Italy’s Ryheem Walker impresses during 2013 FCA Victory Bowl V in Waco

Image: Italy Gladiator Football’s, Ryheem Walker, made his hard-hitting presence know during the 2013 FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Super Centex Victory Bowl V by delivering blows for the Red Team All-Stars every chance he had including dislodging an opponent from his caged bonnet on one play. Walker also had a fumble recovery and a 40-yard kick return. — Italy Gladiator Football’s, Ryheem Walker, made his hard-hitting presence know during the 2013 FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Super Centex Victory Bowl V by delivering blows for the Red Team All-Stars every chance he had including dislodging an opponent from his caged bonnet on one play. Walker also had a fumble recovery and a 40-yard kick return. (Barry Byers)

Avalon Eagle Football’s and Red Team all-star, Reece Marshall, applies the FCA Logo decal to the sides of his helmet while in the locker room prior to kickoff. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator and Red Team all-star, Ryheem Walker, is ready to put it all on the line as he takes the field during the pre-game warmup. — Italy Gladiator and Red Team all-star, Ryheem Walker, is ready to put it all on the line as he takes the field during the pre-game warmup. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Ryheem Walker hauls in a deep pass during the pre-game warmup. — Italy’s Ryheem Walker hauls in a deep pass during the pre-game warmup. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator, Ryheem Walker(10) joins his teammates in the huddle with the game moments from kickoff. — Italy Gladiator, Ryheem Walker(10) joins his teammates in the huddle with the game moments from kickoff. (Barry Byers)

Image: Walker’s fans in the stands at Baylor’s Floyd Casey Stadium are are Italy High School junior, Bailey Eubank, Italy HS school board member and Bailey’s father, Larry Eubank, and Italy Gladiator Football’s most dedicated fan in Richard Cook. — Walker’s fans in the stands at Baylor’s Floyd Casey Stadium are are Italy High School junior, Bailey Eubank, Italy HS school board member and Bailey’s father, Larry Eubank, and Italy Gladiator Football’s most dedicated fan in Richard Cook. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) and his Red Team mates take the field. — Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) and his Red Team mates take the field. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Red Team lines up for the opening kickoff with Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) ready to make a play. — The Red Team lines up for the opening kickoff with Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) ready to make a play. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) celebrates his opening kickoff hit to start his 2013 FCA Super Centex Victory Bowl V experience with a bang! — Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) celebrates his opening kickoff hit to start his 2013 FCA Super Centex Victory Bowl V experience with a bang! (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) helps ensure a Blue Team ball carrier is brought down. — Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) helps ensure a Blue Team ball carrier is brought down. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) gets set at outside linebacker while having to line up in pass coverage. — Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) gets set at outside linebacker while having to line up in pass coverage. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) is hyped for another kickoff after the Red Team regained a 7-3 lead. — Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) is hyped for another kickoff after the Red Team regained a 7-3 lead. (Barry Byers)

Image: Representing Italy High School, the Italy Gladiator Football program and the FCA Victory Bowl V Red Team All-Stars is Ryheem Walker(10) who is introduced during a halftime presentation. — Representing Italy High School, the Italy Gladiator Football program and the FCA Victory Bowl V Red Team All-Stars is Ryheem Walker(10) who is introduced during a halftime presentation. (Barry Byers)

Image: Representing Milford during the 2013 FCS Super Centex Victory Bowl V are Jairus Russell and Brittany Goss. — Representing Milford during the 2013 FCS Super Centex Victory Bowl V are Jairus Russell and Brittany Goss. (Barry Byers)

Image: Representing Avalon High School, the Avalon Eagle Football program and the FCA Victory Bowl V Red Team All-Stars is Reece Marshall, who is introduced to Floyd Casey Stadium during a halftime presentation. — Representing Avalon High School, the Avalon Eagle Football program and the FCA Victory Bowl V Red Team All-Stars is Reece Marshall, who is introduced to Floyd Casey Stadium during a halftime presentation. (Barry Byers)

Image: Avalon’s, Reece Marshall(25) defends the goal line as the Red Team’s middle linebacker. — Avalon’s, Reece Marshall(25) defends the goal line as the Red Team’s middle linebacker. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Gladiator, Ryheem Walker(10) shields off a cut block from a Blue Team receiver. — Italy’s Gladiator, Ryheem Walker(10) shields off a cut block from a Blue Team receiver. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Blue Team is accurate on a point-after kick as the games nears halftime. — The Blue Team is accurate on a point-after kick as the games nears halftime. (Barry Byers)

Image: With his Red Team trailing in the second half, Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) stands inside the 10-yard line hoping the kickoff comes his way. — With his Red Team trailing in the second half, Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) stands inside the 10-yard line hoping the kickoff comes his way. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) joins in a post game huddle with both the Red All-Stars and the Blue All-Stars. — Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) joins in a post game huddle with both the Red All-Stars and the Blue All-Stars. (Barry Byers)

Image: Milford High School’s, Brittany Goss participated in the 2013 FCA Super Centex Victory Bowl V as a Red Team cheerleader. — Milford High School’s, Brittany Goss participated in the 2013 FCA Super Centex Victory Bowl V as a Red Team cheerleader. (Barry Byers)

Image: Congratulating Italy’s Ryheem Walker after his All-Star performance is his favorite fan Monserrat Figueroa, who will be a senior at Italy High School during the upcoming school year. — Congratulating Italy’s Ryheem Walker after his All-Star performance is his favorite fan Monserrat Figueroa, who will be a senior at Italy High School during the upcoming school year. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Athletic Director/Head Football Coach, Hank Hollywood congratulates Ryheem Walker after his performance during the 5th Annual 2013 FCA Super Centex Victory Bowl. Walker was a key weapon for Hollywood and the Italy Gladiators this past season with Italy reaching the Class A State Semifinals in 2012. “Ryheem is the fastest linebacker I have ever coached. His ability to flow side-to-side across the field is special,” Hollywood said of his Walker after the game. — Italy Athletic Director/Head Football Coach, Hank Hollywood congratulates Ryheem Walker after his performance during the 5th Annual 2013 FCA Super Centex Victory Bowl. Walker was a key weapon for Hollywood and the Italy Gladiators this past season with Italy reaching the Class A State Semifinals in 2012. “Ryheem is the fastest linebacker I have ever coached. His ability to flow side-to-side across the field is special,” Hollywood said of his Walker after the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Also congratulating Ryheem are Mike and Edrena Smith who were Ryheem’s host family during his three day, four night stay in Waco leading up to Victory Bowl V. “Ryheem was shy at first but he got more comfortable as the week went on. I made him talk to me,” grinned Mrs. Smith. “We had four players total staying with us and was a real joy having them in our home.” This was the second year the Smith’s to be a host family for the FCA. — Also congratulating Ryheem are Mike and Edrena Smith who were Ryheem’s host family during his three day, four night stay in Waco leading up to Victory Bowl V. “Ryheem was shy at first but he got more comfortable as the week went on. I made him talk to me,” grinned Mrs. Smith. “We had four players total staying with us and was a real joy having them in our home.” This was the second year the Smith’s to be a host family for the FCA. (Barry Byers)

Return to story