Italy — The Gladiators have been in search of a win and an identity after suffering through a 3-game slide to conclude the pre-season. On Friday night in front of their home town fans, the Gladiators found both, a much needed victory to begin district 1-0 and the proof they needed that they’re an explosive team on both sides of the ball.

Marvin Cox, in just his second start for the Gladiators, replaced Eric Carson at the quarterback position a week earlier against Hico. Carson, who passed for 487-yards and 6 touchdowns during preseason action, returned to his role as a slot receiver. The addition of Cox also allowed head coach Hank Hollywood to utilize the talents of senior Chase Hamilton as both a receiver and a running back more effectively within the offense, while leaving the remaining receiving corp in tact. Receivers Cole Hopkins, Trevon Robertson and Kelvin Joffre all contributed to the win over Itasca.

Also in his second start for Italy was sophomore center Kyle Fortenberry who was moved up from the JV squad for the Hico game as well. Fortenberry replaced Zain Byers who was changed to right tackle. Kevin Roldan continued his solid season at right guard, Darol Mayberry has settled in at left guard and Cody Medrano protected the blind side of Cox at left tackle to round out the starting line.

Italy’s defense, led by Ryheem Walker who now has 74 tackles and 22 assists, had been outscored 145-66 during the slide. Against Itasca, however, the Gladiator defense had 1 interception by Carson, 3 fumble recoveries, including a strip by Cox who returned the gift 60-yards for a touchdown, on their way to a 51-0 shutout of the Wampus Cats.

After receiving the opening kickoff which was covered by Reid Jacinto at Italy’s 41-yard line, the Gladiators needed just two plays to light up the scoreboard. Walker, who is the starting tailback, burst out of the gate for a 46-yard gain to Itasca’s 13-yard line. A keeper by Cox results in a standing touchdown for the speedster to put Italy up 6-0 before the Cats’ air tunnel crew could deflate. Cox runs in for the conversion but a false start penalty respots the ball at the 8-yard line. A pass to Hopkins goes incomplete and the score remains 6-0.

Roldan kicks off for Italy with teammate Hayden Woods making the tackle on Itasca’s return man. The Cats start at their own 33-yard line. A quick pass gives Itasca a 2nd and 7. Walker makes the tackle on the next play to force a 3rd and 1. The Cats leap to the forty-five for the first to move the chains. Itasca tests the middle but Byers closes down from his left tackle position for the stop. Adrian Reed makes a tackle that leaves the Cats with a 3rd and 11 at their own forty-four. Itasca’s head coach Bobby Campbell calls for a middle screen but Byers and nose guard Jamal Lewis read the play and clamp down on the receiver after he makes the catch for a 4 yard loss back to the forty. Itasca punts on 4th and 15 that is downed at Italy’s 38-yard line.

Cox keeps for 6 yards to the forty-six. Cox then pitches to Walker who is gone in a cloud of dust for a 54-yard touchdown. Again, the Gladiators only needed two plays to put points on the board and take a 12-0 lead. Hopkins makes the grab from Cox for the conversion but the play was ruled incomplete with Hopkins stepping out before the catch could be made. The point-after kick by Fortenberry was off the mark.

Roldan kicks off again but this time a high-arcing kick from the junior drops down behind Itasca’s front line that failed to react to the kick thinking it was traveling farther over their helmets. After a bounce, Robertson snags the freebie for Italy on the run but the ball is eventually spotted at the Itasca 35-yard line for a Gladiator 1st down with 7:23 still to play in the opening quarter.

Cox gains 4 and a pass to Hopkins bring up 3rd and 1. Walker runs straight ahead for a 1st down to the twenty-four. Cox shows pass but tucks and runs to the six with 5:58 on the clock. Cox crosses the goal line from there to give Italy a commanding lead, 18-0.

Itasca fields Roldan’s kick and then sustain a drive to Italy’s 45-yard line. That was the end of the line for the Cats as Fortenberry recovers a fumble from his linebacker position. With 4:15 to go in the first-quarter, Italy takes over at the forty-five.

Cox gathers 24 yards to the thirty-six of Itasca. Walker gains 6 to the thirty. Cox slips thru to the 18-yard line with 2:43 showing. Carson takes the hand off and advances the ball to the eleven for 7 yards. Cox keeps but is tackled at the three where he loses his grip on the ball that continues to roll out of the back of the end zone. Ruled a touchback, the hiccup by Italy’s offense gives Itasca the ball at their own twenty.

The Cats gain 6 before Cox makes the stop. After a run earns a 1st down to the thirty-three, Lewis, Reed and Fortenberry combine for the stop at the thirty-four to bring up 2nd and 9. Byers makes catches a Cat by the tail from the opposite side of the line to leave Itasca with 3rd and 6. The Cats pick up the first to the 48-yard line with to end the quarter.

An incomplete pass followed by a clipping call forces the Cats to throw on 2nd and long. Carson intercepts at Italy’s 25-yard line at the 11:42 mark of the second-quarter. Cox keeps the ball, but as he is being tackled, pitches to Hamilton. The smooth play gives Italy a 1st down at their own thirty-six, after the 11 yard run by Hamilton. Cox flees the pocket and receives two downfield blocks from Joffrey that spring Cox to the forty-eight of the Cats. After off-setting penalties and an incomplete pass intended for Hopkins, Walker rumbles for 8 to the forty. Cox falls in behind Roldan and Byers and gains 2 yards resulting in a measurement. First down, Italy!

Cox passes into the end zone, looking for Hopkins, but the ball lands incomplete. A run by Walker is called back on a holding call. Cox rolls out and sets and delivers a dart to Hopkins who makes the grab for a nice gain to Itasca’s twenty-five. Cox completes his next pass as well but Itasca jars the ball loose and recovers at their 17-yard line with 8:15 left in the first half. Robertson makes the ensuing tackle for Italy but the Cats gain 7. Itasca gains a 1st down with Cox making the stop at the thirty-two. Boykin pulls down a Cat to bring up 2nd and 10. Two plays later, Robertson makes another tackle leaving Itasca with 4th and 1. A delay of game call backs the Cats up, 4th and 6. After a timeout, Itasca decides to punt.

Cox hands to Walker who makes a huge run down to Itasca’s 17-yard line. Cox hands the ball to Carson who breaks a tackle and spins away to reach the 6-yard line. Italy looses 3 yards but a Cox keeper on the next play results in another Gladiator touchdown. Cox runs behind Fortenberry, Mayberry and Roldan up the middle for the two-point conversion. Italy leads 26-0 with 3:10 remaining.

Roldan kicks off and Itasca starts at their 21-yard line. The Cats gain 2 but get charged with a holding penalty on their second play. Byers makes first contact in the backfield and then Shad Newman finishes the play leaving Itasca with 3rd and 20 at their own 14-yard line, 1:35 showing. The Cats throw incomplete and punt it away.

Italy quickly moves into scoring position with a catch and run to the twenty-three of the Cats. Cox slings the ball in the direction of Carson in the end zone but the ball sails out-of-bounds. Hamilton runs in for a touchdown on the following play. The 23 yard carry by Hamilton gives Italy a 32-0 lead. Cox’s conversion try is contained by the Cats’ defense with :44 seconds left.

Boykin makes the tackle for Italy to end the first half with the Gladiators enjoying a huge lead at the break, 32-0.

After the Itasca Band performed, Italy’s band director Jesus Perez watched proudly as the award-winning Gladiator Regiment Marching Band and Color Guard impressed fans with their halftime performance with drum major Emily Stiles and assistant drum major Madison Washington alternating turns on the director’s podium. The band then fired up the school song as the Gladiators charged thru the air tunnel, maintained by Gary Wood, Lee Hamilton and Jasenio Anderson, and then back into battle.

Both sides boxed back-and-fourth for the majority of the third-quarter as Lewis led the Gladiator defensive effort with help from Reed, Boykin, Newman, Cox, Walker, Jacinto and Justin Wood. Italy’s best offensive plays were a pass completion from Cox to Joffrey and a reception by Hamilton that advanced the ball into scoring position at Itasca’s 26-yard line with 4:05 to play in the quarter.

Cox keeps up the middle and puts a hand on the back of Byers who leads his quarterback toward the goal line. Cox curves around a block from Byers and slingshots across the goal line to put Italy up 38-0. The point after try failed with at the 3:43 mark. To end the third-quarter, a pitch from Cox to Walker went 55-yards for Walker’s longest carry of the game and yet another Gladiator touchdown, making the score 44-0. Walker would finish the night with 213 rushing yards on just 8 carries for a 26.6 yard average.

Italy added one final touchdown in the fourth-quarter when Cox stripped the ball from an Itasca runner and then weaved his way down Italy’s sideline for a 60-yard defensive touchdown. Wood snapped to Hopkins who was the holder as Roldan’s point-after kick cleared the uprights to complete the scoring with all the points glowing on Italy’s side of the scoreboard, 51-0.

The Gladiators get the much needed win to start district off with a bang and improve their overall record to 2-4. Hollywood’s hard chargers will take on Cross Roads (1-5) Friday night for Italy’s Homecoming game starting at 7:30 p.m. In their first district contest, Cross Roads was routed by Gateway Charter Academy, 42-21.

Go Italy!