Italy continues playoff run by upsetting Honey Grove 33-20 in regional semifinal

Image: Gladiator senior captains Caden Jacinto(6), Kelvin Joffre(80), Reid Jacinto(11) and Adrian Reed(64) wish the Honey Grove captains luck.

Gladiator senior captains Caden Jacinto(6), Kelvin Joffre(80), Reid Jacinto(11) and Adrian Reed(64) wish the Honey Grove captains luck. (Barry Byers)

Image: Up front, Marvin Cox(3) represents the Gladiators and coaches during the National Anthem while Bailey Eubank represents Italy’s statisticians, cheerleaders and team managers as Italy prepares to take on the Honey Grove Warriors for the regional semifinal championship at Ken Autry Davis Field in Wills Point.

Up front, Marvin Cox(3) represents the Gladiators and coaches during the National Anthem while Bailey Eubank represents Italy’s statisticians, cheerleaders and team managers as Italy prepares to take on the Honey Grove Warriors for the regional semifinal championship at Ken Autry Davis Field in Wills Point. (Barry Byers)

Image: Junior kicker Kevin Roldan(60) commands his special team’s unit before teeing off against Honey Grove.

Junior kicker Kevin Roldan(60) commands his special team’s unit before teeing off against Honey Grove. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator cheerleaders Ashlyn Jacinto, Taylor Turner, Kelsey Nelson, Meagan Hooker, Britney Chambers and K’Breona Davis are unable to hide their pre-game excitement.

Gladiator cheerleaders Ashlyn Jacinto, Taylor Turner, Kelsey Nelson, Meagan Hooker, Britney Chambers and K’Breona Davis are unable to hide their pre-game excitement. (Barry Byers)

Image: Zain Byers(50), Hunter Merimon(45) and Adrian Reed(64) try keeping Warrior quarterback Jeremy Patt(3) in check.

Zain Byers(50), Hunter Merimon(45) and Adrian Reed(64) try keeping Warrior quarterback Jeremy Patt(3) in check. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator linebackers Ryheem Walker(10) and Shadrach Newman(25) prove they are too physical for the Warriors offense.

Gladiator linebackers Ryheem Walker(10) and Shadrach Newman(25) prove they are too physical for the Warriors offense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiators’ Shadrach Newman(25), Adrian Reed(64) and Reid Jacinto(11) help ensure a missed point-after try by Honey Grove.

Gladiators’ Shadrach Newman(25), Adrian Reed(64) and Reid Jacinto(11) help ensure a missed point-after try by Honey Grove. (Barry Byers)

Image: The tuba section: Gladiator Regiment Band members Timothy Fleming and Jonathan Davila rock the halftime performance.

The tuba section: Gladiator Regiment Band members Timothy Fleming and Jonathan Davila rock the halftime performance. (Barry Byers)

Image: JoeMack Pitts displays his skills during a quick halftime solo with his band mates providing some background music.

JoeMack Pitts displays his skills during a quick halftime solo with his band mates providing some background music. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator cheerleader Britney Chambers gets stretched for the second half kickoff. Britney’s “scorpion” move was apropos as the Gladiator defense kept stinging the Warriors with one big hit after another.

Gladiator cheerleader Britney Chambers gets stretched for the second half kickoff. Britney’s “scorpion” move was apropos as the Gladiator defense kept stinging the Warriors with one big hit after another. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Roldan and his teammates are ready to kickoff to Honey Grove.

Kevin Roldan and his teammates are ready to kickoff to Honey Grove. (Barry Byers)

Image: Hunter Merimon(45) keeps an eye on the quarterback as fellow Gladiator and defensive end Zain Byers(50) zeroes in on Honey Grove’s Demontrae Finney(22).

Hunter Merimon(45) keeps an eye on the quarterback as fellow Gladiator and defensive end Zain Byers(50) zeroes in on Honey Grove’s Demontrae Finney(22). (Barry Byers)

Image: Center Kyle Fortenberry(66) picks off Warrior defenders as quarterback Marvin Cox(3) looks for running room. Cox finished the night with 238 rushing yards on 16 carries, completed 1-of-3 passes for 14-yards and totaled 4 touchdowns.

Center Kyle Fortenberry(66) picks off Warrior defenders as quarterback Marvin Cox(3) looks for running room. Cox finished the night with 238 rushing yards on 16 carries, completed 1-of-3 passes for 14-yards and totaled 4 touchdowns. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lean On Me Four! Italy’s coaching staff and players fire up for the fourth-quarter.

Lean On Me Four! Italy’s coaching staff and players fire up for the fourth-quarter. (Barry Byers)

Image: Marvin Cox(3) is all smiles with Italy on the verge of securing a win over Honey Grove.

Marvin Cox(3) is all smiles with Italy on the verge of securing a win over Honey Grove. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s offense prepares to seal the deal as they look to add one more touchdown.

Italy’s offense prepares to seal the deal as they look to add one more touchdown. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator assistant coach Brian Coffman credited senior defensive tackle Adrian Reed(64) on wearing down the Warriors’ offensive line.

Gladiator assistant coach Brian Coffman credited senior defensive tackle Adrian Reed(64) on wearing down the Warriors’ offensive line. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator head coach Hank Hollywood pushes his team to finish strong.

Gladiator head coach Hank Hollywood pushes his team to finish strong. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator offensive coordinator Nate Skelton talks with receiver Eric Carson(12) during a timeout.

Gladiator offensive coordinator Nate Skelton talks with receiver Eric Carson(12) during a timeout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Marvin Cox(3) takes a knee for the victory formation snap and then rises in triumph as Italy moves past Honey Grove 33-20 to claim the regional semifinal championship!

Marvin Cox(3) takes a knee for the victory formation snap and then rises in triumph as Italy moves past Honey Grove 33-20 to claim the regional semifinal championship! (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21), Zain Byers(50), Shadrach Newman(25), John Hughes(62) and Hayden Woods(65) celebrate their dominating win over Honey Grove.

Gladiator Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21), Zain Byers(50), Shadrach Newman(25), John Hughes(62) and Hayden Woods(65) celebrate their dominating win over Honey Grove. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Italy Gladiators are presented the 2012 Class A Regional Semifinal Championship trophy and then celebrate by raising the trophy high.

The Italy Gladiators are presented the 2012 Class A Regional Semifinal Championship trophy and then celebrate by raising the trophy high. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator sophomore Kyle Fortenberry(66) played long-snapper, offensive center and defensive line to help Italy secure the trophy.

Gladiator sophomore Kyle Fortenberry(66) played long-snapper, offensive center and defensive line to help Italy secure the trophy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21) and Darol Mayberry(58) covet the trophy while posing for pictures after upsetting Honey Grove 33-20 for the regional semifinal championship.

Jalarnce Jamal Lewis(21) and Darol Mayberry(58) covet the trophy while posing for pictures after upsetting Honey Grove 33-20 for the regional semifinal championship. (Barry Byers)

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