Later Gators! Gladiators rally to defeat Gateway 28-24; McBride saves the day

Image: With just over a minute on the clock and his team down 24-21, Italy Gladiator sophomore receiver Levi McBride(1) is hit in stride by quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard for a 69-yard game winning touchdown against Dallas Gateway. McBride’s heroics improved Italy’s district mark to 4-0 and gives them sole possession of 1st Place with one game remaining.

With just over a minute on the clock and his team down 24-21, Italy Gladiator sophomore receiver Levi McBride(1) is hit in stride by quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard for a 69-yard game winning touchdown against Dallas Gateway. McBride’s heroics improved Italy’s district mark to 4-0 and gives them sole possession of 1st Place with one game remaining. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Gladiator game captains are Bailey Walton(54), TaMarcus Sheppard(10) and Trevon Robertson(3).

The Gladiator game captains are Bailey Walton(54), TaMarcus Sheppard(10) and Trevon Robertson(3). (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior receiver Trevon Robertson(3) leaps for a catch to help his offense get in rhythm late in the first-half. Italy continued to trail 24-7 at the break but came back to win the game in the final minute of play.

Senior receiver Trevon Robertson(3) leaps for a catch to help his offense get in rhythm late in the first-half. Italy continued to trail 24-7 at the break but came back to win the game in the final minute of play. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Cody Medrano(75), Kevin Roldan(60), Shad Newman(25) and Ryan Connor(7) help teammate and quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard(10) fight for an extra inch.

Gladiator Cody Medrano(75), Kevin Roldan(60), Shad Newman(25) and Ryan Connor(7) help teammate and quarterback TaMarcus Sheppard(10) fight for an extra inch. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sophomore running back Hunter Merimon(9) spins his way free from a Gator tackler with blockers Levi McBride(1) and Trevon Robertson(3) trying to clear a path.

Sophomore running back Hunter Merimon(9) spins his way free from a Gator tackler with blockers Levi McBride(1) and Trevon Robertson(3) trying to clear a path. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cheerleaders Britney Chambers, Ashlyn Jacinto and Paige Little are confident going into the fourth-quarter despite Italy trailing 24-14 behind Gateway.

Cheerleaders Britney Chambers, Ashlyn Jacinto and Paige Little are confident going into the fourth-quarter despite Italy trailing 24-14 behind Gateway. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator defensive end Zain Byers(50) catches a Gator from behind and for a loss in the Gateway backfield using his patented alligator roll tackling style.

Gladiator defensive end Zain Byers(50) catches a Gator from behind and for a loss in the Gateway backfield using his patented alligator roll tackling style. (Barry Byers)

Image: TaMarcus Sheppard(10) hands off to Hunter Merimon(9) who sees daylight thanks to Kevin Roldan(60), blocking left, and Kyle Fortenberry(66), blocking right.

TaMarcus Sheppard(10) hands off to Hunter Merimon(9) who sees daylight thanks to Kevin Roldan(60), blocking left, and Kyle Fortenberry(66), blocking right. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ryan Connor(7) intercepts a Gator pass as teammate Cody Medrano(75) tries to throw a block to help Connor get away for more yards on the return.

Ryan Connor(7) intercepts a Gator pass as teammate Cody Medrano(75) tries to throw a block to help Connor get away for more yards on the return. (Barry Byers)

Image: Levi McBride(1) carries the ball around the end.

Levi McBride(1) carries the ball around the end. (Barry Byers)

Image: Trevon Robertson(3) fights for yards after the catch.

Trevon Robertson(3) fights for yards after the catch. (Barry Byers)

Image: TaMarcus Sheppard(10) follows lead blocker Shad Newman(25) into a nest of Gators.

TaMarcus Sheppard(10) follows lead blocker Shad Newman(25) into a nest of Gators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bailey Walton(54), Ryan Connor(7), TaMarcus Sheppard(10) and Trevon Robertson close in on Gateway’s running back.

Bailey Walton(54), Ryan Connor(7), TaMarcus Sheppard(10) and Trevon Robertson close in on Gateway’s running back. (Barry Byers)

Image: Drummer Blake Brewer and Eli Garcia, on trumpet, lead the Gladiator Marching Band and Color Guard onto the field during halftime.

Drummer Blake Brewer and Eli Garcia, on trumpet, lead the Gladiator Marching Band and Color Guard onto the field during halftime. (Barry Byers)

Image: Trevon Robertson(3) finds running room behind Kevin Roldan(60) and Zain Byers(50) for a gain of 9 yards.

Trevon Robertson(3) finds running room behind Kevin Roldan(60) and Zain Byers(50) for a gain of 9 yards. (Barry Byers)

Image: Justin Wood(4) cuts in behind Darol Mayberry(58) and Kevin Roldan(60) for a much needed 10-yard touchdown in the third-quarter.

Justin Wood(4) cuts in behind Darol Mayberry(58) and Kevin Roldan(60) for a much needed 10-yard touchdown in the third-quarter. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator defensive end Zain Byers(50) causes intentional grounding to be called against Gateway in the second-half after Byers forced the Gator quarterback out of the game, temporarily, with an attention-getting rib shot in the first-half.

Gladiator defensive end Zain Byers(50) causes intentional grounding to be called against Gateway in the second-half after Byers forced the Gator quarterback out of the game, temporarily, with an attention-getting rib shot in the first-half. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tyler Vencill(65) gets help from Bailey Walton(65) to bring down a Gator ball carrier.

Tyler Vencill(65) gets help from Bailey Walton(65) to bring down a Gator ball carrier. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s fans are into the game after a Gladiator touchdown in the second-half.

Italy’s fans are into the game after a Gladiator touchdown in the second-half. (Barry Byers)

Image: Assistant coach Larry Mayberry, Sr., congratulates his exhausted son, Darol Mayberry(58), after the senior lineman helped lead his team to a fourth-quarter comeback.

Assistant coach Larry Mayberry, Sr., congratulates his exhausted son, Darol Mayberry(58), after the senior lineman helped lead his team to a fourth-quarter comeback. (Barry Byers)

Image: That’s the end of that! On 4th down, Zain Byers(50) drills the Gateway running back in the backfield to all but end the game and preserve Italy’s 28-24 comeback victory.

That’s the end of that! On 4th down, Zain Byers(50) drills the Gateway running back in the backfield to all but end the game and preserve Italy’s 28-24 comeback victory. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Gladiators are truly thankful as team mascot Noeli Garcia joins both teams in post-game prayer.

The Gladiators are truly thankful as team mascot Noeli Garcia joins both teams in post-game prayer. (Barry Byers)

Image: Singing the school song loud and proud are cheer captain Taylor Turner, Kevin Roldan(65), water boy Gary Escamilla, Hunter Ballard(30) and cheerleader K’Breona Davis as Coach Mayberry gives, “Zilla,” a hug in the background.

Singing the school song loud and proud are cheer captain Taylor Turner, Kevin Roldan(65), water boy Gary Escamilla, Hunter Ballard(30) and cheerleader K’Breona Davis as Coach Mayberry gives, “Zilla,” a hug in the background. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sophomore Clayton Miller(6) stands proud with his father after the game.

Sophomore Clayton Miller(6) stands proud with his father after the game. (Barry Byers)

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