Italy — Head coach Hank Hollywood was all smiles after the Italy Gladiators made quick work of the Cross Roads Bobcats, proving Italy will be a tough team to beat in their final three district match-ups. The Gladiators bested their 18-0 first-quarter lead against Itasca by building a 21-0 first-quarter advantage over the Bobcats this past Friday. Italy added 21 more points in the second to lead 42-0 at halftime and then coasted the remainder of their homecoming game.

Before the game, the Gladiator Regiment Marching Band and color guard performed for the hometown folks to allow more time for introducing the Homecoming Queen Nominees and Princesses and, ultimately, announcing the 2012 Homecoming Queen. The 2012 Homecoming King, Blake Vega, had already been announced during the downtown pep rally held prior to the game. “Congratulations, King Vega!”

With full support from Italy’s cheerleaders, including Meagan Hooker, Taylor Turner, Kelsey Nelson, K’Breona Davis, Ashlyn Jacinto, Britney Chambers, Sierra Wilson, Caroline Pittman, Paige Little and mascot Reagan Adams, and Richard Dabney announcing the play-by-play and Paul Cockerham manning the clock, the Gladiators came out of the gate running with quarterback Marvin Cox starting things off with a keeper. Ryheem Walker carried twice to reach Italy’s 47-yard line. Cox kept the rock again for 23 yards to the Bobcat 30-yard line. Cox gained 2 more but then a fumble in the backfield was recovered by Cox at the thirty-five. The mishap proved to be a slight hitch in Italy’s get-a-long as Cox stepped back and then threw on a line to Cole Hopkins who fought through tacklers and then stretched to the nineteen for an Italy 1st down. Right tackle Zain Byers handled a Bobcat line stunt to perfection allowing Chase Hamilton to cut off the block for 10 yards to the nine. Cox, with plenty of time behind his line, consisting of Cody Medrano, Darol Mayberry, Kyle Fortenberry, Kevin Roldan and Byers, connects with receiver Kelvin Joffre for a 9 yard TD pass to give Italy a 6-0 lead at the 8:03 mark of the first-quarter. Roldan’s P.A.T. kick was true to make the score 7-0.

After Roldan boots the ensuing kickoff, Joffre and Hayden Wood combine for the stop at the Bobcat thirty-two. Adrian Reed and Cox hold Cross Roads to just 2 yards on the visiting team’s first offensive play. Reed is in on the tackle again to keep the Bobcats penned. Woods slams the door shut on a quick pass attempt by the Bobcats and Cross Roads opts to punt on 4th and 6, with 6:30 on the clock. Italy offense starts again from their own thirty-two.

Walker powers ahead for 9 yards. Cox kicks a kick out from Roldan then follows Byers for a 1st down to the Bobcat 40-yard line. Cox then completes a short pass to Eric Carson who quickly turns the play into an untouched 40 yard touchdown with 4:59 still to play in the first. With Fortenberry snapping and Hopkins holding, Roldan’s P.A.T sails through the uprights to make the score 14-0.

Roldan booms the kickoff but the Bobcats finally show some life with a solid return to their own forty-one. Mayberry and Woods make the stop but Cross Roads gains 5 yards. Hamilton contains the edge to bring up 3rd and 6. Italy’s defensive line has vastly improved in recent weeks with Reid Jacinto, Darol Mayberry, Jalarnce Jamal Lewis, Reed, Zackery Boykin and Byers beginning to assert their will. Lewis streaks into the backfield and holds up the Bobcat QB long enough for Byers to deliver a crunching hit that forces Cross Roads to punt the ball away. Cox chooses to field the ball along Italy’s sideline, cuts back across midfield and then finds room to run all the way to the end zone with Lewis and Jacinto leading the way. The attention getter is called back on a clip but the Bobcats were officially put on notice, it’s going to be a long night.

Italy starts at their own forty-five after the penalty but Walker quickly moves Italy back across midfield to the Bobcat forty-five for a 1st down. Walker carries again to the enemy’s 33-yard line with 2:00 on the clock. Moments later Cox lobs a pass to Joffre who makes an over-the-shoulder catch while crossing the goal line. Joffre’s 33 yard TD catch puts Italy up 20-0 with :57 seconds left. Roldan kicks it through again and Italy leads 21-0.

Roldan kicks off and Woods makes a clothes-line tackle at the Bobcat 24-yard line. Cross Roads gains 3 yards with Shad Newman making the tackle to end the quarter.

On the first play of the second-quarter, Cox picks off a Cross Roads’ pass and races 30-yards for another Gladiator touchdown. Again, Roldan’s kick is accurate to put distance between Italy and Cross Roads, 28-0.

Jacinto, Joffre and Woods combine for the stop during the kickoff and the Bobcats start from their thirty. Cox and Reed are in on tackles but Cross Roads is given a 1st down after an offsides penalty is charged to Italy. Play continues when a personal foul penalty against Italy advances the Bobcats across midfield for the first time in the game. From the Italy thirty-nine, Cross Roads runs for a 1st down to Italy’s 25-yard line. Play is halted while an injured Bobcat is tended to with 9:40 to play in the second.

After the injury timeout, Lewis penetrates into the Bobcat backfield and Walker and Newman combine for the stop after a 2 yard gain. A false start call backs Cross Roads to Italy 28-yard line and brings up 2nd and 13. Jacinto tackles a Bobcat for a loss back to the 36-yard line, 3rd and 21. Lewis and Byers apply pressure on the Bobcat Q.B. who manages to flip a pass forward which is caught way short of the 1st down marker. On 4th and 18, Byers hurries the Bobcat signal caller whose pass is broken up by Carson. Italy takes over at their own 33-yard line with 7:24 left before halftime.

Walker takes the hand-off from Cox and runs to the right behind Roldan and Byers on his way to a 61-yard touchdown gallop. Roldan kicks the P.A.T. between the uprights and as Italy takes a commanding 35-0 lead. Roldan then kicks the ball back to the Bobcats and then helps make the tackle. The Bobcats mount a drive, however, and reach midfield with 5:13 left in the first half.

After a first down run, the Bobcats complete a pass with Cox upending the receiver at Italy’s 42-yard line. Hamilton and Reed make the stop on the next play but the Bobcats manage another 1st down to the thirty-two, 3:26 on the clock. Cox knocks down a pass near Italy’s 15-yard line that brings up 2nd and 10. A holding penalty charged to Cross Roads costs them 5 yards. Trying to make up the lost ground thru the air proves to be a miscalculation as Carson intercepts the pass on the run and gets all he can get to Italy’s 32-yard line with 2:44 to play in the half.

Cox gains just two yards but Walker explodes on the next play for a 1st down at the Gladiator 49-yard line. Carson pulls in a catch from Cox for an Italy 1st down at the Bobcat 38-yard line, 1:23 remaining. Cox drops back and finds Hopkins for a 38 yard TD pass. Roldan’s point after kick is good and Italy leads 42-0.

The kickoff by Roldan is returned by the Bobcats to their own 30-yard line. Hunter Merimon, seeing his first action for the Gladiator varsity squad this season, forces the issue and an incomplete pass with :29 seconds to go. Lewis and Boykin divide a sack on the hapless Bobcat quarterback to end the half with Italy well in front, 42-0.

During halftime, with Maddie Pittman playing eloquently on the harp, the Homecoming Queen Nominees were introduced, including Morgan Cockerham, Felicia Little, Paola Mata, Alyssa Richards and Katie Byers, followed by the introduction of Homecoming Princesses Kendra Copeland, Madison Washington and Julissa Hernandez. Alyssa Richards, escorted by her father Allen Richards, was crowned the 2012 Homecoming Queen by her sister Megan Richards, who was the 2011 Homecoming Queen. Alyssa then accepted a bouquet of flowers from Omar Estrada, the 2011 Homecoming King. Congratulations to the entire homecoming court!

With the new Queen and King in place, Roldan kicks off to the Bobcats to start the second half. The Bobcats fumble during the return which is recovered by Carson at the Cross Roads’ 35-yard line. Coach Hollywood inserts several JV Gladiators into the game with freshman Ryan Connor stepping in at quarterback for Italy. Connor hands off to Lewis, a senior, who runs 10 yards for a 1st down at the Bobcat twenty-five. Connor repeats the play and Lewis picks up another 1st down to 9-yard line. Miscues in the backfield and penalties quickly push Italy’s offense away from the Bobcat goal line. Cross Roads eventually takes control of the ball and begins to drive the ball against a mixture of Italy’s JV and varsity players.

Brandon Connor sneaks through the Cross Roads’ offensive line to start the chase with Carson making the tackle. Merimon makes a tackle at the Italy thirty-five. Colin Newman and Reed nearly recover a fumble but the Bobcats secure the ball. A pass is caught at the twenty-five where Carson cuts the Bobcat receiver down, 1st down Cross Roads with 4:50 left in the third. The Bobcats continue to push and reach the Gladiator 9-yard line with 2:11 on the clock.

Ty Windham makes the tackle at the five after a pass completion by the Bobcats to bring up 4th and goal. Carson nearly picks of the next pass attempt but, nevertheless, the ball goes over on downs to the Gladiators. Unfortunately, a miscue in the backfield forces Connor to just eat the ball and give up a safety. The Bobcats manage to avoid the shutout but do little to dampen the mood of the Gladiators who had already begun soaking in their homecoming domination with :56 seconds left in the third and still leading 42-2.

By rule Italy has to kickoff and Hopkins punts from the 20-yard line. The Bobcats return the punt to their own 36-yard line where Joffre makes first contact. Escamilla deflects a pass to stop the clock with :34 seconds still to go. Woods makes the tackle to end the third.

Gladiator fans begin to chant “Let’s go, Squirt! Lets go, Squirt!” in support of senior John Hughes who makes a tackle for Italy. Escamilla makes a physical play at the line-of-scrimmage with Cody Boyd and Walker combining for the stop at the Gladiator 48-yard line. Woods makes the tackle after a long run to Italy’s 33-yard line. A holding penalty during the play backs the Bobcats up and helps to foil their touchdown hopes.

The Gladiators add one last touchdown during the fourth-quarter after a 19-yard run by Lewis sets up a 26-yard run by Lewis on the next play. Roldan kicks through his 7th point of the game to complete Italy’s 49-2 homecoming victory as the Gladiators remain undefeated in district play at 2-0, with an overall record of 3-4.

The Gladiators will head into an early district showdown with the Cayuga Wildcats who are also undefeated thus far in district play. The game will be in Cayuga Friday, October 26, 2012 starting at 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats enter the contest coming off a 20-0 win over Itasca. Italy previously defeated Itasca 51-0 in the first district game for the Gladiators.

Go Italy!

>> Click here to view more images <<