Gladiators kickoff season with a 41-14 shellacking over Maypearl
Gladiator offensive coordinator Nate Skelton talks with his players before the game. (Barry Byers)
Scene 1 / Act 1:
The Italy Gladiators vs. The Maypearl Panthers
An Italy Gladiator/Hank Hollywood Production
It’s showtime! The Gladiators return to Class 1A after going 12-9 in their 2 seasons in Class 2A finishing as Co-District Champions with a 7-4 record. Now in District 6-1A Division I, first year AD /HFC Hank Hollywood’s premier of the 2012 Italy Gladiators was a ticket booth success as Gladiator fans packed Maypearl’s W.G. Roesler Field to see the first showing of Italy’s star-studded cast and crew in their season debut against long time antagonist, Maypearl, played by the Panthers.
Background music provided by band director Jesus Perez and the Gladiator Regiment Marching Band emphasized each adrenaline-filled moment of the presentation during the classic tale of good vs. better.
Behind the scenes, Coach Hollywood gave an emotionally charged pre-game speech that inspired his Gladiators before the curtains of the air tunnel unveiled Italy’s away wardrobe of white jerseys with gold and black shoulder stripes and solid gold pants.
Hollywood’s starlette’s, the Lady Gladiator Cheerleaders, including Morgan Cockerham, Bailey Deborde, Taylor Turner, Britney Chambers, Ashlyn Jacinto, Meagan Hooker, Kelsey Nelson, K’Breona Davis and mascot Reagan Adams, were on hand to cheer for their team and toss shirts and miniature footballs into the crowd after touchdowns. As the epic event wore on, there was some concern the cheerleaders would have to ice their throwing arms after Italy’s riveting offensive performance.
Italy’s main offensive characters, quarterback Eric Carson, thrived surrounded by an accomplished supporting cast of blockers. Offensive line stuntmen Zackery Boykin, Zain Byers, Kevin Roldan, Adrian Reed and Darol Mayberry. Backs Ryheem Walker, Jalarnce Jamal Lewis and Shad Newman as well as receivers Chase Hamilton, Trevon Robertson, Cole Hopkins, Caden Jacinto and Reid Jacinto gave gripping performance as well during the emotional cheer jerker of a game for Italy.
With Roldan kicking off to the Panthers and teammate Kelvin Joffre making the tackle at Maypearl’s 32-yard line, Italy’s defense set the stage for what would later prove to be a long film session for the Panthers. Maypearl gains 5-yards on their first run play with Italy’s defensive tackle Zain Byers making the stop. Noseguard Hank Seabolt and Byers combine for the next tackle but Maypearl’s Tristan Spradling picks up the first down on third and short to the 45-yard line before Byers can haul him down.
Defensive back Chase Hamilton and outside linebacker Justin Wood make a tackle for a loss to bring up 2nd and 11 for the Panthers. Byers flushes Maypearl’s quarterback Nick Gonzalez out of the pocket but the speedster weaves his way across midfield for another Panther first down at Italy’s 45-yard line. An incomplete pass brings up 2nd and 10. Outside linebacker Jalarnce Jamal Lewis makes the tackle to bring up 3rd and 11 for Maypearl. Byers chases Gonzalez to the sideline again to force another incomplete pass, 4th and 11. Maypearl goes for it on fourth with a pass down the middle of the field but excellent coverage Hamilton gives Italy the ball starting at their own 44-yard line.
With 8:47 still to play in the first quarter, Carson hands off to Walker who gains two yards. And that was all it took to warmup the Gladiator offensive juggernaut as Carson drops back and passes to Hamilton racing downfield. Hamilton makes the catch then turns and runs untouched into the end zone to give Italy an early 6-0 lead. The point-after kick by Roldan, with Cole Hopkins holding and Byers snapping, was slightly off to the right.
Maypearl receives the Roldan kickoff but Italy’s Cody Medrano makes a quick tackle at Maypearl’s 29-yard line. Spradling breaks away but is knocked out at the 43-yard line. Walker and sophomore Cody Boyd, who is made his debut for the Gladiator varsity on Friday, stretch the next run to the sideline for a short gain to the forty-four. Maypearl takes off for another big gain with Hopkins making a touchdown saving tackle from his safety position at Italy’s own 39-yard line. Maypearl’s next run gains little up the middle but a face mask call on the following pitch play gives the Panthers a 2nd and 5 at Italy’s 23-yard line.
Byers chases after Gonzalez who rolls right. Panther running back Justin Allen takes Byers out from behind at the knees to save Gonzalez who throws incomplete down his home sideline. Byers grabs his leg in pain but hobbles off the field for a tape job and would later return on offense for Italy. Allen is flagged for an illegal chop block and the Panthers are backed up to Italy’s thirty-three. Carson, who had two interceptions for Italy last season, nearly picks off a Gonzalez pass on the following play. Maypearl is staring 3rd and twenty. Two plays later, Gonzalez completes a pass but it’s not enough for a first down and Italy takes over at their own 26-yard line with 4:40 left in the opening stanza.
A false start backs Italy up five and then a scramble by Carson, who reverses his field, gains five to leave Italy with 2nd and 10. Roldan ran over an official during the Carson scramble but was a allowed time to recover. Walker leaves everybody on then next play after taking the handoff from Carson and then sprints thru a gaping hole, courtesy of his offensive linemen Reed and Mayberry, for a 74-yard touchdown. Roldan’s next point after kick sails left but Italy has a descent 12-0 lead at the 3:53 mark with both touchdowns achieved in only four offensive plays. Wow!
Kelvin Joffre applies a hard tackle to Maypearl’s kickoff return man causing a Panther fumble. Maypearl manages to recover the ball at their own 32-yard line. Maypearl connects on a short pass but is tackled with a thud by Walker for a gain of three. Lewis makes the tackle in Maypearl’s backfield after a bad snap, 3rd and 14. The Panthers complete a pass with Hamilton making the tackle short of the sticks, 4th and 1. Gonzalez dives ahead for the first down at the forty-three.
Gonzalez escapes Mayberry in the backfield and runs to Italy’s 45-yard line for a first down. An incomplete pass with Newman covering brings up 2nd and 10. Gonzalez keeps to the thirty-seven of Italy. Seabolt makes the tackle on Gonzalez to bring up a 3rd and 1. Gonzalez keeps on another dive play to get the first at Italy’s thirty-five with 1:04 left in the quarter. Gonzalez runs to the twenty-eight. Another run by Maypearl moves the chains to Italy’s front porch, at the 20-yard line, with Walker making the stop. Medrano and Hamilton team up to tackle the Panthers for a loss of two, kicking Maypearl off the porch and bringing an end to the exciting first quarter of action.
Wood has tight coverage and causes a Panther pass to drop incomplete. Defensive tackle Paul Harris combines with Lewis for a tackle that holds Maypearl to a 3-yard gain, bringing up a 4th and 9 situation for the Panthers at Italy’s 19-yard line. Maypearl throws a short pass but a jolting hit from Hamilton, who unloads both barrels on the hapless receiver, jars the ball loose and the trespassing Panthers are turned away. Italy takes over at their nineteen with 11:00 to play before halftime.
Walker runs for 13-yards to the thirty-two. Mistakes and penalties push Italy back to their 20-yard line. On 2nd and 27 needed for a first, Carson gets protection and delivers a pass downfield to Trevon Robertson, a junior, for a 51-yard completion to Maypearl’s 39-yard line and a first down. After a holding penalty during a Carson run on the following play, Italy is now looking at 1st and 20. Runs by Lewis and Carson bring up 3rd and 14. Carson takes the snap from Byers and scopes the field for Robertson who again makes the catch to get Italy out of a jam, a 30-yard completion all the way to Maypearl’s 13-yard line.
Walker gets the ball and fights, spins and drives his way thru the heart of the Panther defense for another Gladiator touchdown, Italy leads 18-0. Italy’s 2-point try is stopped short with 7:27 left in the half.
An onside kick attempt by Roldan seems to work to perfection as Roldan falls on the dribbler after the required 10-yards. The ball was ruled touched by Italy before going 10-yards and Maypearl takes over at the 47-yard line of Italy. A short pass by Maypearl is halted by Harris who makes a quick tackle. The next play, a flag against the Panthers pushes them back their own 49-yard line. Gonzalez keeps the ball but Walker gets him down on the ground and Maypearl decide’s to punt. Caden Jacinto returns the kickoff and Italy begins from their own 30-yard line with 4:59 on the clock.
Roldan gets a pancake block to spring Lewis to the forty-five, first down Italy. Carson keeps and gains three. Offsides on Maypearl advances the ball to the Panther forty-eight. After an incomplete pass, Robertson makes a sideline catch but it’s not enough for the first and Hopkins punts it away for Italy. The 33-yard kick rolls out at Maypearl’s 19-yard line. Catching Italy off guard, Spradling bursts 81-yards for the touchdown to make the score 18-7 after a successful point after kick with 2:50 remaining in the half.
Always a threat when the ball is in his hands, Hamilton returns the Panther kickoff to Italy’s own 45-yard line. Runs by Walker and Lewis mixed a couple of false start calls places the ball at midfield, 1:56 to go. On 3rd and long, Carson passes to Robertson who goes out at the Panther 38-yard line for a Gladiator first down. Joffre hauls in another Carson pass for a first down on the 15-yard line with 1:39 showing.
Lewis runs to the Panther nine. Joffre draws a pass interference call against Maypearl. Italy has first and goal at the 8-yard line. Walker carries to the three, :56 and ticking… Walker scores behind the block of Reed to give Italy a 24-7 cushion with :48 showing. Walker finishes off the drive following Roldan into the end zone for the 2-point conversion, giving Italy a 26-7 halftime lead.
After some sparring to start the third-quarter, Hopkins records his first catch of the season at the Maypearl 47-yard line. Italy is stymied the next few plays but on 4th and 10, Carson has plenty of time in the pocket with Mayberry keeping the closest Panther defender at bay. Carson keeps pumping the ball until he spots Walker running in the clear and hits Walker on the run. Walker continues into the end zone for a 48-yard touchdown to give Italy a 32-7 lead at the 7:49 mark of the third. The 2-point try is good and Italy goes up 34-7.
Roldan kicks off and Maypearl fumbles the catch but the ball is covered by the Panthers at their 35-yard line. Spradling is hit hard by Caden Jacinto but gains five. Hamilton knocks Spradling out-of-bounds at the Maypearl forty-four just shy of the first down marker. Walker hits the back in the hole to force a 3rd down and 2. Wood comes off the edge to wrap up Gonzalez who manages to pass incomplete and avoid the sack, 4th and 2. Newman makes the tackle behind the line-of-scrimmage and Italy takes over at their own 46-yard line with 5:59 to play in the third.
Hamilton makes a first down catch to the Panther 35-yard line. Carson runs for 2-yards. Newman carries and draws a face mask penalty for an Italy first down at the 19-yard line. Carson passes to Hopkins for a 19-yard touchdown completion to give Italy a 40-7 advantage. Roldan’s point after kick is strong and true to put the Gladiators up 41-7.
Maypearl goes back on offense but Seabolt makes a tackle, Newman makes a tackle and then Seabolt recovers a fumble in Maypearl’s backfield to give control of the rock back to the Gladiators at the Panther 40-yard line. After a yard loss, Lewis carries 13-yards to the twenty-eight. Two carries by Carson sets up a 3rd and three at the twenty-one. Newman carries but holding on Italy backs the team to the twenty-nine, 3rd and 11. Runs by Carson and Joffre move the ball to the twenty-five but Maypearl takes over on downs. Maypearl runs to their thirty-six where Boyd makes the tackle to end the third-quarter.
At the 10:51 mark of the fourth-quarter, Allen cuts back for a 41-yard touchdown run to give Maypearl fans something to cheer about. The point after kick is good but the fact remains, Italy leads, 41-14.
Hamilton answers Maypearl’s big play by returning the ensuing kickoff to the Panther 29-yard line. With Coach Hollywood reigning in his offense, Italy’s drive stalls at the Maypearl twenty-eight with 7:45 remaining. Walker and Boyd make tackles and Hamilton knocks down a Panther bomb attempt to bring up 3rd and 5 for the Panthers. Reid Jacinto makes a tackle from his linebacker position followed by Seabolt who makes the stop short of the first down sticks. Italy takes over at the Panther forty-six with just over 5:00 left.
Italy moves backwards and the Panthers take over at Italy’s 35-yard line with 3:11 to go. Tackles by Byers, Seabolt and Reid Jacinto help stall the Panthers at the thirty-two. Carson takes a couple of victory formation snaps to squash Maypearl’s hopes of a fairy-tale ending and close the curtain on the season opener with the Gladiators upstaging the Panthers 41-14. That’s a wrap!
Italy will participate in the inaugural Dale Hansen Football Classic on Friday, September 7 starting at 7:30 p.m. against the Malakoff Tigers at Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie. It will be an exciting event and we encourage every Gladiator fan to be there!!