IHS celebrates Senior Night 2012 as Gladiators get a district win over Gateway
Eric Carson(12) delivers a hit on a Gateway receiver during Italy’s 34-14 win over the Gators during Senior Night 2012 for the Gladiators. Italy is now 4-0 in district play and a win over Kerens will give the Gladiators sole claim to the 2012 district championship. A Kerens win could create a 3-way tie between Italy, Cayuga and Kerens. (Barry Byers)
Italy — Gladiator and Lady Gladiator fans celebrated Senior Night 2012 at Willis Field by honoring a slew of Italy High School’s seniors including 12 football players, 3 volleyball players, 2 cheerleaders, 1 cross country athlete, 2012 Homecoming King Blake Vega, 8 band members and 2 color guard members. The honored senior athletes were accompanied by their escorts, presented gift bags and flowers for the moms and then introduced in front of the home crowd before the game. Gladiator Regiment Band and Color Guard seniors were honored during halftime.
IHS Seniors honored before the game:
- Blake Vega – 2012 Homecoming King
- Meagan Hooker – Cheerleader
- Morgan Cockerham – Cheerleader / Volleyball
- Paola Mata – Volleyball
- Alyssa Richards – Volleyball / 2012 Homecoming Queen
- Katie Byers – Cross Country
- Cole Hopkins – Football
- Caden Jacinto – Football
- Kelvin Joffre – Football
- John “Squirt” Hughes – Football
- Hayden Woods – Football
- Reid Jacinto – Football
- Zackery Boykin – Football
- Marvin Cox – Football
- Chase Hamilton – Football
- Adrian Reed – Football
- Ryheem Walker – Football
- Jalarnace Jamal Lewis – Football
The Gladiators, head coached by Hank Hollywood, had the momentum going in as they looked to improve their district mark to 4-0 by defending their home field against the Gateway Gators. To start the game, Gladiator senior Jalarnce Jamal Lewis returned the opening kickoff 36 yards to the Gateway 34-yard line. The effort by Lewis setup a 24-yard touchdown run by senior tailback Ryheem Walker. The point-after kick by Kevin Roldan, with senior Cole Hopkins holding, was down the middle of the uprights to give Italy a 7-0 lead at the 10:12 mark of the first-quarter.
Gateway gets a short return on the ensuing kickoff by Roldan and then quickly drive into Gladiator territory. Italy makes a stand at their own 34-yard line when senior Marvin Cox strips the ball allowing Lewis to recover for the Gladiators, 8:00 to play in the first.
A pass from Cox to Hopkins gives Italy a 1st down at Italy’s 44-yard line. Cox runs for 2 yards and then senior back Chase Hamilton sneaks thru a pile up for a gain of 5 yards to the forty-nine. Walker is stopped on a 3rd and 3 try resulting in a punt by Hopkins that is downed by senior Kelvin Joffre at Gateway’s 9-yard line, a 44 yard punt by Hopkins with 5:41 left in the first.
Gateway’s next drive stalls at their fifteen and punt it back to Italy. Cox finds a cut back lane and then finds a wall of gold blockers that lead Cox into the end zone. The effort by Cox is erased on a penalty and the ball is spotted at the Gateway 40-yard line. Hamilton gains 2 yards before Cox works in the pocket to find Joffre downfield for a completion to the Gator 11-yard line. After Hamilton lunges ahead for a gain of 5 yards to the 1-yard line, Cox keeps and leaps over a Gator tackler and into the end zone to put Italy up 13-0. Roldan’s kick is true an Italy leads 14-0 with 2:49 remaining in the quarter.
Eric Carson hustles downfield to tackle Gateway’s kick returner at the Gator 20-yard line. Senior tackle Adrian Reed and Walker combine for the tackle to hold Gateway to a 2nd and 9. On the next play, however, Gateway’s quarterback Michael Jimmerson lofts an arching pass that drops into a small cluster of Gladiator defenders and Gator receivers. Gateway’s Travon Morgan snagged the pass, avoided a tackle and the sprinted down the visitor sideline for a 79-yard touchdown. The fluke completion gave Gateway life and their successful 2-point conversion try tightened the score 14-8 with 2:01 still to play in the opening quarter.
Italy starts from their own 35-yard line after the kickoff. A run by Cox gives Italy a 1st down at the Gator 42-yard line. After an incomplete pass and Walker unable to advance the ball forward, Cox scrambles to the Gator 37-yard line to end the the quarter.
Starting the second-quarter with 4th and 5 yards to go for a first, Cox connects with Carson for a 1st down completion to the Gator 23-yard line. Walker takes the handoff from Cox and runs in from 23-yards out for his second touchdown of the game. Roldan’s point-after kick is unsuccessful after hitting the upright but Italy regains the momentum up 20-8 with 11:15 left in the first half.
Roldan kicks off and Gateway starts at its own 30-yard line. Jimmerson completes a pass but Cox delivers a hard hit on the receiver to send a message. Zain Byers pressures Jimmerson on the next play causing the Gator quarterback to throw an interception into the hands of Cox who advances the ball to Gateway’s 35-yard line at the 10:42 mark.
Hamilton gains 5 yards to the Gator thirty. Walker gains 10 yards to the twenty. Cox thinks about throwing but decides to tuck it and run, reaching the five, 1st and goal. A miscue backs Italy to the 11-yard line but Walker gets the call on the next play and fights thru tacklers before stretching over the goal line for his third TD of the first half. With Kyle Fortenberry shaping and Hopkins holding, Roldan kick is good helping Italy build a 27-8 advantage with 9:10 still on the clock.
Gateway starts at their own 39-yard line after Roldan’s kickoff. Lewis, from his nose guard position, makes the stop to bring up 2nd and 8 for Gateway. Again, Lewis makes the tackle holding the Gators to 3rd and 2. Linebacker Shad Newman reads the screen and makes the tackle to bring up 4th and 5, forcing the Gators to punt. Italy starts from their own 28-yard line with 7:07 showing.
Three carries by Cox result in a 4th and 3 at Italy’s 35-yard line prompting Hopkins to punt the ball back to the Gators who take over at their 18-yard line after the 47 yard punt by Hopkins. Byers makes a tackle for no gain, 2nd and 10 for the Gators. Byers presses Jimmerson causing an incomplete pass, 3rd and 10. Desperate to make something happen, Jimmerson tries the air again. Italy’s senior defensive tackle, Reid Jacinto, hits Jimmerson as he throws and Cox picks off his second pass at the Gator 37-yard line.
Cox takes the shotgun snap from Fortenberry and fires on line to Hopkins who outruns a Gator defender to reach the end zone standing up for a 37-yard touchdown completion. Roldan kicks the extra point thru the uprights and Italy now has a commanding lead, 35-8, with 4:48 remaining before halftime.
The Gators start from their own 30-yard line and quickly get a 1st down at the forty. The Gators break a long run to Italy’s 28-yard line where Carson and Hunter Merimon make the tackle. Hayden Woods combines with Byers for the stop and a 2-yard loss back to the thirty. Woods was injured on the play and had to leave the game with a dislocated shoulder. “Hurry back, Hayden!”
Jimmerson passes incomplete on the next play with Cox in coverage but hands off to Robert Overstreet on the next play who finds a seam and races ahead for the 30 yard touchdown to make the score 34-14, still in favor of the Gladiators. Lewis pressures Jimmerson on the conversion try to force an incomplete pass and the half ends with the score as is.
Gladiator Regiment Marching Band and Color Guard seniors honored at halftime:
- Gus Allen – Band
- Yonathan Davila – Band
- Timothy Fleming – Band
- John “Squirt” Hughes – Band
- Reid Jacinto – Band
- Morgan Junkin – Band
- Brett Kirton – Band
- Zachary Latimer – Band
- Brooke Miller – Color Guard
- Maria Patino – Color Guard
Italy had a couple of chances to score in third-quarter. The first opportunity came after a 22 yard run by Walker to the Gator 28-yard line was followed by a 15 yard run by Walker to Gateway’s to thirteen. On the next play, Cox connected with Carson for a completion to the 2-yard line, bringing up 1st and goal. Unfortunately, Italy fumbled on the next play and the Gators took over control of the ball at the 7:15 mark.
Moments later, the Gators ran into problems and Italy regained possession after Cox snagged his third interception of the contest for Italy. Italy’s drive eventually stalled at the Gateway 11-yard line with :33 seconds left in the quarter.
Italy cruised in the final quarter as the Gladiator seniors began to soak in the final moments of their last home game. With the win, Italy improves to a 5-4 overall record and are now 4-0 in district play. The Gladiators are just one win away from claiming the district championship outright but will need to defeat Kerens at their place to get it done.
After the win, the football seniors removed their armor and then held hands in unity as the 12 Gladiators stretched across Willis Field for their final Senior Walk which has become a tradition at Italy High School. One last chance to reflect on past battles and wonder where the journey might lead.
Italy will challenge the Kerens Bobcats on Friday, November 9, in Kerens starting at 7:30 p.m. For Italy, sole possession of the district tile is on the line while the Bobcats hope to force a three-way tie for the top prize.
Congratulations to all our seniors who do their part to make Italy High School a great place to learn and achieve!
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