Italy — With the game having an anything you can do I can do better feel to it, the Italy Junior High Gladiators pulled together as s team to out-do a Keren’s offense that relied on a one-trick Bobcat.

Italy managed to methodically drive the field and score on its first possession when Joe Celis backed his way across the goal line to put the JH Gladiators up 6-0. Starting quarterback, Tylan Wallace, a 7th grader, pitched right to Jarvis Harris who won the race to the pylon for two more points to give Italy an 8-0 advantage early.

Kerens began their counter drive from their own 41-yard line after a David De La Hoya kickoff. A false start call backs the Bobcats to their thirty-six. Kerens runs for 5-yards to bring up second and 5. With one good offensive snap finally under their belts, the next play by Kerens resulted in a 59 yard touchdown run by a speedster at tailback. Celis stopped the Bobcat quarterback on the conversion try to help Italy stay on top 8-6.

Italy starts at their 32-yard line after the ensuing kickoff. A tough and determined run by Kendrick Norwood pushes the ball to the 45-yard line. On the following play, Norwood matches Kerens with a 55 yard touchdown run of his own to propel the JH Gladiators to a 14-6 lead. The conversion try by Celis is stopped short of the stripe with 1:31 left to play in the opening quarter.

An onside kick try by Italy is covered by Kerens at Italy’s 48-yard line. Then, as if someone had dropped another quarter into an arcade game and pushed the One Player button, the talented Bobcat tailback hit the middle, slipped a tackle and then made his way 48-yards for another Kerens’ touchdown, 14-12. On the conversion try, the main Bobcat took the handoff, yet again, spun out of a whac-a-Bobcat hit from Italy’s Fabian Cortez and then ran across the goal line to tie the game 14-14, 1:18 left in the first.

Kerens pens Italy deep after the kickoff but a first down run by Kendrick Norwood advances the ball to Italy’s 34-yard line. Kendrick Norwood gains three to the thirty-seven before Wallace steps back to pass on second and 7. In trouble, Wallace tucks the ball and fights his way to the 45-yard line. Italy ends the quarter with a first down after the effort by Wallace.

To start the second quarter, Celis picks up 3 yards to the Italy forty-eight. Wallace is tracked down by the Bobcats for a loss back to the twenty-nine. Kendrick Norwood gets a small gain on the next run, therefore, Italy opts to punt it away. The main weapon for the Bobcats is back to receive but Kenneth Norwood, Jr., form tackles the threat at Italy’s 39-yard line. Defensive tackle Aaron Pittmon makes a tackle for Italy to bring up 2nd and 11 for the Bobcats at Italy’s 40-yard line.

On the next play, however, the arcade-like bells and whistles sound again as the key ’Cat takes the handoff and sprints his way downfield for a 40-yard touchdown, his third of the game. Kerens takes their first lead with the effort, 20-14. A quarterback keeper sneaks another 2-points as the Bobcats take a 22-14 lead, 3:44 remaining in the second.

Needing to respond, Kendrick Norwood returns the ensuing kickoff to Italy’s 37-yard line. Celis gains four to the 41-yard line. Italy’s next run earns a first down at the 47-yard line. Wallace rolls right and passes to Celis open in the flat. Celis receives a timely block from teammate Michael Wilson that springs Celis all the way down to Italy’s sideline, 53-yards for an Italy touchdown. Kendrick Norwood will not be denied on the conversion try as Italy shows moxie by tying the contest 22-22 with 2:40 to play before halftime.

The onside kick try by De La Hoya had a chance but Kerens covers it t their 40-yard line. A false start penalty causes Kerens to lose 5 yards, back to their 35-yard line. On the following play, a miscue in the Bobcat backfield results in a free ball and a fumble recovery by Italy’s Dylan McCasland. McCasland gives his home team possession at the enemies 24-yard line with 2:06 left in the half.

Moments later, unfortunately, Italy fumbles the ball back the Bobcats at the 21-yard line of Kerens. After a loss of one on a muffed snap, Kerens launches a bomb pass toward Italy’s end zone. Italy is flagged for interference on the play and the ball is spotted ahead to the Bobcat 40-yard line. The Bobcat QB tries to pass again but Kenneth Norwood, Jr., sacks the ’Cat to end the half with the score tied 22-22.

De La Hoya kicks off to Kerens to start the third-quarter. The top ‘Cat of Kerens fields the kick and is off to the races, yet again. That is until Italy 7th grade Gladiator, Gary Escamilla blocked his sideline route and then latched onto the sprinter as he cutback. Escamilla manages to trip up the ball carrier at Italy’s 42-yard line to give Italy’s defense a chance. After a false start call, the top back of Kerens appears to be headed for the end zone but a hard tackle by Cortez temporarily keeps the game tied at Italy 5-yard line.

On 1st and goal, the best weapon for Kerens punches the ball across the threshold to put the Bobcats back in front, 28-22 with 6:11 remaining in the third. Italy’s Devin Bowles greets the Kerens gunner in the hole but the elusive Bobcat finds a way to get in for the conversion. Kerens expands its lead 30-22.

Celis returns kickoff to Italy’s 40-yard line. Celis then carries twice for a first down before Wallace passes to Cortez for another Italy first down at the Bobcat 33-yard line with 4:50 left in the third. Celis runs to the 26-yard line of Kerens to bring up second and 4-yards needed for a first down. Wallace pitches to Celis who runs right and reaches the 9-yard line. Celis finds room behind Escamilla to the 4-yard line. Wallace connects with Cortez for an Italy touchdown to make the score 30-28. Celis follows Kenneth Norwood, Jr., into the end zone for the game-tying conversion, which makes the score 30-30 with 2:37 to play in the quarter.

De La Hoya squib kick allows Cortez to make the tackle at the Bobcat 35-yard line. Bowles knocks a Bobcat out-of-bounds at Italy’s 45-yard line. McCasland and Wallace combine for the stop. Suddenly, the Bobcats’ one-hit-wonder is being contained and Kerens is forced to manufacture yardage. A few plays later, Celis captures the speedster from behind injuring the runaway ’Cat who leaves the game as the third-quarter ticks to an end.

Kerens has the ball at Italy’s 17-yard line to start the fourth-quarter. Aaron Pittmon makes another tackle at Italy’s 12-yard line. Bowles and Kendrick Norwood combine for the stop to bring up third and 6. A big hit by Celis leaves Kerens with 4th and 4. Kerens, with their fire power ailing, tries the air but has their pass falls incomplete which allows Italy to regain possession of the ball at their own 13-yard line.

Wallace hands off to Kendrick Norwood three consecutive plays and Wallace’s fellow 7th grader responds by advancing to the ball to Italy’s 39-yard line after runs of 7, 15 and 3 yards. Reusing a play call that produced big results in the second-quarter, Wallace again passes to Celis in the flat and Celis reaches the 12-yard line of Kerens before being knocked out-of-bounds with 3:26 remaining in the contest, a 49-yard play!

Wallace hands off to Kendrick Norwood on the next play who runs right for the go ahead touchdown with 3:20 showing. Up 36-30, Celis carries the ball left for the two-point conversion and Italy leads 38-30 going into the game’s final moments.

De La Hoya kicks off and Clay Riddle makes the open field tackle at the Bobcat 31-yard line. Celis makes a tackle for a loss of 2-yards and then makes another tackle to bring up a third and 12 situation for Kerens. The Bobcats complete a screen pass over the middle but Kenneth Norwood swallows up the Bobcat back like Pacman eating a ghost. Kerens loses 3-yardsback to their own 22-yard line. Despite hobbling a bit, the speedy Bobcat gets the handoff and breaks loose to the 42-yard line with Wallace making the tackle. However, only :52 seconds remain and the Kerens’ coaching staff decides to try passing their way in for a score.

A deep pass lands incomplete, a pass in the flat falls incomplete but a long pass attempt down the middle of the field is caught after a diving effort at the Italy 34-yard line. Defensive tackle De La Hoya bats the next Bobcat pass back into the hands of the quarterback who wisely runs for a gain of 2 yards. With 3rd and 8 and only :4 seconds remaining, the Bobcats try a desperation pass but the prayer is intercepted by Kendrick Norwood who pinballs around the field before being tackled to end the thrilling game.

The Italy JH Gladiators hang on in the final moments to end their final game of the 2012 season with a district win over Kerens, 38-30. Credit Italy’s offensive line with center De La Hoya, Austin Pittmon, Aaron Pittmon, Elliott Worsham and Kenneth Norwood, Jr., answering the Bobcat quick-strike offense with patient methodical drives. And to all the 7th graders that stepped up in this one, especially Wallace at quarterback and Kendrick Norwood at tailback, nice job rookies. Also credit Italy’s fourth-quarter defense for finding a way to unplug the top runner of the Bobcats.

Great Season IJH Gladiators!