With the district leading Italy Gladiators (7-2, 4-0) honoring their seniors on “Senior Night,” fans were in for pre-Halloween treat as the Gladiators, who needed the victory to secure a playoff spot and ensure a share of the district championship, took on the Axtell Longhorns (4-5, 2-2) in what proved to be a nail-biter of a district game.

Earlier in the afternoon, the players and coaches, the varsity and JV cheerleaders, the IHS student body, the Gladiator Regiment Marching Band and fans enjoyed a 3:00 p.m. pep rally inside George E. Scott Coliseum which featured Gladiator alumni guest speaker Desmond Anderson (’10). The seniors were also treated to a video presentation which included childhood pictures and senior portraits of each upcoming graduate. A bonding experience, the entire student body seemed energized and united while rising for the school song before the players left for the field house to get their game faces on.

Before the game began, Italy’s senior team members, cheerleaders, volleyball players and Gladiator Regiment Marching Band members were individually recognized as they were escorted down Italy’s sideline by their loved ones with IHS faculty member, Tanya Snook, giving the presentation.
Ultimately, Italy’s senior players, Brandon Souder, Ethan Saxon, Devonta Simmons, Omar Estrada, Larry Mayberry, Jr., Kyle Jackson, Isaac Medrano and Jase Holden helped guide the Gladiators to their sixth-straight win and lock down that ever elusive playoff spot by outlasting the Longhorns 36-26 at Willis Field.

Game Time:
After the coin toss, Braulio Luna kicked off for the Gladiators and the Longhorns began from their own 45-yard line. Axtell quickly earned a first down at Italy’s 44-yard line but consecutive tackles by Walker forced the Longhorns into a fourth and nine punting situation. Axtell downed the punt at Italy’s 17-yard line with 8:46 to play in the opening quarter.

Overcoming a false start penalty, quarterback Jase Holden handed the ball off to Walker on three straight plays to give Italy a first down at their own 37-yard line. Three plays later, a Holden pass to Simmons brought up a fourth and three at Italy’s 45-yard line with Gladiator head coach, Craig Bales, choosing to go for it. Intent on scoring on their opening drive, Coach Bales called for another handoff to Walker who breaks a tackle and finishes the run all the way to Axtell’s 21-yard line, a 36-yard gain and a first down.

Jackson advances the ball to the Longhorn fifteen with 2:54 to play in the first. Jackson carries for two more yards to bring up third and two at the thirteen. Walker is unable to gain on an inch on the next play, but on fourth down and two, Coach Bales sticks with the drive and trusts Walker to pick up another first down. Walker does so at Axtell’s 10-yard line.

Walker carries for two on first down to setup a second down slant pass from Holden to Simmons who makes the catch as he crosses the goal line, Touchdown! Italy strikes first, 6-0 with 2:10 to go in the first. Walker, bullies his way into the endzone for the conversion after receiving help from his offensive line for the final yard, 8-0 Italy. Teammate Brandon Souder said of Walker two weeks ago during a run against Buffalo, “That guy [Walker] has a more heart than anybody I know,” and it was certainly evident on the conversion run against Axtell.

On the ensuing Luna kickoff, Axtell mishandles the kick and Eric Carson recovers the loose ball for the Gladiators at the Longhorn 29-yard line. A deep sideline pass from Holden to Simmons draws a holding penalty against Axtell. Jackson follows up with a reverse run to the Longhorn 17-yard line and then gets three yards on the next play for a first down at Axtell’s 17-yard line, 0:54 still to play in the first quarter. Holden drops back but throws the ball away in the vicinity of Carson who was covered. Holden’s next pass, a lob, runs out of field at the back of the endzone with Simmons giving chase, third and ten. Walker takes the handoff from Holden and is hit in the hole and for a 1-yard gain, fourth and nine. Holden’s pass into the endzone slips through the hands of his intended receiver and Axtell dodges a bullet to end the first.

The Longhorns take over on downs and mount a temporary drive. A sideline tackle by Mayberry, who strung out the play from his defensive tackle position, leaves the Axtell coaching staff scratching their heads while facing a third and nine. Italy’s defense holds to force a fourth down punt. Carson receives the kick and eludes tacklers for a nice gain but a clipping penalty erases the effort and pushes Italy back to the 15-yard line, 9:37 to play in the second quarter.

Walker runs to the twenty-nine followed by an offsides penalty charged to the Longhorns that moves the ball to Italy’s thirty-four. Jamal Lewis breaks down the Gladiator sideline for a 20-yard gain to Axtell’s 46-yard line. On second and ten, Holden goes to the air and Simmons makes the first down catch at Axtell’s 33-yard line, 7:30 remaining before halftime. Walker gets the call and cuts back to the 17-yard line. Holden looks right and then throws out to Simmons who maneuvers his way toward the goal line. Simmons out races one last Axtell defender to the pylon for his second touchdown of the first half. The conversion play was unsuccessful but Italy increases their lead 14-0 with 6:36 left.

Despite defensive efforts by Italy’s Estrada, Simmons and Walker, Axtell receives the kickoff from Luna and goes on a 51-yard drive that culminates in a 3-yard touchdown run for the Longhorns, making the score 14-6 with 3:02 to play. Simmons deflects the conversion pass attempt by Axtell and the ball lands incomplete in the endzone.

Chase Hamilton returns the ensuing kickoff to Italy’s own 37-yard line, 2:55 left. Despite a Simmons catch to give Italy a third down and 3-yards to go, a fumbled snap, on the next play, forces the Gladiators to punt the ball back to the Longhorns. The kick sails out-of-bounds at midfield to give Axtell a chance. Axtell’s first carry results in an unsportsmanlike call charged to the Axtell coaching staff and places the ball back at the Longhorn forty. Saxon has to temporarily leave the game with the referees enforcing the “blood rule” and gets an elbow taped up. Axtell can only muster four of the 20-yards needed for a first down as Walker tackles the Longhorn quarterback to end the half, just as Jeff Richters, the Gladiator’s defensive coordinator, had hoped.

Unfortunately, a defensive penalty against Italy gives the Longhorns one more play. Axtell steps back and launches a Hail Mary pass that slips thru the grasp of a Gladiator defender and into the hands of an appreciative Longhorn receiver who dashes in for an Axtell touchdown. The conversion pass attempt was deflected by Walker and landed incomplete but the stubborn visitors managed to tighten the deficit 14-12 on the final play of the first half. Italy holds a 2-point advantage at the break.

Halftime:
The Gladiator Regiment Marching Band performs for the home fans as seniors Nolan Griffith, Andrea Lanning, Kaytlyn Bales, Jimesha Reed, Laura Luna, Meagan Buchanan and drum major Drenda Burk end their final home game performance with a standing ovation. The senior members of the band were individually recognized during pre-game introductions along with the senior football players, senior cheerleaders Beverly Barnhart, Destani Anderson, Kaitlyn Rossa and Gladiator mascot Sa’Kendra Norwood. Representing the Lady Gladiator Volleyball Team were Seniors Bailey Bumpus and Megan Richards, Jimesha Reed and Kaitlyn Rossa.

Second Half:
To start the third quarter, Chase Hamilton receives a deep kickoff from the Longhorns and speeds his way to the Gladiator 25-yard line. Holden keeps for 9-yards to the thirty-four. Walker runs for the first down to the thirty-nine. Jackson punches thru the Longhorn line and is uncatchable as he makes his way downfield for 61-yard touchdown run, 20-12 Italy leads, 11:04 to play in the third. Walker, once again, fights for the 2-point conversion but fumbles the ball. Axtell quickly scoops it up and heads for 2-points in the opposite direction. Before the Longhorns could stampede their way downfield, Gladiator center, Zain Byers, roped the hind legs of the Longhorn defender for a quick tackle to preserve Italy’s 20-12 lead.

Hayden Woods tracks down Luna’s kickoff to tackle the Longhorn returner at the Axtell 42-yard line. Tackles by Jackson and Walker give the Longhorns a fourth and one delima but Axtell’s, Mykel King, breaks on the next play and races down to the Gladiator 18-yard line. A few plays later, Colby Tennison scores from 5-yards out to make the score 20-18. Justin Stranacher passes to Jacob Kubitza for the game tying 2-point conversion with 7:16 to play in the third quarter.

Italy starts from deep in their own territory but a pass from Holden to Carson gives Italy breathing room and a first down at their twenty-eight. Walker runs to the thirty-seven. Jackson gains five and first down at the forty-two. Walker fumbles in the backfield but snares it on the hop and jets for the first down to Axtell’s 47-yard line. Holden fires incomplete to Carson. Walker reaches Axtell’s 41-yard line bringing up third and five with 3:30 to play in the third.

Aided by an offsides call charged to Axtell, Walker eventually scores from 25-yards out. Walker runs in for the conversion, as well, and Italy regains the lead 28-0, 0:51 left. Axtell downs Luna’s kickoff at their own 45-yard line. Stranacher fakes a handoff and nearly reaches the endzone but is brought down at the Italy ten, 0:23 left. Estrada makes first contact on Longhorn fullback Ty Saulter to bring up second and eight to end the quarter.

Now in the final quarter of play, and on third and eight, Stranacher keeps, trips and lunges to the Gladiator 2-yard line. From there, Stranacher keeps the ball for a 2-yard touchdown run. Simmons breaks up the potentially game-tying 2-point conversion pass by the Longhorns to protect Italy’s slim advantage, 28-26. 10:52 to play in the contest.

Luna kicks off but King mishandles the catch for the Longhorns with Italy’s Trevon Robertson zeroing in. Carson dives on the freebie and Italy returns to offense at their own 45-yard line. Walker gains 5-yards to midfield. Walker runs for another first down to Axtell’s 44-yard line, 9:55 left in the game. Italy fumbles but Holden fights for the ball and recovers it for the Gladiators. Italy fumbles again but falls on the ball back at the Axtell 48-yard line. Walker shortly exits the game with a tweaked ankle and Lewis takes the next handoff for short gain. Holden throws a strike down the middle of the field to Simmons who makes the grab in double coverage for a first down at Axtell’s 33-yard line, 7:15 remaining. Little goes right from there and Italy must punt on fourth and four. Hamilton downs the punt by Jackson at Axtell’s 13-yard line with assistance from Saxon.

Three plays later, King is stopped by Walker to force a Longhorn punt from their own 16-yard line. Axtell tries to run a fake but the play is snuffed out by Estrada and Hamilton. Italy takes over at Axtell’s 17-yard line with 2:55 remaining. Jackson runs for 3-yards and then is tripped up for a 2-yard gain. Jackson leads Walker thru the middle for a first down run to Axtell’s 6-yard line. A false start against Italy brings up second and goal from the 11-yard line, 2:07 remaining.

With Axtell’s defense content on allowing Italy to score on the next play, in order to get the ball back with time still left on the clock, Holden hands off to Jackson who seems to be headed for another Gladiator touchdown against the relaxed Longhorn defenders. However, Jackson catches on to the Longhorn tactics an wisely kneels down at the 1-foot line forcing Axtell to waist a timeout with 1:09 to play. A bold play by the senior fullback knowing his team only leads by 2-points.

Holden tries a half-hearted sneak, but again Italy does not cross the goal line and the seconds begin to tick away on the Longhorns, 0:45…0:40…0:35. Axtell decides to take their final timeout with 0:31 left to play. Jackson plunges in for the score, on the next play, to give Italy a 34-26 lead and Holden raises his arms in triumph, 0:27 remaining.

Walker runs in for the conversion but a holding call against the Gladiators forces Italy to try again from beyond the 10-yard line. Holden zips a pass over the Longhorn defense to Simmons who makes a diving catch to ensure two more points for the home team. Italy leads 36-26 with the victory in sight.

Axtell receives Luna’s kick and quickly sprints out-of-bounds to preserve seconds on the clock. Italy’s, Coach Richters, calls for a timeout to make sure his troops are on the same page. The Longhorns attempt a pass but Holden intercepts and takes a knee to be on the safe side. Italy’s offense executes the victory formation to perfection with Holden taking a knee to run out the clock as the Gladiators secure a playoff round and at least a share of the district title.

Holden went 7-of-12 passing for 76-yards and 2 touchdowns. Walker carried 30 times for 181-yards and Jackson carried 14 times for 108-yards. Lewis carried 2 times for 20-yards while Holden had 5 rushes for 11-yards. Simmons had 6 catches for 66-yards, two touchdowns and 1 conversion catch worth 2-points. Carson had 1 reception for 10-yards.

What makes the Gladiators go? Offensively, it’s the unselfishness displayed by the entire team to block at the point of attack. The backs lead out of the backfield for one another while Italy’s offensive line, anchored by Mayberry, Estrada and Medrano, block anything that moves. Downfield, receivers Simmons, Carson and Paul Harris relentlessly maintain their blocks as well. It seems, every big play by the Gladiators is a direct result of the receiving core taking care of business.

Defensively, an athletic defensive front with Mayberry and Estrada at the tackle positions, backed by hard-hitting linebackers Walker, Jackson, Saxon and Hamilton ensure the competition scores less than the Gladiator offense. In the secondary, Simmons, Holden, Woods, Robertson and Carson have each recorded interceptions this season.

Italy made their last post-season appearance back in 2009 and this will be the second trip to the playoffs under fifth-year head coach, Craig Bales, who has the Gladiators in a position to win the district title outright if they finish strong against the Centerville Tigers (7-2, 3-1) on Friday in Centerville starting at 7:30 p.m. “We are guaranteed a share of the district championship, but that’s not we want. We want the title all to ourselves,” commented Coach Bales as he addressed his team in the post-game huddle.

Afterwards, in what has become a tradition at IHS, the senior football players took their Senior Walk from one end of Willis Field to the other before releasing gold and white balloons into the air. “Italy Family!”

Congratulations to all the Italy High School seniors on what has been an exciting year so far.

Go Gladiators! Beat Centerville!!