The 2013 Italy High School Homecoming Court: Freshman princess Vanessa Cantu, queen nominee Adrianna Celis, queen nominee Corl McCarthy, Homecoming Queen Ryisha Copeland, queen nominee Taylor Turner and queen nominee Brianna Riddle, junior princess Madison Washington and sophomore princess Julissa Hernandez. (Barry Byers)
Cheerleader Taylor Turner announces Gladiator Bailey Walton(54) as the chosen king of homecoming. Teammates and fellow nominees Kevin Roldan(60), Shadrach Newman(25), Zain Byers(50) and Tyler Anderson(11) applaud Walton’s success. (Barry Byers)
Let’s get serious: Cody Medrano(75), Kyle Fortenberry(60), Bailey Walton(54) and TaMarcus Sheppard(10) take the field ready yo take down unbeaten Cayuga. (Barry Byers)
Down Goes Cayuga! Down goes Cayuga! Senior receiver Trevon Robertson(3) flattens a Wildcat defender to help Italy win the match. (Barry Byers)
Outside linebacker TaMarcus Sheppard(10) tackles cayuga for a loss of 3 yards. (Barry Byers)
United in arms are Italy Gladiator Cheerleaders Kelsey Nelson, Paige Little and Kristian Weeks. (Barry Byers)
Levi McBride(1) carries the ball early in the game and finishes with 46-yards rushing on 4 carries and 12 yards receiving. (Barry Byers)
2013 Freshman Princess, Vanessa Cantu is escorted by her uncle, Armando Cantu, to begin the halftime excitement. (Barry Byers)
2013 Sophomore Princess, Julissa Hernandez is escorted by her father, Pedro Hernandez. (Barry Byers)
2013 junior Princess, Madison Washington is escorted by her grandpa, David McClendon. (Barry Byers)
2013 Homecoming Nominee, Adrianna Celis, is escorted by her father, Daniel Celis. (Barry Byers)
2013 Homecoming Nominee, Ryisha Copeland, is escorted by her father, Kenneth Copeland. (Barry Byers)
2013 Homecoming Nominee, Corl McCarthy, is escorted by her father, Carl McCarthy. (Barry Byers)
2013 Homecoming Nominee, Brianna Riddle, is escorted by her father, Kenny Rose, Sr. (Barry Byers)
2013 Homecoming Nominee, Taylor Turner, is escorted by her father, Lee Turner. (Barry Byers)
Italy fullback Shad Newman(25) throws a block downfield to spring teammate Trevon Robertson(3) who cuts back for 23 yards. (Barry Byers)
Defensive end Kevin Roldan(60) tackles Cayuga’s top back for a loss in the backfield. (Barry Byers)
Sophomore Hunter Merimon(9) form tackles a Wildcat for a loss. (Barry Byers)
Shad Newman(25) gets blocks from Zain Byers(50) and Kevin Roldan(60) as he fights for extra yards. (Barry Byers)
Coby Bland(40) leaps for yardage over a Cayuga tackler. (Barry Byers)
After scoring a touchdown to give Italy a first-quarter lead, TaMarcus Sheppard(10) is greeted by Italy HS Principal Lee Joffre and school maintenance crew member Michael Chambers who celebrate Sheppard’s go ahead touchdown. (Barry Byers)
In the fourth-quarter, junior Coby Bland(40) sacks Cayuga’s quarterback from behind and pops the ball out which was recovered by the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)
Hammer down: Scooping up the ball on the run is Senior defensive end Zain Byers(50) who rumbles 20 yards to setup up Italy’s final touchdown to help the Gladiators hammer the final nail into Cayuga’s coffin. (Barry Byers)
Congratulations to the Italy High School 2013 Homecoming Queen, Ryisha Copeland! (Barry Byers)