Shad Newman(25), Kevin Roldan(60) and TaMarcus Sheppard(10) lead Italy into district battle against the Itasca Wampus Cats. (Barry Byers)
Gary Wood is horned and dangerous! (Barry Byers)
The Gladiator Band settles in to start the game. (Barry Byers)
Italy High School cheer captain Taylor Turner helps lead Italy onto the field. (Barry Byers)
Italy quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard(10) turns upfield to score his first of three touchdowns on the night. (Barry Byers)
Darol Mayberry(58) signals touchdown as Italy quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard(10) follows his center Kyle Fortenberry(66) and lead back Shad Newman(25) in for a his first of 3 touchdowns during the game. (Barry Byers)
Defensive end Zain Byers(50) turns an Itasca ball carrier back inside where teammates Bailey Walton(54), John Byers(56) and Colin Newman(76) are waiting. (Barry Byers)
Zain Byers(50) sacks Itasca’s quarterback and jars the ball loose with his helmet. (Barry Byers)
Italy’s Cody Medrano(75) makes a special teams tackle during a kickoff. (Barry Byers)
Linebacker Kyle Fortenberry(66) and safety Ryan Connor(21) collar a Wampus Cat. (Barry Byers)
Junior defensive tackle John Byers(56) brings down Itasca’s quarterback. (Barry Byers)
Hunter Merimon(9) puts the hurt on an Itasca receiver. (Barry Byers)
Hunter Merimon(9) runs right for 7-yards against the Cats. Merimon finished with 85 yards rushing on 8 carries. (Barry Byers)
Italy’s Coby Bland(40) breaks for a 60-yard gain before being yanked down from behind by an Itasca defender. Surprisingly, there was no penalty for a “horse-collar” charged to the Cats. (Barry Byers)
Pay back: Bland enforces his own brand of justice by slamming down a Cat angrily. Apparently, Cats don’t always land on their paws. (Barry Byers)
Linebacker Shad Newman(25) nearly picks off a pass with Itasca threatening. (Barry Byers)
Hello! Zain Byers(50) greets a Cat runner for a loss in the backfield near Italy’s goal line. (Barry Byers)
Coby Bland(40), Shad Newman(25) and TaMarcus Sheppard(10) foil a 2-point conversion try by Itasca. (Barry Byers)
Fullback Shad Newman(25) punishes Itasca’s defensive tacklers. (Barry Byers)
TaMarcus Sheppard(10) slips past tacklers to score his second touchdown of the game. (Barry Byers)
From his defensive end position, Zain Byers(50) tackles Itasca’s receiver after a pass to the opposite side of the field only netted the Cats 3 yards. (Barry Byers)
Italy’s Trevon Robertson(3) eludes Cats pawing at his heels to turn a short pass into a 36 yard touchdown. (Barry Byers)
Kevin Roldan(60) boots thru a point-after kick with Tyler Anderson(11) holding. Roldan made 4-of-6 P.A.T.s for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)
Defensive end Bailey Walton(54) helps linebacker Coby Bland(40) secure a tackle for Italy. (Barry Byers)