Gladiators enjoy center stage during Dale Hansen Classic but Malakoff gets win

Image: Italy’s Zain Byers and Taylor Turner represent Italy High school as the 2013 Dale Hansen Football scholarship winners as they pose with Dale Hansen and Malakoff’s student winners during a pre-game ceremony before Friday’s game between Italy and Malakoff at Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie. A senior boy and girl from each participating school is awarded a $500 scholarship.

Italy’s Zain Byers and Taylor Turner represent Italy High school as the 2013 Dale Hansen Football scholarship winners as they pose with Dale Hansen and Malakoff’s student winners during a pre-game ceremony before Friday’s game between Italy and Malakoff at Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie. A senior boy and girl from each participating school is awarded a $500 scholarship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator AD/HFC Charles Tindol huddles his troops before doing battle against Malakoff.

Italy Gladiator AD/HFC Charles Tindol huddles his troops before doing battle against Malakoff. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Gladiators stretch it out on the home field of the Waxahachie Indians.

The Gladiators stretch it out on the home field of the Waxahachie Indians. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Gladiator Regiment Band entertains fans before the start of the Classic.

The Gladiator Regiment Band entertains fans before the start of the Classic. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Coby Bland(40) practices plays with his teammates just moments before kickoff.

Italy’s Coby Bland(40) practices plays with his teammates just moments before kickoff. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Gladiators enter the air tunnel!!!

The Gladiators enter the air tunnel!!! (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Color Guard captain Anna Riddle practices her flag movements as fans settle in for the big game.

Italy Color Guard captain Anna Riddle practices her flag movements as fans settle in for the big game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy HS cheerleaders Ashlyn Jacinto and Kristian Weeks take in the atmosphere that only the Dale Hansen Football Classic can provide.

Italy HS cheerleaders Ashlyn Jacinto and Kristian Weeks take in the atmosphere that only the Dale Hansen Football Classic can provide. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator captains Shadrach Newman(25), TaMarcus Sheppard(10) and Darol Mayberry(58) await the result of the ceremonial coin toss.

Gladiator captains Shadrach Newman(25), TaMarcus Sheppard(10) and Darol Mayberry(58) await the result of the ceremonial coin toss. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy scores in just 11 seconds after recording an early 2-point safety to start the game as Hunter Merimon(9) and Coby Bland(40) try to recover the ball for a touchdown.

Italy scores in just 11 seconds after recording an early 2-point safety to start the game as Hunter Merimon(9) and Coby Bland(40) try to recover the ball for a touchdown. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Shad Newman(25) leads as quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard(10) fakes a handoff to Coby Bland(40).

Italy’s Shad Newman(25) leads as quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard(10) fakes a handoff to Coby Bland(40). (Barry Byers)

Image: Darol Mayberry(58), Shad Newman(25) and Coby Bland(40) give quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard(10) time to pass downfield.

Darol Mayberry(58), Shad Newman(25) and Coby Bland(40) give quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard(10) time to pass downfield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Darol Mayberry(58) and Hunter Merimon(9) allow quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard(10) time to pass the ball.

Italy’s Darol Mayberry(58) and Hunter Merimon(9) allow quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard(10) time to pass the ball. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy head football coach Charles Tindol sends a play in via Levi McBride(1).

Italy head football coach Charles Tindol sends a play in via Levi McBride(1). (Barry Byers)

Image: The Italy High School cheerleaders perform a cheer on the sideline.

The Italy High School cheerleaders perform a cheer on the sideline. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator senior defensive end Bailey Walton(54) unloads on a Malakoff runner to jar the ball loose for the second of two caused fumbles by Walton in the game.

Gladiator senior defensive end Bailey Walton(54) unloads on a Malakoff runner to jar the ball loose for the second of two caused fumbles by Walton in the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy safety Ryan Connor(21) recovers the fumble before Malakoff can get to it.

Italy safety Ryan Connor(21) recovers the fumble before Malakoff can get to it. (Barry Byers)

Image: Defensive end Bailey Walton(54) celebrates his big hit that caused the fumble.

Defensive end Bailey Walton(54) celebrates his big hit that caused the fumble. (Barry Byers)

Image: Linebacker Shad Newman(25) brings down a Tiger back with help from TaMarcus Sheppard(10) and Trevon Robertson(3).

Linebacker Shad Newman(25) brings down a Tiger back with help from TaMarcus Sheppard(10) and Trevon Robertson(3). (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s junior center Kyle Fortenberry(66) blocks a Tiger tackler away from the hole.

Italy’s junior center Kyle Fortenberry(66) blocks a Tiger tackler away from the hole. (Barry Byers)

Image: Preparing for the halftime show is Gladiator Regiment Band member Julissa Hernandez.

Preparing for the halftime show is Gladiator Regiment Band member Julissa Hernandez. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Roldan(60), Bailey Walton(54), Zain Byers(50) and Kyle Fortenberry(66) lead the Gladiators into the second half of play.

Kevin Roldan(60), Bailey Walton(54), Zain Byers(50) and Kyle Fortenberry(66) lead the Gladiators into the second half of play. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kyle Fortenberry(66), Hunter Merimon(9), Shad Newman(25, Clayton Miller(6) and the rest of their teammates take the field to begin the second half.

Kyle Fortenberry(66), Hunter Merimon(9), Shad Newman(25, Clayton Miller(6) and the rest of their teammates take the field to begin the second half. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator quarterback Tyler Anderson(11) rolls out and searches for a receiver with teammate Hunter Merimon(9) offering protection.

Gladiator quarterback Tyler Anderson(11) rolls out and searches for a receiver with teammate Hunter Merimon(9) offering protection. (Barry Byers)

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