Italy vs. Stamford for the Class A state semifinal championship; continued:

Image: Marvin Cox(3) tries to pass Italy out of trouble while Cody Medrano(75) and Ryheem Walker(10) give him time to throw.

Marvin Cox(3) tries to pass Italy out of trouble while Cody Medrano(75) and Ryheem Walker(10) give him time to throw. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryheem Walker(10) takes the handoff from Marvin Cox(3) and then tries punching thru the middle as Cody Medrano(75), Darol Mayberry(58) and Kevin Roldan(60) clear some room.

Ryheem Walker(10) takes the handoff from Marvin Cox(3) and then tries punching thru the middle as Cody Medrano(75), Darol Mayberry(58) and Kevin Roldan(60) clear some room. (Barry Byers)

Image: Marvin Cox(3) sets up behind Ryheem Walker(10) who looks for a Bulldog to block.

Marvin Cox(3) sets up behind Ryheem Walker(10) who looks for a Bulldog to block. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy receiver Cole Hopkins(9), a senior, pulls in a pass against Stamford’s defense.

Italy receiver Cole Hopkins(9), a senior, pulls in a pass against Stamford’s defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Jalarnce Lewis(21) Ryheem Walker(10) and Cody Medrano(75) dig in on defense.

Italy’s Jalarnce Lewis(21) Ryheem Walker(10) and Cody Medrano(75) dig in on defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Adrian Reed(64), Hayden Woods(8), Reid Jacinto(11) and Trevon Robertson(4) make sure Stamford only kicks a field goal instead of trying a fake.

Adrian Reed(64), Hayden Woods(8), Reid Jacinto(11) and Trevon Robertson(4) make sure Stamford only kicks a field goal instead of trying a fake. (Barry Byers)

Image: Noah Ramirez, Brenya Williams, Whitney Wolaver, Maddie Pittman and Reagan Adams are pumped up after the band’s rocking halftime show.

Noah Ramirez, Brenya Williams, Whitney Wolaver, Maddie Pittman and Reagan Adams are pumped up after the band’s rocking halftime show. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sarah Levy, Laura Luna, Alexis Sampley, Julissa Hernandez, Morgan Junkin, Anna Riddle, Alexis Burchett and Paige Little exit the field feeling proud of their band’s performance.

Sarah Levy, Laura Luna, Alexis Sampley, Julissa Hernandez, Morgan Junkin, Anna Riddle, Alexis Burchett and Paige Little exit the field feeling proud of their band’s performance. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s fans were unbelievably supportive of the Gladiators during the season and throughout their playoff run.

Italy’s fans were unbelievably supportive of the Gladiators during the season and throughout their playoff run. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Cole Hopkins(9), Chase Hamilton(2) and Ryheem Walker(10) line up in trips as tackle Zackery Boykin(55) and quarterback Marvin Cox(3) help search for a solution to Stamford’s swarming defense.

Italy’s Cole Hopkins(9), Chase Hamilton(2) and Ryheem Walker(10) line up in trips as tackle Zackery Boykin(55) and quarterback Marvin Cox(3) help search for a solution to Stamford’s swarming defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Despite being 35-0 down, the Gladiators continue to strategize and never gave up against Stamford.

Despite being 35-0 down, the Gladiators continue to strategize and never gave up against Stamford. (Barry Byers)

Image: Stat girls Bailey Eubank and Jaclynn Lewis keep their spirits up.

Stat girls Bailey Eubank and Jaclynn Lewis keep their spirits up. (Barry Byers)

Image: As member of Italy’s 2011 team, Larry Mayberry, Jr. congratulates Jalarnce Lewis(21) on his outstanding senior season.

As member of Italy’s 2011 team, Larry Mayberry, Jr. congratulates Jalarnce Lewis(21) on his outstanding senior season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Reid Jacinto(11), Zain Byers(50) and Jalarnce Lewis(21) try to clamp down on a Stamford back.

Reid Jacinto(11), Zain Byers(50) and Jalarnce Lewis(21) try to clamp down on a Stamford back. (Barry Byers)

Image: After colliding with teammate Jalarnce Lewis(21) who is being checked on by assistant coach Larry Mayberry, Sr., Zain Byers(50) is escorted off the field by assistant coach Brian Coffman. Byers would later return and finish strong.

After colliding with teammate Jalarnce Lewis(21) who is being checked on by assistant coach Larry Mayberry, Sr., Zain Byers(50) is escorted off the field by assistant coach Brian Coffman. Byers would later return and finish strong. (Barry Byers)

Image: Offensive coordinator Nate Skelton plans the next possession with quarterback Marvin Cox(3).

Offensive coordinator Nate Skelton plans the next possession with quarterback Marvin Cox(3). (Barry Byers)

Image: The fourth-quarter was marked by heavy rains but Italy’s offensive line continued to line up with Cody Medrano(75), Zain Byers(50), center Kyle Fortenberry(66), Kevin Roldan(60) and Zackery Boykin(55) prepare for another play.

The fourth-quarter was marked by heavy rains but Italy’s offensive line continued to line up with Cody Medrano(75), Zain Byers(50), center Kyle Fortenberry(66), Kevin Roldan(60) and Zackery Boykin(55) prepare for another play. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Roldan(60), Zackery Boykin(55), Kyle Fortenberry(66), Zain Byers(50) and Ryheem Walker(10) keep battling in the downpour.

Kevin Roldan(60), Zackery Boykin(55), Kyle Fortenberry(66), Zain Byers(50) and Ryheem Walker(10) keep battling in the downpour. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s senior tackle Zackery Boykin(55) is still fighting late in the game.

Italy’s senior tackle Zackery Boykin(55) is still fighting late in the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: After Italy manages to put points on the board, kicker Kevin Roldan(60) kicks off to Stamford with time running out on Italy’s season.

After Italy manages to put points on the board, kicker Kevin Roldan(60) kicks off to Stamford with time running out on Italy’s season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Still proud of his team, Gladiator sophomore Kyle Fortenberry(66) looks ahead to next season.

Still proud of his team, Gladiator sophomore Kyle Fortenberry(66) looks ahead to next season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sophomore John Escamilla(56) soaks in the moment as he begins planning for another run next season.

Sophomore John Escamilla(56) soaks in the moment as he begins planning for another run next season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Gladiators Chase Hamilton(2) and Reid Jacinto(11) take those difficult last steps back to the locker room with Italy’s amazing run ending in Mineral Wells with the Stamford Bulldogs getting the 41-8 win to advance to the state championship against the Mart Panthers.

Senior Gladiators Chase Hamilton(2) and Reid Jacinto(11) take those difficult last steps back to the locker room with Italy’s amazing run ending in Mineral Wells with the Stamford Bulldogs getting the 41-8 win to advance to the state championship against the Mart Panthers. (Barry Byers)

Image: We certainly do! Thanks for that, Reagan.

We certainly do! Thanks for that, Reagan. (Barry Byers)

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