Gladiators answer the opening bell to knockout Eagles 2-0 in first scrimmage

Image: Gladiator head coach Hank Hollywood directs his tough guys into battle against the Valley Mills Eagles for Italy first scrimmage.

Gladiator head coach Hank Hollywood directs his tough guys into battle against the Valley Mills Eagles for Italy first scrimmage. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s returning center Zain Byers(50) practice snaps to quarterback Eric Carson(5) before the scrimmage. Now juniors, both players were all-district performers last season as sophomores for the Gladiators.

Italy’s returning center Zain Byers(50) practice snaps to quarterback Eric Carson(5) before the scrimmage. Now juniors, both players were all-district performers last season as sophomores for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior right tackle Zackery Boykin(55) is ready for some football. The letters TPW printed across the chest of Italy’s practice jerseys means, “Tough People Win,” the team’s motto instituted by Coach Hollywood this season.

Senior right tackle Zackery Boykin(55) is ready for some football. The letters TPW printed across the chest of Italy’s practice jerseys means, “Tough People Win,” the team’s motto instituted by Coach Hollywood this season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Offensive coordinator Nate Skelton gives one last pointer to quarterback/receiver Eric Carson(5).

Offensive coordinator Nate Skelton gives one last pointer to quarterback/receiver Eric Carson(5). (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior inside linebacker Reid Jacinto(11) brings down an Eagle back.

Senior inside linebacker Reid Jacinto(11) brings down an Eagle back. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior outside linebacker Chase Hamilton(2) tackles an Eagle for a loss.

Senior outside linebacker Chase Hamilton(2) tackles an Eagle for a loss. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior safety Cole Hopkins(9) dares Valley Mills to pass.

Senior safety Cole Hopkins(9) dares Valley Mills to pass. (Barry Byers)

Image: Justin Wood(22), a junior, chases the Eagle quarterback out of his nest.

Justin Wood(22), a junior, chases the Eagle quarterback out of his nest. (Barry Byers)

Image: Junior right offensive guard Kevin Roldan(60) gives his quarterback Eric Carson(5) time to pass.

Junior right offensive guard Kevin Roldan(60) gives his quarterback Eric Carson(5) time to pass. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior back Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21) makes something out of nothing to pick up an Italy first down while getting help from a downfield double-team block applied by Kelvin Joffre(80) and Paul Harris(7).

Senior back Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21) makes something out of nothing to pick up an Italy first down while getting help from a downfield double-team block applied by Kelvin Joffre(80) and Paul Harris(7). (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Shad Newman(25), a junior, fights for every extra yardage.

Italy’s Shad Newman(25), a junior, fights for every extra yardage. (Barry Byers)

Image: Eric Carson(5) sneaks in for touchdown but the Eagles get lucky when a holding penalty brings it back.

Eric Carson(5) sneaks in for touchdown but the Eagles get lucky when a holding penalty brings it back. (Barry Byers)

Image: Chase Hamilton(2) beats the block to clamp down on an Eagle ball carrier.

Chase Hamilton(2) beats the block to clamp down on an Eagle ball carrier. (Barry Byers)

Image: Trevon Robertson(4), a junior, patrols the secondary for Italy.

Trevon Robertson(4), a junior, patrols the secondary for Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Caden Jacinto(6), a senior, makes a tackle for a loss in the backfield against Valley Mills.

Caden Jacinto(6), a senior, makes a tackle for a loss in the backfield against Valley Mills. (Barry Byers)

Image: Down to the 1-yard line goes Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21), setting up a touchdown run by Marvin Cox(3) to give Italy a 1-0 advantage.

Down to the 1-yard line goes Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21), setting up a touchdown run by Marvin Cox(3) to give Italy a 1-0 advantage. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Trevon Robertson(4) and Eric Carson(5) combine to tackle a tackle an Eagle running back.

Italy’s Trevon Robertson(4) and Eric Carson(5) combine to tackle a tackle an Eagle running back. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior middle linebacker Ryheem Walker(10) puts the pop on the Valley Mills quarterback.

Senior middle linebacker Ryheem Walker(10) puts the pop on the Valley Mills quarterback. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryheem Walker spots an Eagle back trying to peck his way thru the Gladiator defense.

Ryheem Walker spots an Eagle back trying to peck his way thru the Gladiator defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior tackle Paul Harris(7) and junior noseguard Hank Seabolt(76) bull rush their way to the quarterback.

Senior tackle Paul Harris(7) and junior noseguard Hank Seabolt(76) bull rush their way to the quarterback. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21) tries to make a tackle in the backfield against Valley Mills.

Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21) tries to make a tackle in the backfield against Valley Mills. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryheem Walker(10) takes off into the beaks of the Eagle defenders.

Ryheem Walker(10) takes off into the beaks of the Eagle defenders. (Barry Byers)

Image: Eric Carson(5) passes to Chase Hamilton(2) for several yards. The pair would later connect on a longer pass play to setup Italy’s second touchdown.

Eric Carson(5) passes to Chase Hamilton(2) for several yards. The pair would later connect on a longer pass play to setup Italy’s second touchdown. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21) gets help from his offensive line to break tackles and gain yards.

Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21) gets help from his offensive line to break tackles and gain yards. (Barry Byers)

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