The Italy Junior High Gladiators vs. Sunnyvale:
Sunnyvale — Italy’s 7th grade and 8th grade Gladiators saw their first action this past Thursday with Sunnyvale winning both games. The 7th grade score was 6-0 in favor of the Raiders while the 8th grade game featured several big plays for Italy.

After trailing 6-0 to the Raiders, Elliott Worsham returned a Sunnyvale fumble back 50-yards to help give Italy’s 8th graders an 8-6 advantage. Taking advantage of Italy’s injured Joseph Celis, who sprained his ankle while being tackled, the Raiders rallied defensively and built a 21-8 lead by halftime.

Sunnyvale picked off a pass in the third-quarter which led to a Raider touchdown run with 2:11 to play before the fourth. Sunnyvale added their fourth point-after kick to lead 28-8. Italy’s Devonteh Williams returned the ensuing Sunnyvale kickoff all the way for a touchdown to make the score 28-14. Italy fumbled on the conversion try but guard Kenneth Norwood, Jr. picked it up and broke a pair of tackles before being tackled short of the goal line.

Norwood recovered another fumble when Sunnyvale lost the handle on the kickoff. The Italy drive quickly stalled and faced a 4th and 12 to end the third. An incomplete pass to start the fourth gave Sunnyvale back the ball and the Raiders quickly mounted a drive. Italy held strong at the 5-yard line and regained control after making a stand. Italy’s Jarvis Harris added one last long run to end the game 28-14 in favor of Sunnyvale.

The Italy JV Gladiators vs. Sunnyvale:
The JV Gladiators fell behind 14-0 after one quarter of play but rallied in the second quarter to pull within 2-points of the Raiders. A touchdown catch by Tyvion Copeland made the score 14-6 at the 3:47 mark. Italy’s 2-point pass attempt on the conversion try was intercepted by the Raiders who stampeded 100-yards for the 2-points to lead 16-6. Italy would eventually get control of the ball and then sophomore quarterback Ryan Connor connected with Marvin Cox who turned a short catch into a 37-yard touchdown scamper. Copeland caught the pass from Connor for the conversion to keep Italy in the game, 16-14 at the break.

Italy takes the kickoff from Cox and begins from their own 30-yard line. Italy’s defense is playing tough to the delight of Coach Hollywood on the sideline. Hunter Merimon guns down the Raider quarterback from the blind side to pop the ball out. John Escamila keeps a Raider from recovering the loose pigskin allowing Merimon time to fall on it after time expired. Sunnyvale leads 16-14 at half but Italy stole the momentum.

At the 7:13 point of the third-quarter, a huge hit by Escamilla on Sunnyale’s quarterback, who again didn’t see it coming, helped leave the Raiders with 4th and short at Italy’s 46-yard line. Italy jumps offsides on the next play and Sunnyvale has a 1st down at the JV Gladiator 41-yard line. Moments later, a screen pass is quickly halted by Escamilla and the Raiders punt with 4:35 showing.

Italy is backed up inside their 5-yard line when Billy Moore breaks into the clear and rumbles to Sunnyvale’s 42-yard line. A Copeland catch gets Italy to the Raider thirty-one. Copeland then makes a catch in double-coverage and runs into the end zone to give Italy its first lead of the contest, 20-16 with 2:54 to play in the third.

Sunnyvale has the ball near midfield when big hits by Moore and Escamilla force a punt. Italy takes over at their own 31-yard line. Jaray Anderson explodes upfield to the forty-one. Italy fumbles on the next play and the Raiders have possession with :31 on the third-quarter clock.

Sunnyvale pushes towards Italy’s goal line where Cox appears to strip the ball with the JV Gladiators recovering. The play was ruled forward progress and the referee handed the ball back to the Raiders in a pretty package with a bow on top. Sunnyvale took advantage of the gift and used a quarterback sneak to regain the lead. The point-after kick was true and Sunnyvale was back in front, 23-20 with 7:30 remaining in the game.

Italy punts to end their next possession and Sunnyvale takes over at their own 39-yard line. Moments later, Sunnyvale fumbles again with Cox dishing out the hit. This time, Italy is credited with recovering the fumble at midfield with 4:19 remaining in the game.

The next few minutes includes a 9-yard pass to Cox, a 1st down run by Moore, a pass interference call against the Raiders and a trick play by Italy that only gains three on 3rd and 10. On 4th sand 7 at Sunnyvale’s 22-yard line, Connor throws to Cox who makes a diving effort at the Raider 14-yard line to keep the drive alive with 1:25 left. A determined run by Moore, affectionately known as, “Da Bus,” advances the ball to the Raider 6-yard line. Italy calls a timeout with 1:08 to play.

Italy is forced backwards and is staring at 4th and goal from the Raider 14-yard line with :25 remaining. Italy calls a timeout as does Sunnyvale before Italy takes the potentially game deciding snap. Center Kyle Fortenberry hikes the ball to Connor who drops back, buys time, and then shoots for Levi McBride in the back of the end zone. McBride, who entangles with Sunnyvale’s cover man, stumbles out of the collision and is unable to reach the pass from Connor which, otherwise, would have been on target.

The referee crew was short one official and were, therefore, out of position to make a call regarding the contact involving McBride in the end zone. Instead, the line judge turned and announced, “No flag,” and there’s your ballgame, 23-20, Sunnyvale wins the thriller.

A really nice effort by Italy, however, they didn’t let the tough calls get them down. Instead, Cox was at midfield to tap all his teammates on their shoulder pads in encouragement before they all headed out to shake hands, which Italy did with class.

Away games in Hubbard – Thursday, September 20:
Italy’s Junior High Gladiators will kick things off Thursday, September 20, against the Hubbard JH Jaguars starting with the combined Junior High game at 5:00 p.m. in Hubbard immediately followed by the JV matchup starting around 6:00 p.m.

Go Italy!