The 2013 Texas Associated Press Sports Editors Class 1A All-State high school football team was released on Sunday, December 15. The voting was based on regular-season performances. Congratulations to Italy Gladiator Football seniors, Zain Byers(50), who received 2nd team all-state honors as a defensive lineman and, Trevon Robertson(3), who received honorable mention all-state honors as a defensive back.

Zain Byers: Defensive End, #50, Senior 2014, 6’,0", 235 lbs.

DEFENSIVE STATS:

• 11 games, 93 tackles, 69 solos, 24 assists, 19 TFL, 6 sacks, 8 QBhurries, 3 caused fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries (34 return yards), 1 pass knock down
  (Zain led the Italy defense in each category above except for assists)

Note: A marked man coming into this season after being named all-state in 2012 by the TXSWA, Zain was able to better his overall defensive stats in 2013 despite opposing coaches devoting game planning to stop him.

Trevon Robertson: WR/Safety, #3, Senior 2014, 6’,3", 170 lbs.

DEFENSIVE STATS:

• Season Stats: 49 tackles, 21 assists, 2 interceptions, 5 Passes knocked down, 1 caused fumble

Note: It was Tre’s interception and return in the final minute that sealed Italy’s 13-7 season opening win over Maypearl in Week 0.

The Gladiators, led by AD/Head Coach Charles Tindol and his staff that were named the 2013 District 6-1AD1 Head Coach and Staff of the Year, were district champions (undefeated in district) and finished as area finalists. The Gladiators have been district champions the past three seasons, once in class 2A and now back-to-back in 1A.

In 2012, Byers became the 56th all-state Gladiator football player to be added to the program’s prestigious Golden Hall of Fame and has now become the 9th player to earn All-State honors in two separate seasons, both as a defensive end.

Robertson, becomes the 57th Gladiator football player to receive all-state honors and earn a place on Italy’s Golden Hall of Fame wall. Recognized for his talents as a defensive back, primarily as a safety, Robertson displayed the skills needed to make open-field tackles and to defend against the pass.

The coveted Gladiator Football Golden Hall of Fame roster is listed below which displays the names and known all-state achievements, and beyond, of all 57 All-State football players. Their pictures will forever reside on the wall and are currently displayed inside the Jimmy Davis Memorial Field House:

Italy Gladiator Football’s Golden Hall of Fame All-State Roster:

• Trevon Robertson
  • 2013 Associated Press: Honorable Mention All-State Defensive Back
• Zain Byers
  • 2013 Associated Press: 2nd Team All-State Defensive End
  • 2012 Texas Sports Writers Association: Honorable Mention All-State Defensive Line
  • 2012 The Padilla Poll: 2nd Team All-State Defensive Line
  • 2012 Smoaky.com: 3rd Team All-Central Texas Defensive End
• Ryheem Walker
  • 2012 Texas Sports Writers Association: 2nd Team All-State Linebacker
  • 2012 Texas Sports Writers Association: Honorable Mention Running Back
  • 2012 Associated Press: 1st Team All-State Linebacker
  • 2012 The Padilla Poll: State Class A Region II Division I Defensive Player of the Year
  • 2012 The Padilla Poll: 1st Team All-State Running Back
  • 2012 Smoaky.com: 2nd Team All-Central Texas Linebacker
  • 2012 Smoaky.com: 2nd Team All-Central Texas Utility
• Marvin Cox
  • 2012 Texas Sports Writers Association: 1st Team All-State Defensive Back
  • 2012 The Padilla Poll: 1st Team All-State Defensive Back
  • 2012 TheOldCoach.com: 1st Team All-State Defensive Back
  • 2012 Associated Press: 2nd Team All-State Defensive Back
  • 2012 Dave Campbell’s Texas Football: 2nd Team All-Classifications Defensive Back
  • 2012 Smoaky.com: All-Central Texas 2nd Team Defensive Back
• Jasenio Anderson
  • 2010 All-State Punter
  • 2009 All-StatePunter
  • 2009 All-State Quarterback
• Chris Enriquez
  • 2004 All-State Defensive Lineman
• Jordan Droll
  • 2001 All-State Center
• Scorpio Babers
  • 2000 All-State Defensive Back
  • NFL with Miami Dolphins (Undrafted free agent 2007)
  • NFL with Green Bay Packers
  • Arena with Jacksonville Sharks
  • CFL with Calgary Stampeeders
• Ben Major
  • 2000 All-State Linebacker
• Mason Reeves
  • 2000 All-State Offensive Tackle
• DeJuan Davis
  • 1999 All-State Linebacker
  • 1999 BFS All-American
• Keland Lewis
  • 1999 All-State Defensive End
• Nick Valdez
  • 1998 All-State Offensive Tackle
  • 1999 All-State Offensive Tackle
• Johnny Killough
  • 1998 All-State Center
• Randy Johnson
  • 1998 All-State Running Back
• Daniel Powers
  • 1997 All-State Linebacker
• David Weaver
  • 1997 All-State Tight End
• Edwin Wallace
  • 1997 All-State Running Back
• Glen Killough
  • 1997 All-State Offensive Tackle
• Kenneth Wallace
  • 1996 All-State Defensive Back
• Michael Shelby
  • 1996 All-State Running Back
• Jimmy Don Adams
  • 1996 All-State Defensive Tackle
• Jason Ward
  • 1996 All-State Center
• Keith Davis
  • 1996 All-State Linebacker / Wide Receiver
  • 1995 All-State Defensive Back / Wide Receiver
  • Sam Houston State
  • NFL with Dallas Cowboys (Undrafted free agent 2002)
  • NFL Europe Championship ring with the Berlin Thunder (1992 World Bowl XII Champion)
  • NFL with Miami Dolphins
  • NFL with Dallas Cowboys (Special Teams Captain)
  • NFL with Oakland Raiders
  • UFL with Florida Tuskers
  • UFL with Virginia Destroyers
• Jason Hamby
  • 1995 All-State Offensive Guard
• William McDaniel
  • 1993 All-State Center
• Dennis Janek
  • 1991 All-State Defensive End
• Michael Walker
  • 1991 All-State Defensive Back
  • 1991 All-State Offensive Back
  • 1990 All-State Defensive Back
• Stephen Spradling
  • 1990 All-State Linebacker
• Allen Richards
  • 1990 All-State Quarterback
  • 1991 All-State Quarterback
• Bobby Wilson
  • 1990 All-State Running Back
• Don Belknap
  • 1990 All-State Offensive Tackle
• Bryant Cockran
  • 1990 All-State Receiver
• David Burkhalter
  • 1990 All-State Offensive Guard
  • 1990 All-State Linebacker
• Daniel Seay
  • 1990 All-State Defensive End
• Philip Oliver
  • 1989 All-State Noseguard
• Curtis Riddle
  • 1989 All-State Defensive Back
• Rodney Shaw
  • 1988 All-State Linebacker
• Konrad Kuykendall
  • 1988 All-State Offensive Tackle
• Scott Floyd
  • 1987 All-State Noseguard
• Billy Ray Turner
  • 1987 All-State Running Back
• Steve Copeland
  • 1985 All-State Linebacker
• Dennis Ransom
  • 1985 All-State Tight End
  • Texas A&M
  • NFL with Washington Redskins (Drafted in the 6th Round of the 1991 NFL Draft as the 159th overall pick)
  • NFL Superbowl ring as a rookie with the Washington Redskins (1991 Superbowl XXVI Champions)
  • NY Giants
• Kyle Holley
  • 1985 All-State Quarterback
• Mike Loveless
  • 1985 All-State Center
• Clint Riddle
  • 1985 All-State Defensive Back
• Chris Scott
  • 1985 All-State Offensive Tackle
• Charles Hyles
  • 1985 All-State Defensive Back
• Jimmy Shelby
  • 1983 All-State Running Back
  • 1983 All-State Noseguard
  • Currently 7th on state All-Time Records list with 422 rushing carries in a season
• Tom Scott
  • 1983 All-State Center
• Vernon Shaw
  • 1982 All-State Defensive Back
• Jeff Frazier
  • 1982 All-State Center
• Lynn Anderson
  • 1982 All-State Linebacker
• Steve Jackson
  • 1981 All-State Tackle
• Ricky Boyd
  • 1981 All-State Tackle
• Baldemar Vargas
  • 1979 All-State Quarterback
  • 1977 All-State Defensive Back
• Jimmy Weaver
  • 1976 All-State Tight End
    
    

Do you think their pictures talk at night when nobody is around, sharing past stories from their glory days as grid-iron Gladiators? I like to think so.

Go Italy! Become Legend!!