Crossroads runs into a dead end against the Italy Junior High defenses

Image: Game announcer Kevin Roldan, the next John Madden, “Boom!”

Game announcer Kevin Roldan, the next John Madden, “Boom!” (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy 7th grader Jonathan Salas(22) avoids a Crossroads defender while plotting his course across a muddy Willis Field.

Italy 7th grader Jonathan Salas(22) avoids a Crossroads defender while plotting his course across a muddy Willis Field. (Barry Byers)

Image: Marcos Duarte launches a pass toward the end zone.

Marcos Duarte launches a pass toward the end zone. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lineman Alex Garcia(75) is already caked in mud by halftime.

Lineman Alex Garcia(75) is already caked in mud by halftime. (Barry Byers)

Image: Marcos Duarte(18) hands off to Adam Powell(24) who runs behind effective line blocking for Italy.

Marcos Duarte(18) hands off to Adam Powell(24) who runs behind effective line blocking for Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Believe it or not, Italy running back Jonathan Salas(22) breaks out of this tackle to score a touchdown for Italy thanks to blocking help from Jacob Wiser(74) and Adam Powell(24).

Believe it or not, Italy running back Jonathan Salas(22) breaks out of this tackle to score a touchdown for Italy thanks to blocking help from Jacob Wiser(74) and Adam Powell(24). (Barry Byers)

Image: Marcos Duarte(18) punts the ball over to Cross Roads.

Marcos Duarte(18) punts the ball over to Cross Roads. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Junior High cheerleaders Madison Galvan, Maegan Connor and Taylor Boyd brighten the sidelines with their smiles.

Italy Junior High cheerleaders Madison Galvan, Maegan Connor and Taylor Boyd brighten the sidelines with their smiles. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jonathan Salas(22) strips the Bobcat quarterback and then recovers the fumble as Jacob Wiser(74), Cason Roberts(51) and Isaac Garcia(54) track the play.

Jonathan Salas(22) strips the Bobcat quarterback and then recovers the fumble as Jacob Wiser(74), Cason Roberts(51) and Isaac Garcia(54) track the play. (Barry Byers)

Image: Picking up the fumble and running with it is Italy’s Jonathan Salas(22).

Picking up the fumble and running with it is Italy’s Jonathan Salas(22). (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Junior High head coach Jon Cady sends in a play.

Italy Junior High head coach Jon Cady sends in a play. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cheerleader Taylor Boyd welcomes Italy’s 8th grade football team onto the field.

Cheerleader Taylor Boyd welcomes Italy’s 8th grade football team onto the field. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s 8th grade quarterback Tylan Wallace(10) hands off to running back Kyle Tindol(25).

Italy’s 8th grade quarterback Tylan Wallace(10) hands off to running back Kyle Tindol(25). (Barry Byers)

Image: Ben Latimer(44) gets a block on the edge to clear the way for Kyle Tindol(25) who barrels his way in for the 2-point conversion.

Ben Latimer(44) gets a block on the edge to clear the way for Kyle Tindol(25) who barrels his way in for the 2-point conversion. (Barry Byers)

Image: Receiver Gary Escamilla(7) crosses the goal line after pulling in a pass from quarterback Tylan Wallace.

Receiver Gary Escamilla(7) crosses the goal line after pulling in a pass from quarterback Tylan Wallace. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy 8th grader Garrett Janek(8) intercepts a Bobcat pass and knows what to do with it.

Italy 8th grader Garrett Janek(8) intercepts a Bobcat pass and knows what to do with it. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy 8th grader Clay Riddle(60) clamps down on a Bobcat in the backfield.

Italy 8th grader Clay Riddle(60) clamps down on a Bobcat in the backfield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Quarterback Tylan Wallace(10) goes downfield to Gary Escamilla who makes the catch for the duos second passing touchdown of the game.

Quarterback Tylan Wallace(10) goes downfield to Gary Escamilla who makes the catch for the duos second passing touchdown of the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Wallace and Escamilla congratulate each other after combining for their second passing touchdown against Crossroads.

Wallace and Escamilla congratulate each other after combining for their second passing touchdown against Crossroads. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kendrick Norwood(20) high kicks into the end zone to keep a Bobcat tackler from bringing him down after completing one of the longest 2-point conversion plays in the history of football.

Kendrick Norwood(20) high kicks into the end zone to keep a Bobcat tackler from bringing him down after completing one of the longest 2-point conversion plays in the history of football. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tylan Wallace(10) and Garrett Janek(10) combine to strip the football during a kick return by the Bobcats.

Tylan Wallace(10) and Garrett Janek(10) combine to strip the football during a kick return by the Bobcats. (Barry Byers)

Image: Finding the lane, Tylan Wallace(10) returns a kickoff for an Italy touchdown.

Finding the lane, Tylan Wallace(10) returns a kickoff for an Italy touchdown. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Junior High cheerleaders Karson Holley, THE Kirby Nelson and younger sister Karley Nelson love what they do.

Italy Junior High cheerleaders Karson Holley, THE Kirby Nelson and younger sister Karley Nelson love what they do. (Barry Byers)

Image: 7th grader Cason Roberts(51) and his Italy teammates used the mud to bury the Bobcats, 28-0.

7th grader Cason Roberts(51) and his Italy teammates used the mud to bury the Bobcats, 28-0. (Barry Byers)

Return to story