Gladiators give a great effort during Dale Hansen Football Classic
Dale Hansen presents academic scholarships to Italy’s Paul Harris and Morgan Cockerham and to Malakoff’s Olin Taylor and Baylie Sims. Each recipient received $1,000.00. Overall $12,000.00 in scholarships were presented during the inaugural 2012 Dale Hansen Football Classic. (Barry Byers)
Waxahachie — Before the inaugural Dale Hansen Football Classic kickoff between the Italy Gladiators, head coached by Hank Hollywood, and the Malakoff Tigers on Friday night at Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie, academic scholarship were awarded to a boy and girl from each school. Italy students receiving the $1,000.00 scholarships which were based on their submitted essays were Morgan Cockerham, a Lady Gladiator Cheerleader, and Paul Harris, a member of the Gladiator football team. Dale Hansen himself presented the award to all four students who celebrated the moment with their families.
Minutes later, the teams made their way to the field. Malakoff took the field first and then the Gladiators charged thru their air tunnel with flags waving, horns blaring and with the school song shouting across the field compliments of the Gladiator Regiment Marching Band directed by Jesus Perez, assisted by Erica Scott and drum major Emily Stiles and assistant drum major Madison Washington.
Italy’s captains during the coin toss were Caden Jacinto, Adrian Reed, Reid Jacinto and Kelvin Joffre. Dale Hansen himself was honored with flipping the ceremonial coin. Malakoff won the toss but deferred the ball and, therefore, the Gladiators received the kickoff.
After a nice return, Italy’s Ryheem Walker opened the game with a 9-yard run to midfield. Quarterback Eric Carson looses a yard trying to scramble. On the next play, however, Carson connects downfield with Chase Hamilton who runs it in for 51-yard touchdown completion. Justin Wood field goal snaps back to Cole Hopkins who holds for Braulio Luna. Luna’s kick sails thru the uprights and Italy leads 7-0 over Malakoff.
Kevin Roldan kicks off for Italy. The Tigers struggle against the Gladiator defense and efforts by Walker, Jalarnce Lewis, Trevon Robertson, Justin Wood, Cody Boyd, Zackery Boykin, Darol Mayberry and nose guard Hank Seabolt. Malakoff is forced to punt on 4th and 5. The punt goes out at Italy’s 46-yard line with 8:39 on the clock. A false start backs Italy up five. Walker gains back the yards with a first down run to Malakoff’s 49-yard line. Italy is charged with another false start but Carson makes it up on the next play after a 5-yard run into the middle of Malakoff’s line, 2nd and 10. Carson rolls out and chooses to tuck the ball and run all the way to the Tiger 28-yard line for a 1st down.
Walker gets the carry but a holding call backs Italy to the Tiger 37-yard line. Three runs by Carson leaves Italy with 4th and 6 at the 24-yard line. Carson is knocked out-of-bounds for a loss of 5-yards and the Tigers take over at their own 29-yard line with 5:30 showing.
Malakoff’s first pass drops incomplete. After a Tiger run, Boyd draws a late hit flag and Malakoff is left with 2nd and 25 from their own 21-yard line. Italy recovers a Tiger fumble on the next play which has them in scoring position at the 16-yard line. Carson lobs a pass to Hopkins who makes the catch in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Italy leads 13-0. Luna’s point after try is off the mark. However, an offsides call gives Gladiator head coach Hank Hollywood a chance to think about it and Italy opts to run a quarterback sneak with Carson for the 2-point conversion. Italy now leads 15-0 at the 4:29 mark of the first quarter.
Roldan tries an onside kick attempt for Italy but Malakoff recovers. Malakoff takes advantage of the good field position and drives the ball all the way inside the Gladiator 5-yard line. Italy tries valiantly to accomplish a goal line stand but on 4th and goal from the one, the opening quarter of the classic comes to an end.
The break between quarters gives the Tigers extra time to formulate a plan. Tiger head coach Jamie Driskell calls for a quarterback sneak out of the shotgun formation. The running start gives Tiger quarterback Tate Taylor steam to power his way in for a Malakoff touchdown making the score 15-7.
Italy’s Lewis returns the kickoff to Malakoff’s 46-yard line. Walker gains nine to the 39-yard line with 11:10 to play in the second-quarter. Carson drops back, gets great protection from his offensive line and hits Trevon Roberston on a 37-yard pass completion to the 1-yard line of Malakoff. Walker carries the ball in from there and Italy goes up 22-7 after Luna’s point after kick is good.
After the kickoff by Roldan, Malakoff mounts a lengthy drive from their own 32-yard line down to Italy’s one. Malakoff’s tailback Marcus Dowell was held back on three straight plays to bring up a 4th and goal to end the firs-quarter. Malakoff’s Taylor punches it into the end zone on the first play of the second to make the score 22-14.
Lewis takes the kickoff and reaches the 35-yard line. Walker is pounced on by the Tigers for a loss of three and then Carson tries to roll out on the next play but looses the handle on the ball. Guard Darol Mayberry hustles back to track the ball down inside Italy’s 10-yard line. Two plays later, Hopkins punts it deep but Terrance Scott breaks free down the Tiger sideline and returns the ball 55-yards to the Gladiator 1-yard line. Dowell crosses the goal line on the next play and Malakoff ties the contest 22-22 at the 6:36 mark of the second-quarter.
A calculated kickoff by the Tigers is covered by Hopkins at the 27-yard line. Unfortunately, Carson fumbles again but this time Malakoff recovers at Italy’s 23-yard line. Italy holds strong and a near pick by Lewis leaves Malakoff with a 4th and 8 situation. The Tigers go for it and complete a pass but it’s ruled out of bounds and Italy regains possession. Italy’s offense continues to struggle and Hopkins punts again. The 26-yard punt rolls out at Italy’s 43-yard line determined to keep it out of Dowell’s hands with 3:37 left in the first half.
Taylor loses control of the ball in the Malakoff backfield and Italy’s Justin Wood scoops it up and sprints 57-yards for a Gladiator touchdown. Luna’s point after kick is true once again to give Italy back the lead, 29-22 with 3:26 still showing.
Malakoff is unable to return Roldan’s kickoff far, thanks to a tackle by Cody Medrano. Two plays later, a hard tackle by Walker leaves the Tigers with 3rd and long. Taylor passes and the Tigers get a big play down to Italy’s 20-yard line. A false start backs Malakoff 5-yards but it doesn’t take the Tigers long to get a 1st down at Italy’s 4-yard line with :33 remaining. Taylor throws a touchdown pass to tie the game 29-29 which is the score at halftime.
The Gladiator Regiment Marching Band performed at halftime as does Malakoff’s band. Three lucky fans were given chances to “Kick for Chickin” from the 15-yard line sponsored by Chick-fil-a of Waxahachie. Darrius Shaw of Red Oak made his field goal for $100.00 worth of chicken, Italy’s Richard Dabney made his kick count for $100.00 worth of chicken and Tina Long of Italy, well, let’s just say she’s one cool chick.
Roldan kicks off to start the third-quarter and Malakoff begins from their 37-yard line. Two plays in, Lewis is injured and is helped off by Coach Hollywood and assistant coach Larry Mayberry, Sr. A short run is then followed by a long run with Robertson making a touchdown saving tackle at Italy’s twenty-eight. Malakoff runs to the 19-yard line and the Robertson makes another stop at the twelve. The Tigers run it on the next play, however, and take a 36-29 lead, their first lead of the game with 9:32 left in the third.
Hamilton gets a solid return on the ensuing kickoff and Walker takes the handoff from Carson and runs to the 45-yard line for an Italy first down on their side of the field. Walker clears the first wave of Tiger tacklers and breaks a long run to Malakoff’s 21-yard line, 8:24 on the clock. Carson passes incomplete intended for Hamilton but finds Robertson on the next play for a 21-yard touchdown completion. Luna’s kick is good and Italy responds to tie the game 36-36 with 7:57 left in the third.
It only took the Tigers :43 seconds to regain the lead thanks to a 74-yard touchdown pass to give Malakoff a 43-36 advantage. After the Tiger kickoff, Italy is faced with a 4th and 5 form their own 35-yard line and opts to go for it. Walker is stopped and the Tigers take over, again with excellent field position. Robertson and Walker combine for a tackle at the thirty, but Taylor would eventually run it in for another Tiger touchdown to give Malakoff a 50-36 cushion with 2:28 still to play in the third.
After the kickoff, the Tiger defense holds and Hopkins punts it away. Malakoff begins at Italy’s 44-yard line. Tackles by Hamilton and Shad Newman bring up a 3rd and three for Malakoff at Italy’s 37-yard line to end the quarter.
The Tigers charge out of the break with a 29-yard run to Italy’s 8-yard line where Robertson and Roldan make the tackle. Taylor runs up the middle but fumbles into the end zone another Tiger player recovers for a touchdown and Italy falls behind 57-36 with 10:33 left in the game.
Italy’s offense moves backwards and Hopkins punts again. Malakoff is charged with a penalty during the return and must begin from their own 19-yard line. Zain Byers, who was nursing a sore ankle going into this game, sees his first action at defensive tackle and quickly brings down Dowell for a 3-yard loss. The Tigers pass for the 1st down with Hamilton making the tackle at the Tiger 46-yard line. A tackle by Robertson brings up 2nd and 4. Malakoff runs for a first to the thirty-nine of Italy. Byers attacks Dowell in the backfield but is unable to hold on and the Tigers gain a couple of yards. A penalty against Italy after the play gives Malakoff another 1st down at Italy’s 21-yard line with 5:09 remaining.
Taylor and the Tigers add one more touchdown to complete the scoring and finish off Malakoff’s 64-36 win over Italy. Both sides shook hands and Malakoff was presented with a well-deserved trophy. In his third season head coaching the Tigers, expect Driskell’s team to do well in the playoffs this year after going 9-1 the past two seasons.
As for Italy, they stood cleat-to-cleat with Malakoff until midway thru the third-quarter and turned in a number of big plays including three touchdown passes from Carson. Walker is running hard and is difficult to bring down and is complimented nicely by a speedy Lewis. Defensively, Italy is showing improvement in some areas but still needs some adjusting in others. The Gladiators are definitely heading in the right direction and will get a chance to take any frustrations they may have out on Sunnyvale this Friday, September 14, during a home game at Willis Field starting at 7:30 p.m.