Gladiators start 2013 grid-iron campaign strong in scrimmage at Valley Mills

Image: Italy Gladiator Shad Newman(4) rambles over an Eagle defender for positive yards to help Italy steam roll Valley Mills on their home turf 6-0 in Saturday’s scrimmage. Newman was a workhorse for the Gladiators as a back, a receiver and at inside linebacker on defense.

Italy Gladiator Shad Newman(4) rambles over an Eagle defender for positive yards to help Italy steam roll Valley Mills on their home turf 6-0 in Saturday’s scrimmage. Newman was a workhorse for the Gladiators as a back, a receiver and at inside linebacker on defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Freshman JV Gladiator David De La Hoya(55) attacks the Valley Mills quarterback with teammate Samuel Corley(77) on his way to help bring down the stubborn Eagle passer.

Freshman JV Gladiator David De La Hoya(55) attacks the Valley Mills quarterback with teammate Samuel Corley(77) on his way to help bring down the stubborn Eagle passer. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy JV quarterback Joe Celis(9) flips the ball out to newcomer Jorge Rodriquez(21) who sweeps around the end.

Italy JV quarterback Joe Celis(9) flips the ball out to newcomer Jorge Rodriquez(21) who sweeps around the end. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s JV Quarterback Joe Celis(9) drops back to pass while getting solid protection from his line which consisted of Kenneth Norwood, Jr.(52), David De La Hoya(55), Austin Crawford(98) and Samuel Corley(77).

Italy’s JV Quarterback Joe Celis(9) drops back to pass while getting solid protection from his line which consisted of Kenneth Norwood, Jr.(52), David De La Hoya(55), Austin Crawford(98) and Samuel Corley(77). (Barry Byers)

Image: Making his first ever career catch is Italy JV Gladiator, Aaron Latimer, who slipped a couple of defenders for extra yards before being gang tackled by the Eagles.

Making his first ever career catch is Italy JV Gladiator, Aaron Latimer, who slipped a couple of defenders for extra yards before being gang tackled by the Eagles. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy quarterback Tamarcus Sheppard(8) follows blockers Shad Newman(4) and Cody Medrano(66) around the edge.

Italy quarterback Tamarcus Sheppard(8) follows blockers Shad Newman(4) and Cody Medrano(66) around the edge. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s highly touted wide receiver Trevon Robertson(1) completes a 45-yard pass play down to the 5-yard line of Valley Mills to setup the Gladiators’ first touchdown of the scrimmage.

Italy’s highly touted wide receiver Trevon Robertson(1) completes a 45-yard pass play down to the 5-yard line of Valley Mills to setup the Gladiators’ first touchdown of the scrimmage. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy senior quarterback Tamarcus Sheppard(8) escapes pressure from Eagle defenders proving he can guide the Gladiator offense by air or by ground.

Italy senior quarterback Tamarcus Sheppard(8) escapes pressure from Eagle defenders proving he can guide the Gladiator offense by air or by ground. (Barry Byers)

Image: All-District last season, offensive tackle Darol Mayberry(65) keeps blocking an Eagle defender as the play develops.

All-District last season, offensive tackle Darol Mayberry(65) keeps blocking an Eagle defender as the play develops. (Barry Byers)

Image: Closing down the edge against the run is Italy’s Cody Boyd.

Closing down the edge against the run is Italy’s Cody Boyd. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coby Bland makes a violent tackle on an Eagle running back with Valley Mills searching for yards up the gut.

Coby Bland makes a violent tackle on an Eagle running back with Valley Mills searching for yards up the gut. (Barry Byers)

Image: Trevon Robertson(1) intercepts a Valley Mills pass attempt and has nothing but green grass in front of him before the whistles blew the play dead as a precaution.

Trevon Robertson(1) intercepts a Valley Mills pass attempt and has nothing but green grass in front of him before the whistles blew the play dead as a precaution. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Levi McBride(3) catches a pass downfield from quarterback Tamarcus Sheppard and then hops in the air to avoid tacklers, picking up an extra yard or two.

Italy’s Levi McBride(3) catches a pass downfield from quarterback Tamarcus Sheppard and then hops in the air to avoid tacklers, picking up an extra yard or two. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Tamarcus Sheppard(8) receives blocks from Trevon Robertson(1) and Shad Newman(4) to get the edge and run in for 1 of his 4 touchdowns during the scrimmage.

Italy’s Tamarcus Sheppard(8) receives blocks from Trevon Robertson(1) and Shad Newman(4) to get the edge and run in for 1 of his 4 touchdowns during the scrimmage. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy defensive tackle John Byers(72) drives an Eagle runner into the ground as Bailey Walton(99) and Coby Bland(44) close on the play.

Italy defensive tackle John Byers(72) drives an Eagle runner into the ground as Bailey Walton(99) and Coby Bland(44) close on the play. (Barry Byers)

Image: Zain Byers(60) expresses his joy after recovering a fumble stripped from the ball carrier by his cousin John Byers. The effort by the Cousins of Chaos was the second forced turnover by Italy’s defense during the scrimmage.

Zain Byers(60) expresses his joy after recovering a fumble stripped from the ball carrier by his cousin John Byers. The effort by the Cousins of Chaos was the second forced turnover by Italy’s defense during the scrimmage. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Darol Mayberry(65) and Coby Bland(44) combine for the tackle on an Eagle running back.

Italy’s Darol Mayberry(65) and Coby Bland(44) combine for the tackle on an Eagle running back. (Barry Byers)

Image: Darol Mayberry(65) and Zain Byers(60) force the referees to blow the whistle as they share a sack against Valley Mills.

Darol Mayberry(65) and Zain Byers(60) force the referees to blow the whistle as they share a sack against Valley Mills. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Kevin Roldan(50) pressures the Valley Mills quarterback and tips the pass attempt to force an incomplete pass.

Italy’s Kevin Roldan(50) pressures the Valley Mills quarterback and tips the pass attempt to force an incomplete pass. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sophomore receiver, Ryan Connor(2), soft hands a pass from quarterback Tamarcus Sheppard(8) and then turns upfield for a gain of 6-yards for the Gladiators.

Sophomore receiver, Ryan Connor(2), soft hands a pass from quarterback Tamarcus Sheppard(8) and then turns upfield for a gain of 6-yards for the Gladiators.

Image: Tamarcus Sheppard(8) gets downfield blocking help from Hunter Merimon(25) and Trevon Robertson(1) to help their quarterback dive across the goal line for an Italy touchdown.

Tamarcus Sheppard(8) gets downfield blocking help from Hunter Merimon(25) and Trevon Robertson(1) to help their quarterback dive across the goal line for an Italy touchdown. (Barry Byers)

Image: Levi McBride(3) intercepts a Valley Mills pass attempt late in the scrimmage, gets a block from Joe Celis(9) and then turns up field behind teammate Trevon Robertson and heads toward the end zone before the play was whistled dead for player safety It was Italy’s 3rd forced turnover on the day.

Levi McBride(3) intercepts a Valley Mills pass attempt late in the scrimmage, gets a block from Joe Celis(9) and then turns up field behind teammate Trevon Robertson and heads toward the end zone before the play was whistled dead for player safety It was Italy’s 3rd forced turnover on the day. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s inside linebacker, Kyle Fortenberry(75), and defensive tackle Kevin Roldan(50) are ready to finish strong against Valley Mills and preserve their defense’s 6-0 shutout.

Italy’s inside linebacker, Kyle Fortenberry(75), and defensive tackle Kevin Roldan(50) are ready to finish strong against Valley Mills and preserve their defense’s 6-0 shutout. (Barry Byers)

Image: With Valley Mills desperate to put points on the board and trying to open their offensive play book, Italy’s Zain Byers(60) closes the door on an Eagle runner and slams him into the turf.

With Valley Mills desperate to put points on the board and trying to open their offensive play book, Italy’s Zain Byers(60) closes the door on an Eagle runner and slams him into the turf. (Barry Byers)

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