Walker, Cox and Byers earn all-state honors; Hollywood named Coach Of The Year

Barry Byers Posted Italy Gladiator Football
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What a trophy shelf filling season 2012 was for the Italy Gladiator football team whose list of awards and honors continued to roll in well after this season had ended. Below is a collection of those accolades, the current Gladiator Hall of Fame football players’ list and information regarding upcoming bowl games featuring Gladiator seniors at the end of this article.

The Old Coach selected Italy Gladiators’ HFC/AD Hank Hollywood as the 2012 Coach of the Year!

Coach Hollywood and his staff, consisting of Nate Skelton, Josh Ward, Brian Coffman, Brian Duncan, Wayne Rowe and Larry Mayberry, Sr. were named Coach and Staff of the Year in District 6-1A.

Players recognized for their efforts this season outside All-District voting were Marvin Cox (senior), Ryheem Walker (senior) and Zain Byers (junior). Cox, Walker and Byers compiled quite a collection of individual awards as well as team honors accumulated during Italy’s historical state-semifinal run this season:

Marvin Cox QB/S:

Ryheem Walker TB/LB:

Zain Byers C/OL/DE:

The Padilla Poll is compiled by Carl Padilla who is considered one of Texas high school football’s most highly-respected rankings experts. Padilla works closely with Dave Campbell’s Texas Football to predict Top 25’s and district finishes for its annual publication.

Cox, Walker and Byers join an elite group of past Gladiator All-State award winners in football:

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Italy Gladiator Football’s Golden Hall of Fame All-State Roster:

  • Zain Byers
    • 2012 Texas Sports Writers Association: Honorable Mention All-State Defensive Line
    • 2012 The Padilla Poll: 2nd Team All-State Defensive Line
    • 2012 Smoaky.com: 3rd Team All-Central Texas Defensive End
  • Ryheem Walker
    • 2012 Texas Sports Writers Association: 2nd Team All-State Linebacker
    • 2012 Texas Sports Writers Association: Honorable Mention Running Back
    • 2012 Associated Press: 1st Team All-State Linebacker
    • 2012 The Padilla Poll: State Class A Region II Division I Defensive Player of the Year
    • 2012 The Padilla Poll: 1st Team All-State Running Back
    • 2012 Smoaky.com: 2nd Team All-Central Texas Linebacker
    • 2012 Smoaky.com: 2nd Team All-Central Texas Utility
  • Marvin Cox
    • 2012 Texas Sports Writers Association: 1st Team All-State Defensive Back
    • 2012 The Padilla Poll: 1st Team All-State Defensive Back
    • 2012 TheOldCoach.com: 1st Team All-State Defensive Back
    • 2012 Associated Press: 2nd Team All-State Defensive Back
    • 2012 Dave Campbell’s Texas Football: 2nd Team All-Classifications Defensive Back
    • 2012 Smoaky.com: All-Central Texas 2nd Team Defensive Back
  • Jasenio Anderson
    • 2010 All-State Punter
    • 2009 All-StatePunter
    • 2009 All-State Quarterback
  • Chris Enriquez
    • 2004 All-State Defensive Lineman
  • Jordan Droll
    • 2001 All-State Center
  • Scorpio Babers
    • 2000 All-State Defensive Back
    • NFL with Miami Dolphins (Undrafted free agent 2007)
    • NFL with Green Bay Packers
    • Arena with Jacksonville Sharks
    • CFL with Calgary Stampeeders
  • Ben Major
    • 2000 All-State Linebacker
  • Mason Reeves
    • 2000 All-State Offensive Tackle
  • DeJuan Davis
    • 1999 All-State Linebacker
    • 1999 BFS All-American
  • Keland Lewis
    • 1999 All-State Defensive End
  • Nick Valdez
    • 1998 All-State Offensive Tackle
    • 1999 All-State Offensive Tackle
  • Johnny Killough
    • 1998 All-State Center
  • Randy Johnson
    • 1998 All-State Running Back
  • Daniel Powers
    • 1997 All-State Linebacker
  • David Weaver
    • 1997 All-State Tight End
  • Edwin Wallace
    • 1997 All-State Running Back
  • Glen Killough
    • 1997 All-State Offensive Tackle
  • Kenneth Wallace
    • 1996 All-State Defensive Back
  • Michael Shelby
    • 1996 All-State Running Back
  • Jimmy Don Adams
    • 1996 All-State Defensive Tackle
  • Jason Ward
    • 1996 All-State Center
  • Keith Davis
    • 1996 All-State Linebacker / Wide Receiver
    • 1995 All-State Defensive Back / Wide Receiver
    • Sam Houston State
    • NFL with Dallas Cowboys (Undrafted free agent 2002)
    • NFL Europe Championship ring with the Berlin Thunder (1992 World Bowl XII Champion)
    • NFL with Miami Dolphins
    • NFL with Dallas Cowboys (Special Teams Captain)
    • NFL with Oakland Raiders
    • UFL with Florida Tuskers
    • UFL with Virginia Destroyers
  • Jason Hamby
    • 1995 All-State Offensive Guard
  • William McDaniel
    • 1993 All-State Center
  • Dennis Janek
    • 1991 All-State Defensive End
  • Michael Walker
    • 1991 All-State Defensive Back
    • 1991 All-State Offensive Back
    • 1990 All-State Defensive Back
  • Stephen Spradling
    • 1990 All-State Linebacker
  • Allen Richards
    • 1990 All-State Quarterback
    • 1991 All-State Quarterback
  • Bobby Wilson
    • 1990 All-State Running Back
  • Don Belknap
    • 1990 All-State Offensive Tackle
  • Bryant Cockran
    • 1990 All-State Receiver
  • David Burkhalter
    • 1990 All-State Offensive Guard
    • 1990 All-State Linebacker
  • Daniel Seay
    • 1990 All-State Defensive End
  • Philip Oliver
    • 1989 All-State Noseguard
  • Curtis Riddle
    • 1989 All-State Defensive Back
  • Rodney Shaw
    • 1988 All-State Linebacker
  • Konrad Kuykendall
    • 1988 All-State Offensive Tackle
  • Scott Floyd
    • 1987 All-State Noseguard
  • Billy Ray Turner
    • 1987 All-State Running Back
  • Steve Copeland
    • 1985 All-State Linebacker
  • Dennis Ransom
    • 1985 All-State Tight End
    • Texas A&M
    • NFL with Washington Redskins (Drafted in the 6th Round of the 1991 NFL Draft as the 159th overall pick)
    • NFL Superbowl ring as a rookie with the Washington Redskins (1991 Superbowl XXVI Champions)
    • NY Giants
  • Kyle Holley
    • 1985 All-State Quarterback
  • Mike Loveless
    • 1985 All-State Center
  • Clint Riddle
    • 1985 All-State Defensive Back
  • Chris Scott
    • 1985 All-State Offensive Tackle
  • Charles Hyles
    • 1985 All-State Defensive Back
  • Jimmy Shelby
    • 1983 All-State Running Back
    • 1983 All-State Noseguard
    • Currently 7th on state All-Time Records list with 422 rushing carries in a season
  • Tom Scott
    • 1983 All-State Center
  • Vernon Shaw
    • 1982 All-State Defensive Back
  • Jeff Frazier
    • 1982 All-State Center
  • Lynn Anderson
    • 1982 All-State Linebacker
  • Steve Jackson
    • 1981 All-State Tackle
  • Ricky Boyd
    • 1981 All-State Tackle
  • Baldemar Vargas
    • 1979 All-State Quarterback
    • 1977 All-State Defensive Back
  • Jimmy Weaver
    • 1976 All-State Tight End

Congratulations to Marvin Cox, Ryheem Walker, Zain Byers, their Gladiator teammates and to Hank Hollywood and his coaching staff for all their achievements during the 2012 season which included the Class A Division I Region II District Championship, an automatic bi-district championship, an area championship, a regional semifinal championship (receiving the Army Strong Week 13 Team of the Week award), and a quarterfinal championship!! 2012 also marked the fourth time in team history that the Gladiators finished as state-semifinalists joining the 1978, 1985 and 1997 teams.

2012 Scoreboard – Italy’s Overall Record 9-5,5-0:

Italy Opponent Game
41 14 – Maypearl Preseason
36 64 – Malakoff Preseason
14 21 – Sunnyvale Preseason
8 33 – Hubbard Preseason
8 27 – Hico Preseason
51 0 – Itasca District
49 2 – Cross Roads District
20 16 – Cayuga District
34 14 – Dallas Gateway District
40 27 – Kerens District
WIN BYE Bi-District
35 14 – Valley View Area
33 20 – Honey Grove Regional
14 3 – Goldthwaite Quarterfinal
8 41 – Stamford Semifinal

The Stamford Bulldogs defeated the Mart Panthers 35-28 for the 2012 Class A Region II Division I State Championship.

Walker and Cox among tournament leaders

2012 District 6-1A All-District List

Italy ranked 6th in top 25 poll

Upcoming Bowl Game Participants:

Go Italy!