Italy Gladiators (3-0) spoil Blooming Grove’s homecoming with 42-0 shutout win

Image: Italy Gladiator #3 Jeremiah Thompson turned a short pass completion from his quarterback, Tylan Wallace, into a 71-yard touchdown early in the first-quarter against the Blooming Grove Lions.

Italy Gladiator #3 Jeremiah Thompson turned a short pass completion from his quarterback, Tylan Wallace, into a 71-yard touchdown early in the first-quarter against the Blooming Grove Lions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s #52 James Walton helps clear some running room for the Gladiator backfield.

Italy’s #52 James Walton helps clear some running room for the Gladiator backfield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Junior Gladiator #50 Clay RIddle keeps those legs driving while blocking for his backfield.

Junior Gladiator #50 Clay RIddle keeps those legs driving while blocking for his backfield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Against Blooming Grove, newcomer, junior kicker #14 Mauro Ibarra, went 6-out of-6 on PAT kicks for Italy with Keith Davis II holding and John Morgan snapping.

Against Blooming Grove, newcomer, junior kicker #14 Mauro Ibarra, went 6-out of-6 on PAT kicks for Italy with Keith Davis II holding and John Morgan snapping. (Barry Byers)

Image: Go Italy! Italy Gladiator cheerleader, Kimberly Hooker, helps her guys-in-gold punch their way to a third straight win.

Go Italy! Italy Gladiator cheerleader, Kimberly Hooker, helps her guys-in-gold punch their way to a third straight win. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator defender #1 Kevin Johnson upends a Lion running back as teammate #8 Joe Celis arrives to add the finishing touches.

Gladiator defender #1 Kevin Johnson upends a Lion running back as teammate #8 Joe Celis arrives to add the finishing touches. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s #10 Kendrick Norwood rushed for a pair of touchdowns and returned a Lion fumble 44-yards for a third touchdown in what was a big night for the junior.

Italy’s #10 Kendrick Norwood rushed for a pair of touchdowns and returned a Lion fumble 44-yards for a third touchdown in what was a big night for the junior. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Gladiator Regiment Band plays loud and proud as they help propel Italy to its third straight win to start the season.

The Gladiator Regiment Band plays loud and proud as they help propel Italy to its third straight win to start the season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Fielding a Blooming Grove punt is Italys’ #1 Kevin Johnson.

Fielding a Blooming Grove punt is Italys’ #1 Kevin Johnson. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator linebacker #8 Joe Celis drives a Lion running back into the turf.

Gladiator linebacker #8 Joe Celis drives a Lion running back into the turf. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy defensive tackle #16 Kenneth Norwood, Jr. breaks into the Blooming Grove backfield.

Italy defensive tackle #16 Kenneth Norwood, Jr. breaks into the Blooming Grove backfield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s #12 Chasston King proves he’s the king of the jungle as he puts the pop on a Blooming Grove Lion running back.

Italy’s #12 Chasston King proves he’s the king of the jungle as he puts the pop on a Blooming Grove Lion running back. (Barry Byers)

Image: He gone…..! #12 Chasston King collects a Lion fumble and then sprints, untouched, 94 yards for a Gladiator touchdown!!!

He gone…..! #12 Chasston King collects a Lion fumble and then sprints, untouched, 94 yards for a Gladiator touchdown!!! (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s #5 Kieth Davis II returns a Lion punt down inside the Blooming Grove 5-yard line to setup an Italy touchdown.

Italy’s #5 Kieth Davis II returns a Lion punt down inside the Blooming Grove 5-yard line to setup an Italy touchdown. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Lone Senior! Brooke DeBorde is the only senior cheerleader for the Gladiators but has no problem setting the example for the rest of the squad.

The Lone Senior! Brooke DeBorde is the only senior cheerleader for the Gladiators but has no problem setting the example for the rest of the squad. (Barry Byers)

Image: The high-flying #11 Fabian Cortez(11) goes airborne to help strip the ball away from a Blooming Grove running back as teammate #81 Dylan McCasland hits the Lion low.

The high-flying #11 Fabian Cortez(11) goes airborne to help strip the ball away from a Blooming Grove running back as teammate #81 Dylan McCasland hits the Lion low. (Barry Byers)

Image: Junior receiver #9 Gary Escamilla gets all he can out of a short pass for Italy, turning it into a 7 yard gain.

Junior receiver #9 Gary Escamilla gets all he can out of a short pass for Italy, turning it into a 7 yard gain. (Barry Byers)

Image: Here come your Gladiators for the start of the second-half….along with Jack and Julius!

Here come your Gladiators for the start of the second-half….along with Jack and Julius! (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator junior defensive end #50 Clay Riddle helps tackle a Blooming Grove ball carrier along with teammate #24 Christion Washington.

Gladiator junior defensive end #50 Clay Riddle helps tackle a Blooming Grove ball carrier along with teammate #24 Christion Washington. (Barry Byers)

Image: The fabulous #11 Fabian Cortez clamps onto a Lion in the Blooming Grove backfield to secure a tackle for a loss.

The fabulous #11 Fabian Cortez clamps onto a Lion in the Blooming Grove backfield to secure a tackle for a loss. (Barry Byers)

Image: Be afraid! #14 Mauro Ibarra and the Gladiator kicking team keep Blooming Grove guessing.

Be afraid! #14 Mauro Ibarra and the Gladiator kicking team keep Blooming Grove guessing. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s #12 Chasston King led all Gladiator rushers with 53 yards and just 3 carries.

Italy’s #12 Chasston King led all Gladiator rushers with 53 yards and just 3 carries. (Barry Byers)

Image: The closer, #24 Christion Washington, carried 2 times for 7 yards late in the fourth-quarter to help Italy grind out the clock against Blooming Grove. Italy won 42-0 to spoil the Groves’ homecoming.

The closer, #24 Christion Washington, carried 2 times for 7 yards late in the fourth-quarter to help Italy grind out the clock against Blooming Grove. Italy won 42-0 to spoil the Groves’ homecoming. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy Gladiator junior quarterback #2 Tylan Wallace helped lead Italy to a 42-0 shutout win over Blooming Grove. Wallace went 6-of-11 for 138 passing yards and rushed for 36 yards against the Lions.

Italy Gladiator junior quarterback #2 Tylan Wallace helped lead Italy to a 42-0 shutout win over Blooming Grove. Wallace went 6-of-11 for 138 passing yards and rushed for 36 yards against the Lions. (Barry Byers)

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