Italy’s season ends in Buffalo, Franklin gets bi-district win 55-28

Image: Gladiator quarterback Jase Holden(3) hands off to tailback Ryheem Walker(10) who follows the blocks of Adrian Reed(64), Kyle Jackson(28), Omar Estrada(56), and Larry Mayberry, Jr.(77) in first-quarter action against the Franklin Lions.

Gladiator quarterback Jase Holden(3) hands off to tailback Ryheem Walker(10) who follows the blocks of Adrian Reed(64), Kyle Jackson(28), Omar Estrada(56), and Larry Mayberry, Jr.(77) in first-quarter action against the Franklin Lions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lee Hamilton, Bubba Jackson and Gary Wood raise the Gladiator tunnel.

Lee Hamilton, Bubba Jackson and Gary Wood raise the Gladiator tunnel. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cheerleaders Kaitlyn Rossa and Madison Washington hang banners along the fence line.

Cheerleaders Kaitlyn Rossa and Madison Washington hang banners along the fence line. (Barry Byers)

Image: Caden Jacinto, Cole Hopkins, Brandon Jacinto and Marvin Cox strike a pose before the playoff game against Franklin.

Caden Jacinto, Cole Hopkins, Brandon Jacinto and Marvin Cox strike a pose before the playoff game against Franklin. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiators Brandon Souder(63) and Zackery Boykin(55) talk football before the kickoff.

Gladiators Brandon Souder(63) and Zackery Boykin(55) talk football before the kickoff. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kaci Bales, a clarinetist in the Gladiator Regiment Marching Band and youngest daughter of Gladiator head coach Craig Bales and his wife Jenny, sang a lovely rendition of the Star Spangled Banner before the game.

Kaci Bales, a clarinetist in the Gladiator Regiment Marching Band and youngest daughter of Gladiator head coach Craig Bales and his wife Jenny, sang a lovely rendition of the Star Spangled Banner before the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Strength in numbers. The Gladiators move up their JV squad as reinforcements against Franklin. 

Strength in numbers. The Gladiators move up their JV squad as reinforcements against Franklin.  (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator head coach Craig Bales monitors the timing of his offense during the pre-game warmups.

Gladiator head coach Craig Bales monitors the timing of his offense during the pre-game warmups. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Gladiators take a knee for a pre-battle prayer.

The Gladiators take a knee for a pre-battle prayer. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Captains Larry Mayberry, Jr., Omar Estrada(56), Ethan Saxon(44) and Jase Holden(3) greet the Lion captains.

Gladiator Captains Larry Mayberry, Jr., Omar Estrada(56), Ethan Saxon(44) and Jase Holden(3) greet the Lion captains. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kyle Jackson(28) and Jalarnce Lewis(11) get ready to take the field.

Kyle Jackson(28) and Jalarnce Lewis(11) get ready to take the field. (Barry Byers)

Image: The cheerleaders take a break.

The cheerleaders take a break. (Barry Byers)

Image: Assistant Band Director Erica Scott tries to stay warm while Timothy Fleming, Yonathan Davila, Zac Mercer, Nolan Griffith and John Hughes get ready to perform at halftime.

Assistant Band Director Erica Scott tries to stay warm while Timothy Fleming, Yonathan Davila, Zac Mercer, Nolan Griffith and John Hughes get ready to perform at halftime. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alexis Sampley, Trevor Davis, Laura Luna, Nicholas Cooper and Tristan Oldfield are enjoying the playoffs.

Alexis Sampley, Trevor Davis, Laura Luna, Nicholas Cooper and Tristan Oldfield are enjoying the playoffs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach Bales talks with his kick return unit. Pictured are: Justin Wood(48), Paul Harris(7), Shad Newman(25), Hayden Wood(8), Cody Medrano(32), Devonta Simmons(9) and Trevon Robertson(20).

Coach Bales talks with his kick return unit. Pictured are: Justin Wood(48), Paul Harris(7), Shad Newman(25), Hayden Wood(8), Cody Medrano(32), Devonta Simmons(9) and Trevon Robertson(20). (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Devonta Simmons(9) blocks for Jalarnce Lewis(11).

Italy’s Devonta Simmons(9) blocks for Jalarnce Lewis(11). (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Chase Hamilton(2) fields a kickoff from Franklin.

Gladiator Chase Hamilton(2) fields a kickoff from Franklin. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Devonta Simmons(9) blocks while Ryheem Walker(10) barrels his way forward.

Italy’s Devonta Simmons(9) blocks while Ryheem Walker(10) barrels his way forward. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jase Holden(3) pitches to Kyle Jackson(28).

Jase Holden(3) pitches to Kyle Jackson(28). (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach Bales congratulates senior lineman Larry Mayberry, Jr. for his great career.

Coach Bales congratulates senior lineman Larry Mayberry, Jr. for his great career. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior center Brandon Souder(63), who was injured early in the season, hugs his replacement sophomore Zain Byers(50) after the loss to Franklin. Displaying an example of leadership and teamwork, Souder supported his understudy every snap of the way.

Senior center Brandon Souder(63), who was injured early in the season, hugs his replacement sophomore Zain Byers(50) after the loss to Franklin. Displaying an example of leadership and teamwork, Souder supported his understudy every snap of the way. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach and quarterback. One of the strongest bonds in sports, Coach Bales congratulates senior Jase Holden(3) for a job well done having never played the position before.

Coach and quarterback. One of the strongest bonds in sports, Coach Bales congratulates senior Jase Holden(3) for a job well done having never played the position before. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Assistant coach Aidan Callahan shares a moment with senior linebacker/tight-end Ethan Saxon(44) after Italy’s playoff loss to Franklin.

Gladiator Assistant coach Aidan Callahan shares a moment with senior linebacker/tight-end Ethan Saxon(44) after Italy’s playoff loss to Franklin. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator next! Cason has alreay picked up the sword to continue fighting for the Gladiator cause.

Gladiator next! Cason has alreay picked up the sword to continue fighting for the Gladiator cause. (Barry Byers)

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