captains Jase Holden(3), Larry Mayberry, Jr.(77), Omar Estrada(56) and Kyle Jackson(28) await the coin toss at midfield.

Gladiator captains Jase Holden(3), Larry Mayberry, Jr.(77), Omar Estrada(56) and Kyle Jackson(28) await the coin toss at midfield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Instrument, check. Hair clip, check. Game face, check. Gladiator Regiment Marching Band member Hannah Washington gets set for the game.

Instrument, check. Hair clip, check. Game face, check. Gladiator Regiment Marching Band member Hannah Washington gets set for the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator quarterback Jase Holden(3) warms up his passing arm before the game. Holden would later complete a 58-yard touchdown pass to teammate Ethan Saxon.

Gladiator quarterback Jase Holden(3) warms up his passing arm before the game. Holden would later complete a 58-yard touchdown pass to teammate Ethan Saxon. (Barry Byers)

Image: Hair we go! IHS Cheerleader Kelsey Nelson gets ready to cheer on the Gladiators.

Hair we go! IHS Cheerleader Kelsey Nelson gets ready to cheer on the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Italy High School cheerleaders stand with their beloved cheer coach, Clover Stiles.

The Italy High School cheerleaders stand with their beloved cheer coach, Clover Stiles. (Barry Byers)

Image: Looking for a solution to a major sword in their side, the Jaguars dog pile Ryheem Walker hoping he would stay down for the count. Instead, the Jaguars would later need a calculator to count each of Walker’s 244-yards rushing .

Looking for a solution to a major sword in their side, the Jaguars dog pile Ryheem Walker hoping he would stay down for the count. Instead, the Jaguars would later need a calculator to count each of Walker’s 244-yards rushing . (Barry Byers)

Image: Jase Holden(3) pitches to Ryheem Walker(10) who follows his fullback Kyle Jackson(28) around the corner.

Jase Holden(3) pitches to Ryheem Walker(10) who follows his fullback Kyle Jackson(28) around the corner. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kyle Jackson(28) and Omar Estrada(56) help teammate Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(11) sack the Jaguar quarterback.

Kyle Jackson(28) and Omar Estrada(56) help teammate Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(11) sack the Jaguar quarterback. (Barry Byers)

Image: Mixed in with the varsity squad for Friday night’s game in Hubbard are members of The Dirty Dozen, Italy’s JV team that suited up to help take on Hubbard.

Mixed in with the varsity squad for Friday night’s game in Hubbard are members of The Dirty Dozen, Italy’s JV team that suited up to help take on Hubbard. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sophomore Justn Wood(30) hauls in the fair catch with the entire Hubbard Jaguar sideline and bleachers breathing down the back of his neck. Not bad for a rookie!

Sophomore Justn Wood(30) hauls in the fair catch with the entire Hubbard Jaguar sideline and bleachers breathing down the back of his neck. Not bad for a rookie! (Barry Byers)

Image: Omar Estrada(56), Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(11), Larry Mayberry, Jr.(77) and Kyle Jackson jump on the Jaguars in their backfield.

Omar Estrada(56), Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(11), Larry Mayberry, Jr.(77) and Kyle Jackson jump on the Jaguars in their backfield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jase Holden(3), Kevin Roldan(60) and Ethan Saxon(44) are excited to play the fourth quarter.

Jase Holden(3), Kevin Roldan(60) and Ethan Saxon(44) are excited to play the fourth quarter. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(11) gains yards against the Jaguars. Lewis ran in one touchdown and ran in for a 2-point conversion against the Jags.

Gladiator Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(11) gains yards against the Jaguars. Lewis ran in one touchdown and ran in for a 2-point conversion against the Jags. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Crutch Crew which is Tony Wooldridge(6), Isaac Medrano(70), Zackery Boykin(55) and Brandon Souder(63) handoff some water to Ethan Saxon(44).

The Crutch Crew which is Tony Wooldridge(6), Isaac Medrano(70), Zackery Boykin(55) and Brandon Souder(63) handoff some water to Ethan Saxon(44). (Barry Byers)

Image: Hubbard could not get a handle on junior Ryheem Walker(10) who rushed for 244-yards on 20 carries, scored three rushing touchdowns, caught a 15-yard pass and completed two 2-point conversion passes. Walker’s longest gain went 70-yards on his way to averaging 12.2-yards per carry. Did I mention Walker plays linebacker on defense as well?

Hubbard could not get a handle on junior Ryheem Walker(10) who rushed for 244-yards on 20 carries, scored three rushing touchdowns, caught a 15-yard pass and completed two 2-point conversion passes. Walker’s longest gain went 70-yards on his way to averaging 12.2-yards per carry. Did I mention Walker plays linebacker on defense as well? (Barry Byers)

Image: Going around the end is Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(11) who scored a rushing touchdown for the Gladiators.

Going around the end is Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(11) who scored a rushing touchdown for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Brandon Souder(63) shakes the hands of his teammates Kevin Roldan(60), Omar Estrada(56) and Kyle Jackson(28) after getting the win against Hubbard.

Senior Brandon Souder(63) shakes the hands of his teammates Kevin Roldan(60), Omar Estrada(56) and Kyle Jackson(28) after getting the win against Hubbard. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Family…crutches and all!

Italy Family…crutches and all! (Barry Byers)

Image: Celebrating with Chace McGinnis after the game are his family members Megan Richards and Alyssa Richards, a couple of Lady Gladiators you might have read about on italyneotribune.com.

Celebrating with Chace McGinnis after the game are his family members Megan Richards and Alyssa Richards, a couple of Lady Gladiators you might have read about on italyneotribune.com. (Jaclynn Lewis)

Image: Sophomore linemen Kevin Roldan(60) and Zain Byers(50) raise their Gladiator helmets in triumph.

Sophomore linemen Kevin Roldan(60) and Zain Byers(50) raise their Gladiator helmets in triumph. (Barry Byers)

Image: Wishes come true. Hayden Woods gets ready to celebrate his birthday with some cupcakes for the team and a win over Hubbard.

Wishes come true. Hayden Woods gets ready to celebrate his birthday with some cupcakes for the team and a win over Hubbard. (Barry Byers)

Image: A symbolic moment from senior Omar Estrada(56) after the Gladiators 36-22 triumph over the Jaguars. 

A symbolic moment from senior Omar Estrada(56) after the Gladiators 36-22 triumph over the Jaguars.  (Barry Byers)

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