Italy’s JV Gladiators win a few battles but Malakoff wins the war 38-20
Billy Moore(32) and Kyle Fortenberry(66) block for Marvin Cox(2) during Italy’s JV matchup against the Malakoff Tigers. (Barry Byers)
Malakoff — At Tiger Stadium in Malakoff with a sun filled sky, the Italy JV Gladiators took on the JV Tigers on what quickly proved to be a test of wills.
Malakoff delivered the first shot with a 67-yard catch and run for touchdown. Hunter Merimon hits the tiger quarterback to force an incomplete pass on the conversion try but Malakoff leads 6-0 midway thru the first-quarter.
Italy takes the kickoff and mounts a drive of their own. An 11-yard run by quarterback Ryan Connor to Malakoff’s 40-yard line and a catch by Levi McBride to the thirty-one, paved the way for Billy Moore who steamrolled Tiger tacklers all the way to the 3-yard line. Moore gets the call again and plows his way in for an Italy touchdown with 8:08 left in the first half. The conversion pass from Connor to Marvin Cox is just out of reach and the score remains tied, 6-6.
Italy’s defense holds Malakoff on the Tigers’ ensuing possession and the JV Gladiators take over at their own 35-yard line. After a catch by Merimon and an 11-yard run by Cox to Malakoff’s 41-yard line, the Tigers pick off a Connor pass intended for Jack Hernandez and regain control at their own 35-yard line. Two plays later, Malakoff strikes again with a 65-yard touchdown pass to make the score 12-6. The conversion run gives Malakoff a 14-6 lead with 2:41 left in the first half.
Kyle Fortenberry covers an onside kick attempt by the Tigers and Italy starts from their forty-eight. Connor drops back and passes to Cox for a 52-yard touchdown to make the score 14-12. Connor’s conversion pass to Cox is just off his fingertips and the score remains 14-12 in favor of the Tigers.
Malakoff scores on their next drive after a 34-yard run. Fortenberry and teammate Clayton Miller makes the stop on the conversion but the Tigers lead 20-12 with 1:28 remaining in the half.
On Italy’s ensuing drive, a catch by McBride gives Italy a first down at Malakoff’s 45-yard line with :55 on the clock. The Tigers pick off another Connor pass on the following play and John Byers makes a touchdown saving tackle while losing his helmet in the process at Italy’s 20-yard line.
Malakoff’s first pass falls incomplete with Hernandez covering. The second pass attempt is knocked down by Miller and Connor at the goal line. Jaray Anderson sacks the the Tiger quarterback to bring up 4th down with :10 remaining. Malakoff’s tries a Hail Mary pass into the end zone but Connor deflects it at the back of the end zone to keep the Tigers from adding to their 20-12 halftime lead.
To start the third-quarter, Malakoff gets a good return to their 42-yard line. Fortenberry tackles a Tiger for a short gain to bring up 2nd and 9. The Tigers bust a long run down to Italy’s 13-yard line with Anderson making the tackle. At the 6:47 mark of the third, Malakoff squeezes thru the middle of Italy’s defense for another touchdown. Miller knocks down the Tigers’ conversion pass at the goal line but the Malakoff lead is now 26-12.
The remainder of the third goes scoreless with both sides unwilling to budge but early in the fourth-quarter, Malakoff runs in from 2-yards out to go up 32-12 with 9:50 left in the matchup. Brandon Connor makes a difficult over-the-shoulder catch on the ensuing kickoff to keep control of the ball for Italy.
Italy drive is helped along with a pass interference call on a pass attempt from Cox to McBride. The play gives Italy a 1st down at Malakoff’s 27-yard line. After a false start call and two incomplete passes, Connor throws to Cox on 4th and 15. Cox makes the grab and races to the end zone to tighten the margin 32-18 with 6:59 to play. Connor runs in for the conversion to make the score 32-20.
Malakoff covers Italy’s onside kick attempt and begins at their drive Italy’s 48-yard line. The Tigers manage to drive down to Italy’s 15-yard line before running in for one last touchdown to make the score 38-20 in favor of Malakoff. Cox plants a Tiger receiver in the dirt to foil the conversion attempt but the Tigers get the win. The JV Gladiators now have a 1-1 record as they look ahead to Sunnyvale.
The Italy Junior High Squads will see their first action today in Sunnyvale with the 7th grade game starting at 4:30 p.m. followed by the 8th grade game at 5:30 p.m. The JV game will cap off the night with a 7:00 p.m. start time.