Gladiators have Area title hopes looted, Pirates take the treasure, 35-0

Image: Italy High School cheerleader Kristian Weeks helps hold up a banner as the team bus approaches during a heroes sendoff from the school’s campus Friday before the game between the Gladiators and Collinsville for the area championship.

Italy High School cheerleader Kristian Weeks helps hold up a banner as the team bus approaches during a heroes sendoff from the school’s campus Friday before the game between the Gladiators and Collinsville for the area championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Regiment Band members Garrett Janek, Annie Perry, Kirby Nelson, Madison Washington and Amber Hooker play loud and proud as the team bus leaves for the game.

Gladiator Regiment Band members Garrett Janek, Annie Perry, Kirby Nelson, Madison Washington and Amber Hooker play loud and proud as the team bus leaves for the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Regiment Band members Pedro Salazar, Hunter Wood and Jorge Galvan help inspire the team as they depart for Pennington Field in Bedford.

Gladiator Regiment Band members Pedro Salazar, Hunter Wood and Jorge Galvan help inspire the team as they depart for Pennington Field in Bedford. (Barry Byers)

Image: The team bus receives plenty of support the Italy HS student body and fans!

The team bus receives plenty of support the Italy HS student body and fans! (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiators Darol Mayberry and Tre Robertson are ready for battle.

Gladiators Darol Mayberry and Tre Robertson are ready for battle. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiators Tyler Vencill, Bailey Walton and Kyle Fortenberry wave to their supporters as they prepare to take on Collinsville.

Gladiators Tyler Vencill, Bailey Walton and Kyle Fortenberry wave to their supporters as they prepare to take on Collinsville. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cheerleaders Paige Little, Kristian Weeks, Taylor Turner, K’reona Davis, Jessica Garcia, Britney Chambers, Ashlyn Jacinto, Maegan Connor and Noeli Garcia cheer for the Gladiators!

Cheerleaders Paige Little, Kristian Weeks, Taylor Turner, K’reona Davis, Jessica Garcia, Britney Chambers, Ashlyn Jacinto, Maegan Connor and Noeli Garcia cheer for the Gladiators! (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior captains Kevin Roldan(60), Darol Mayberry(58) and Zain Byers(50) represent the Gladiators during the pre-game coin flip.

Senior captains Kevin Roldan(60), Darol Mayberry(58) and Zain Byers(50) represent the Gladiators during the pre-game coin flip. (Barry Byers)

Image: Head coach Charles Tindol stands with his players and the cheerleaders ready to take on the Pirates of Collinsville for the area championship.

Head coach Charles Tindol stands with his players and the cheerleaders ready to take on the Pirates of Collinsville for the area championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiators Joseph Celis(2), Kyle Fortenberry(66) and Dylan McCasland(3) join their teammates in signaling it’s time for the opening kickoff.

Gladiators Joseph Celis(2), Kyle Fortenberry(66) and Dylan McCasland(3) join their teammates in signaling it’s time for the opening kickoff. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cheerleaders Kirby Nelson, Kelsy Nelson, Karley Nelson and Kristian Weeks are excited before the start of the game.

Cheerleaders Kirby Nelson, Kelsy Nelson, Karley Nelson and Kristian Weeks are excited before the start of the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cornerback Levi McBride(3) and his defensive teammates get their first look at the Collinsville offense.

Cornerback Levi McBride(3) and his defensive teammates get their first look at the Collinsville offense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach Tindol sends in a play with backup senior quarterback Tyler Anderson(11) who fills in for an injured TaMarcus Sheppard.

Coach Tindol sends in a play with backup senior quarterback Tyler Anderson(11) who fills in for an injured TaMarcus Sheppard. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior receiver Tre Robertson(3) leads the way for running back Coby Bland(40).

Senior receiver Tre Robertson(3) leads the way for running back Coby Bland(40). (Barry Byers)

Image: Wide out Clayton Miller(6) tries to help Italy get their passing game going.

Wide out Clayton Miller(6) tries to help Italy get their passing game going. (Barry Byers)

Image: Britney Chambers, Ashlyn Jacinto, Maegan Connor and Paige Little keep the spirit up on the sidelines.

Britney Chambers, Ashlyn Jacinto, Maegan Connor and Paige Little keep the spirit up on the sidelines. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jessica Garcia and Taylor Turner cheer on their Gladiators.

Jessica Garcia and Taylor Turner cheer on their Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Justin Wood(4), Ryan Connor(7) and Shadrach Newman(25) are ready for anything with Collinsville showing the swinging gate formation before kicking the point-after a touchdown.

Justin Wood(4), Ryan Connor(7) and Shadrach Newman(25) are ready for anything with Collinsville showing the swinging gate formation before kicking the point-after a touchdown. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s offense takes over after a goal line stand by the Gladiator defense.

Italy’s offense takes over after a goal line stand by the Gladiator defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy heads into half-time to regroup after falling behind 21-0.

Italy heads into half-time to regroup after falling behind 21-0. (Barry Byers)

Image: Colin Newman(76) and TaMarcus Sheppard(10) search for answers with assistant coach Larry Mayberry, Sr.

Colin Newman(76) and TaMarcus Sheppard(10) search for answers with assistant coach Larry Mayberry, Sr. (Barry Byers)

Image: Reality sets in for John Byers(56), Tyler Vencill(65), David de la Hoya(60) and Hunter Merimon(9) as the season nears its end.

Reality sets in for John Byers(56), Tyler Vencill(65), David de la Hoya(60) and Hunter Merimon(9) as the season nears its end. (Barry Byers)

Image: The faces of cheerleaders Britney Chambers, Ashlyn Jacinto and K’Breona Davis say it all as Collinsville brings a sudden halt to Italy’s playoff aspirations.

The faces of cheerleaders Britney Chambers, Ashlyn Jacinto and K’Breona Davis say it all as Collinsville brings a sudden halt to Italy’s playoff aspirations. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach Tindol huddles one last time with his players after Collinsville stuns the Gladiators, 35-0, to take the area title.

Coach Tindol huddles one last time with his players after Collinsville stuns the Gladiators, 35-0, to take the area title. (Barry Byers)

Return to story