Gladiators struggle against Maypearl in week 2

Barry Byers Posted September 10, 2014 3:00pm Italy Gladiator Football

Image: Italy High School cheerleaders Zac Mercer, Annie Perry and Madison Washington hope for the best as Britney Chambers executes a tricky dismount after a stunt. — Italy High School cheerleaders Zac Mercer, Annie Perry and Madison Washington hope for the best as Britney Chambers executes a tricky dismount after a stunt. (Barry Byers)

Maypearl — The Italy Gladiators were hoping to punch into that win column against their long time rival the Maypearl Panthers Friday night but it was the Panthers who delivered a shutout blow to win 56-0 over Italy.

After seniors Kyle Fortenberry and Colin Newman led the Gladiators out from the tunnel , John Escamilla, Jack Hernandez, Ty Fernandez and Coby Jeffords represented Italy as game captains at centerfield. Maypearl won the opening toss and then quickly began asserting their will.

[[ Click to view extra images from Jeremiah Glover ]]

Italy trailed 21-0 by the end of the first-quarter with a long punt by Levi McBride, that traveled all the way to Maypearl’s 2-yard line, proving to be one of Italy’s best first-half highlights. Maypearl’s attack was relentless allowing the Panthers to build a 35-0 advantage going into halftime.

During the break, drum major Alexis Sampley led the award-winning Gladiator Regiment Marching Band and Flag Corp as they performed for Maypearl’s faithful. Italy’s band is under the direction of Jesus Perez and assistant director David Graves who pitched in on the tuba for this one.

However, the Gladiators returned for the second-half charged up and ready to play. A long kickoff return by McBride near midfield gave Italy fans hope that they might finally put points on the scoreboard for the first time this season. Unfortunately, Maypearl’s defense rose to the challenge and held the Gladiators back.

Gladiator sophomore quarterback Joe Celis did rush for 49 yards on 14 carries but could only muster 6 yards in the passing game. Freshman Kyle Tindol was Celis’s top receiver with 2 catches for 8 yards. Senior back Hunter Merimon had 7 carries for 10 yards while fellow senior Coby Jeffords had 1 carry for 12 yards with Italy’s offense struggling for the second consecutive week.

Jeffords was a bright spot on defense with 5 solo tackles and 3 assists with a few of those being the touchdown saving variety. Also raising his defensive level of play this week was senior defensive end Cody Boyd who had 5 solo tackles and 2 assists while Merimon had 2 solo tackles and 5 assists and linebacker Chris Davila had 3 solos and 3 assists.

The Pittmon twins (Aaron Pittmon and Austin Pittmon) combined for 2 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles and 1 caused fumble. Senior end John Byers caused a fumble as well while defensive tackle Colin Newman recorded a tackle before exiting the game with an ankle injury. Fabian Cortez helped with 2 solo tackles and 1 assist while freshman end Clay Riddle shows promise with 1 assisted tackle.

The good news is, Italy is showing improvement in several areas with one pre-season game remaining and a bye before district play. That’s plenty of time for the Gladiators and AD/HFC coach Charles Tindol to figure out a winning formula. Keep working, Guys!!!

The Gladiators are looking forward to their first home game against the visiting Blooming Grove Lions this coming Friday night, September 12, starting at 7:30 p.m. Fan support needed! Be there and be loud and proud!!

Gladiator Offensive Stats vs. Maypearl:

Gladiator(#)	Rush	Receiving	Pass/Attempts/Yds.	K.O.Return	Punt/Ave.
Levi McBride(1)	1/-2			3/36	4/167/42 ave.
Hunter Merimon(3)	7/10
Kendrick Norwood(4)	5/7	1/-2
Joe Celis(8)	14/49		4/8/6 yds.
Coby Jeffords(10)	1/12
Kyle Tindol(12)		2/8

Gladiator Defensive Stats vs. Maypearl:

Gladiator(#)	Tackle	Assist	Caused Fum.	Fum. Rec.	Tackle For Loss.
Levi McBride(1)	1
Hunter Merimon(3)	2	5
Kendrick Norwood(4)	2	2
Clayton Miller(6)	2	1
Ryan Connor(7)		2
Joe Celis(8)	5
Coby Jeffords(10)	5	3
Fabian Cortez(11)	2	1			1
Cody Boyd(15)	5	2
Chris Davila(54)	3	3
John Byers(60)	1	4	1
Ty Fernandez(64)	1	1
Austin Pittmon(65)	1	1	1
Kyle Fortenberry(66)	1
Aaron Pittmon(72)	1	2
Colin Newman(76)	1
Clay Riddle(77)		1
Jack Hernandez(80)	2	1

Tindol’s Trophies:

Overall MVP — Colin Newman
Offensive MVP — Ty Fernandez
Defensive — Coby Jeffords
Top Offensive Lineman — Kyle Fortenberry
Top Defensive Lineman — Cody Boyd
Hitman — Fabian Cortez
Special Teams MVP — David De La Hoya, Levi McBride

Go Italy!

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Italy High School cheerleader, Halee Turner is ready for the game. (Barry Byers)

Kyle Fortenberry(66) and Colin Newman(76) lead the Gladiators into battle with Gladiator fans forming spirit lines down the field. (Barry Byers)

Kyle Fortenberry(66) and John Escamilla(50) show respect to the flag before soldiering the field. (Barry Byers)

Hunter Merimon(3) and Cody Boyd(15) clamp down on a Maypearl Panther ball carrier. (Barry Byers)

With Joe Celis(8) hanging onto a Panther paw, defensive tackle John Escamilla(50) tries to strip the ball for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Gladiators Kyle Fortenberry(66) and Kendrick Norwood(4) crash into the Panther backfield for a stop. (Barry Byers)

Gladiator punter Levi McBride(1) sends a punt down to the Panther 2-yard line. (Barry Byers)

After a hit by defensive end John Byers(60), the ball pops out from a Panther ball carrier. Gladiator teammate Colin Newman(76) attempts to recover the pesky pigskin. (Barry Byers)

Gladiators Cody Boyd(15), Fabian Cortez(11), Joe Celis(8), John Byers(60) and John Escamilla(50) try to convince the referee that he is wrong again…to no avail. (Barry Byers)

Seniors Ty Fernandez(64) and Cody Boyd(15) clear the way for freshman Kendrick Norwood(4). (Barry Byers)

Gladiator quarterback Joe Celis(8) hangs tough under the threat of a Panther attack. (Barry Byers)

Aaron Pittmon(72) and Joe Celis(8) make a Panther sandwich as Chris Davila(54) backs them up. (Barry Byers)

Kayla Cunningham during her halftime flag routine as a member of the Italy High School Flag Corp. (Barry Byers)

Drum Major Alexis Sampley and the award-winning Gladiator Regiment Marching Band entertain the Maypearl fans with their halftime performance. (Barry Byers)

Bass drummers do their thing during the halftime show. (Barry Byers)

Italy High School cheerleader K’Breona Davis takes a break before the second-half begins. (Barry Byers)

Gladiators David De La Hoya(56), Ryan Connor(7), Hunter Merimon(3), Kyle Tindol(12), John Byers(60) and Kendrick Norwood(4) charge onto the field to begin the second-half. (Barry Byers)

Senior lineman John Byers(60) is on a mission in the second-half. (Barry Byers)

Italy High School cheerleader Madison Washington fires up the second-half crowd. (Barry Byers)

Levi McBride(1) sparks the Gladiators with a long kick return up near midfield to start the third-quarter. (Barry Byers)

Italy High School cheerleader Kelsey Nelson leads the cheers against Maypearl. (Barry Byers)

Italy High School cheerleader Britney Chambers reaches the fans in the cheap seats thanks to fellow cheerleader Zac Mercer who offers her a boost. (Barry Byers)

Aaron Pittmon(72) bullies his way into the Maypearl backfield to tackle a Panther for a loss. (Barry Byers)