The Italy Gladiators, head coached by Craig Bales, claim their fourth-straight win, improve to 6-2 on the season and hold the top spot in their district at 3-0 in league play after taking care of Leon in Cougar country, 36-17. A solid first half performance puts Italy in the driver seat to claim the district championship with two district games remaining. If the Gladiators can take care of business against Axtell Friday night at home, they will be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs and, at least, a share of the district title.

Against Leon, Gladiator captains Larry Mayberry, Jr., Omar Estrada, Jase Holden and Kyle Jackson helped lead their teammates to an impressive road win over the 2-6 Cougars. The Cougar faithful released balloons into the air as the home team charged thru their inflated tunnel and onto Cougar Field hoping to de-rail the Gladiator express and an offense that has outscored its opponents 230-61 during its six wins, thus far.

It didn’t take long, however, for Italy to deflate the Cougar tunnel and burst their balloons as the Gladiators soon sliced thru Leon’s defense with sword-like precision. The Gladiator defense put in another strong performance, as well, under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Jeff Richters.

To start the contest, Braulio Luna tried a short kickoff for the Gladiators with Leon recovering at the Italy 49-yard line. Leon’s initial drive stalled when a tackle by Chase Hamilton left the Cougars with a fourth down and six yards to go at Italy’s 24-yard line. On the next play, pressure on the passer from Hamilton and Jamal Lewis forced Cougar quarterback, Kirby Watson, to throw the ball away and give Italy its first offensive possession.

Two runs by Ryheem Walker, with a facemask penalty tacked on to the second, gives the Gladiators a first down at their own 48-yard line. Jackson gained 7-yards but a rare false start flag backed Italy to midfield. Walker carries for 7-yards to the right behind Mayberry and guard Isaac Medrano before picking up the first down to the left behind guard Adrian Reed and Estrada at the tackle spot. From Leon’s 43-yard line with 5:44 to play in the first quarter, Holden’s pass, intended for Devonta Simmons, is batted down by the Cougars. Italy fumbles on the next play Leon recovers at their 44-yard line.

Hamilton latches onto a Cougar leg for a 3-yard loss. Walker delivers a momentum crushing hit to Watson upon release and the pass is intercepted by Simmons at Leon’s 48-yard line with 4:48 still to play in the first. Eric Carson is unable to handle a pass from Holden while trying to stay in bounds to bring up second and ten. Lewis tries to run left but loses the handle on the pitch but tracks it down and reverses his field. Center Zain Byers peels back and flattens a Cougar in pursuit to help Lewis turn a negative into a positive and gain 2-yards on the play, third and eight.

Holden, who entered the game as the districts leading passer with 518-yards (150 more yards than Blooming Grove’s Jayd Kirby) connects with Simmons for a 36-yard pass completion to Leon’s 10-yard line. On second and goal from the 4-yard line, Italy began to go backwards with Leon making a tackle in Italy’s backfield for a 3-yard loss followed by a holding penalty, on the next play, that pushes the Gladiators back ten more.

With the drive in danger of stalling, Holden zips a pass toward the endzone where Simmons stops the ball’s progress with one hand before bringing it in for a crowd-wowing touchdown grab, 6-0 Italy with 1:10 left in the opening quarter. Holden snaps to Walker who passes to Simmons for the conversion and Italy leads 8-0.

Luna’s ensuing kickoff is downed by the Cougars at their own 30-yard line. Leon is unable to advance the ball and on third and ten the quarter comes to a close. To start the second, Holden batts down Watson pass, for a bit of payback, and Leon punts on fourth down. Holden slings a sideline pass out to Paul harris who stretches for the catch before being pushed out after a 9-yard gain. Walker takes the handoff from Holden and then hops, skips, twists and chugs his way for a first down to Italy’s 45-yard line.

After an incomplete pass, Walker runs for six to Leon’s 49-yard line with 9:55 to play in the first half. Walker carries again and gets the first down at the Cougar 44-yard line. A pass from Holden to Carson picks up 4-yards, second and six. Walker dances his way to the thirty for a gain of ten and a first down. A second false start call against Italy leaves them with first and fifteen at the thirty-five, 7:59 left before halftime.

Walker runs for 14-yards to Leon’s 21-yard line, enough for the first down. Walker reaches the 3-yard line on his next carry with Medrano making a block downfield. Jackson is stopped 1-yard shy of the goal line but reaches the endzone on the next play to give Italy a 14-0 cushion. The conversion pass from Walker to Jackson went incomplete, 6:59 on the clock.

Luna boots the ball to Leon’s side of the 50-yard line and Trevon Robertson makes the tackle at the Cougar 43-yard line. Gladiator assistant coach, Larry Mayberry, Sr., shouts from the sideline, “It’s time for a defensive touchdown!” Italy’s defense responds and Walker strips the ball away from a Cougar runner and Ethan Saxon recovers for the Gladiators. It wasn’t a touchdown as their coach had requested but, “Big Larry,” was satisfied with the results. First down Italy at midfield with 5:40 to go in the second.

Holden tries to pass but opts to run for a few yards. Holden keeps for a long gain on the next play but a clipping call pushes Italy back to their 47-yard line. Hamilton carries up the middle for little gain and then Lewis gets surrounded by Cougars for a 4-yard loss on the next Gladiator try. Holden goes back to the air and back to Simmons who makes the grab, receives a downfield block from Carson and achieves first down yardage at Leon’s 32-yard line.

Jackson slices thru the gut of the Cougar defense and is upended at the 21-yard line. Walker runs left for his second touchdown, 20-0 Italy leads. Walker passes to Saxon who makes the catch and then runs in for the 2-point try, 22-0. Gladiators are in control with 2:20 still showing.

Leon gets a good start after Luna’s kickoff to their 49-yard line. Carson makes the tackle after Leon completes a 7-yard pass. Hamilton foils a sweep play by snaring a Cougar runner in the backfield for third and eight. Robertson picks off a Watson pass attempt at the Gladiator 41-yard line with 1:22 left before the break. Holden tries to quickly take advantage of the saddened Cougars but misfires to Jackson for an incompletion. Holden then hands off to Walker who finds room around the left side and receives an escort by Medrano down Leon’s sideline to their 31-yard line, 1:01 left.

An ineligible man downfield on the next pass attempt backs Italy to the 32-yard line, 0:53 left. A quick pass to Carson nets 1-yard, timeout Italy with 0:45 left. Out of the timeout, Carson runs a crossing route and Holden’s pass is on the money, hitting the sophomore receiver in stride. Carson is yanked down at the thirteen and Leon is called for a horse collar penalty in the process, marking the ball half the distance to Leon goal line at the six.

Holden spikes the ball to ensure play stoppage while Bales and his staff scheme a sure play. Italy cashes in on the Carson catch as Holden keeps the ball and tracks in behind Mayberry for six more points against the Cougars. Walker passes to Hamilton who is hit immediately at the goal line but hangs on and lands across the white stripe for 2-points. Italy leads 30-0 with 0:26 left in the half.

Junior Hayden Woods, in his first year to ever play football, makes the tackle on the ensuing kickoff by Luna. Saxon and Walker combine for the takedown on the first half’s final play allowing Italy to relax at halftime with a 30-0 margin.

Leon kicks deep to start the second half penning Jackson at the seventeen on the return. Walker tries to pick up the pace and reaches the 22-yard line. Italy’s third false start penalty takes them back to their seventeen. Holden throws deep for Carson but the pass ends up beyond the field of play resulting in a Gladiator punt.

The snap sails over Jackson’s helmet and into the endzone and everyone makes a dash for the live ball. Jackson reaches it first but is quickly tackled for Cougar safety. With the score 30-2, Italy is still well in front and not overly concerned. Jackson’s punt from Italy’s 20-yard line is returned all the way back to the Gladiator thirteen with Jackson making the touchdown saving tackle.

Three plays later, Leon gets into the endzone from 6-yards out, to make the score 30-8 at the 8:30 mark of the third quarter. Leon misses the point after kick. Following the Cougar kickoff, a punishing return by Jackson gets the ball placed at Italy’s 34-yard line.

Runs by Lewis, Jackson, Lewis again and Walker gets first down yardage across midfield. Plus, a face-mask call tacks on another ten to give Italy a first down at Leon’s 32-yard line. Simmons and Holden hook up again for on a 6-yard completion. Walker runs the ball to the 23-yard line but Italy’s drive stalls there and Leon celebrates the defensive stand and takes over at their own 22-yard line with 3:41 to play in the third.

The Cougar celebration is short lived thanks to a touchdown saving tackle by Jackson and a sack by Lewis. Leon prepares to punt but Italy jumps offsides and the Cougars to decide to go for the first down. The Gladiator defense holds and Holden and the offense take over at Leon’s 40-yard line. Walker runs for nine to end the third quarter of play.

Moments later, Walker carries to Leon’s twenty-one and scores on the next play from 21-yards out, Italy leads 36-8. On the conversion try, Walker tosses a pass toward the goal line that is picked off by the Cougars and returned 99-yards for 2-points, making the score 36-10 with 10:18 still to play.

By rule, Luna kicks off to the Cougars but Leon fumbles during the return and Harris recovers for the Gladiators at Leon’s 43-yard line. On fourth down, Holden fires deep for Robertson who is unable to grasp the deflection in tight coverage and Leon takes over. The Cougars manage a touchdown and kick the point after in the games closing minutes to conclude the scoring 36-17 with Italy being the victor.

In their next game, the Gladiators will try to lasso the Axtell Longhorns in a 2A-2 Region III District 11 match, on Friday, October 28 starting at 7:30 p.m., Senior Night at Willis Field. Italy will attempt to improve on its 6-2 season record. The Longhorns enter the match with a 4-4 record after their 37-28 league loss to Centerville.

Go Gladiators!