Support Zain Byers and his Austin College teammates Saturday in Waxahachie @ 6pm

Barry Byers Posted September 20, 2016 8:00pm Italy High School Alumni

Image: Show your support for 2014 Italy High School graduate #50 NG Zain “Zilla” Byers and his Austin College Kangaroo teammates who will be taking on the SAGU Lions at Waxahachie’s Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium on Saturday, September 24. Kickoff set for 6:00 p.m. — Show your support for 2014 Italy High School graduate #50 NG Zain “Zilla” Byers and his Austin College Kangaroo teammates who will be taking on the SAGU Lions at Waxahachie’s Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium on Saturday, September 24. Kickoff set for 6:00 p.m. (Barry Byers)

Hey, Gladiator Fans! Support 2014 Italy High School graduate #50 NG Zain “Zilla” Byers as he and his Austin College Kangaroo teammates take on the SAGU Lions at Waxahachie’s Stuart B. Lumpkins Stadium on Saturday, September 24. Kickoff set for 6:00 p.m.

Thru 3 games of the 2016 season, Zain, now a junior, ranks 27th among the top 50 tacklers within the SCAC (Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference / NCAA DIII). He is also in a 4-way tie for fumble recoveries with 1 and is in a 6-way tie for forced fumbles with 1.

The Austin College Kangaroos, head coached by Loren Dawson, are 2-1 on the season after consecutive wins over Howard Payne, 19-17, and over Whitter College (from California), 30-17. AC’s only loss came in week 1 against Hendrix, 55-23.

Zain’s stats thru 3 games are 3 solo tackles, 7 assisted tackles, 10 tackles total, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovered fumble, 1 pass disruption. He is in a 3-way tie among the Austin College defensive line troop for most total tackles with 10 along with teammates Hayden Schilling, Muenster / Sacred Heart Catholic, and Bryce DeVaughn, Frisco. The defensive coordinator for the Kangaroos is Mike Silva.

Zain has started 13 games for the Kangaroos at the nose guard position and the ‘Roos have posted a 7-6 win loss record over the course of those outings.

Zain, the son of Barry Byers, Italy, and Tammy Lenee Boyd, Colorado, played 2 seasons with the IYAA (Italy Youth Athletic Association), 1 season of select football for the Waxahachie Longhorns and then finished his Jr. High, JV and Varsity football for Italy ISD where he became a 2-time all-state defensive end for the Gladiators.

Zain is currently working on his education degree at Austin College and is doing his student teaching this semester at Tom Bean High School.

Event Note:
During halftime, be sure to check out local youth sports coach, Jasenio Anderson, Italy, and his 1st-2nd Grade youth flag football team called the Gladiators. The team consists of players from Italy, Itasca and Avalon and they compete thru the Waxahachie YMCA league. The Gladiators will be participating in an exhibition contest during intermission. Also on the coaching staff are Eric Enriquez, Italy, Detrick Green, Italy, and Lazaro Villarreal, Hillsboro.

#68 NG Zain Byers Highlight Video / Collegiate Sophomore Season 2015

#50 DE Zain Byers Highlight Video / Senior Season / Italy High School 2013

#50 DE Zain Byers Highlight Video / Junior Season / Italy’s 2012 State-Semifinal Run

Good luck, Zain! Go ‘Roos!!

2014 Italy High School graduate #50 NG Zain “Zilla” Byers is enjoying his junior season as an Austin College Kangaroo while sporting his jersey number from his days as an Italy Gladiator. (Barry Byers)

Austin College junior nose guard Zain Byers (#50 in Crimson) rips his way into the Whittier Poets backfield. (Barry Byers)

Austin College junior nose guard Zain Byers (#50 in Crimson) latches on to a Whittier Poet running back. (Barry Byers)

Austin College junior nose guard Zain Byers (#50 in Crimson) hangs on by the jersey until help arrives to bring down a Whittier Poet running back. (Barry Byers)

It can be a tough job serving as the Austin College junior nose guard but junior ’Roo #50 Zain Byers gets some help from teammate #70 Don Ton, a junior tackle from Frisco. Also pictured is #42 Darlon Chandler, Dallas, Texas / Kathlyn Joy Gilliam. (Barry Byers)

Austin College Kangaroo nose guard #50 Zain Byers, a junior from Italy, Texas, powers his way thru the Whittier Poets’ offensive line. (Barry Byers)

Austin College Kangaroo nose guard #50 Zain Byers disrupts this pass attempt late in the fourth-quarter against the Whittier Poets. (Barry Byers)

A product of Italy High School and a two-time all state defensive end for the Gladiators, Austin College junior nose guard #50 Zain Byers takes a beating but keeps on hitting for the Kangaroos. (Barry Byers)

Austin College nose guard #50 Zain Byers talks strategy with fellow defensive lineman #53 Jordan Keaton. Now juniors, both players have been Kangaroo teammates since their freshman year. (Barry Byers)

Austin College junior nose guard #50 Zain Byers tackles Howard Payne’s quarterback on fourth-and-short. (Barry Byers)

Forcing an incomplete pass late in the game against Howard Payne is Austin College Kangaroo #50 Zain Byers. (Barry Byers)

Austin College junior #50 Zain Byers attempts to block a field goal attempt from Howard Payne. (Barry Byers)

Sacrificing for the cause is Austin College junior nose guard #50 Zain Byers who helped the Kangaroos hand Howard Payne a 19-17 loss. (Barry Byers)

Sophomore Season: During the 2015 season against Hendrix, Austin College sophomore nose guard #68 Zain Byers comes up big on a 4th down stop for the Kangaroos along with teammate #22 Kendall St. Romain, a junior out of Arlington, Texas / Mansfield Timberview. (Barry Byers)

Sophomore Season: Austin College Kangaroo #68 Zain Byers records a tackle against Hendrix during his sophomore season at Austin College. (Barry Byers)

Sophomore Season: Austin College sophomore nose guard #68 Zain Byers making his first official collegiate tackle on play three of the 2015 season opener against Hendrix. (Barry Byers)

Sophomore Season: A sophomore back in 2015, Austin College nose guard #68 Zain Byers recorded his first collegiate sack against the Southwestern Pirates. (Barry Byers)

Sophomore Season: A sophomore back in 2015, Austin College nose guard #68 Zain Byers recorded his second collegiate sack against the SAGU Lions. (Barry Byers)

Sophomore Season: Getting his name called out over the loud speaker after a big hit and tackle during the 2015 Austin College homecoming game against Trinity was sophomore nose guard #50 Zain “Zilla” Byers out of Italy, Texas. (Barry Byers)

Sophomore Season: #68 Zain’s Byers with his family members, friends and former Italy High School football teammates, Shad Newman and Kevin Roldan (Back center), during Austin College Homecoming 2015. Also pictured in the light blue sweater is Zain’s cousin, Lauren Byers, also an Italy graduate. (Barry Byers)

Sophomore Season: Sporting their official Austin College Kangaroo letterman Jackets were sophomores’ Eric Summerlin, Denton Texas / Ryan, Zain Byers, Italy, Texas, R.J. Melton, Electra, Texas / Electra, Cooper Gross, Tulsa, Okla. / Holland Hall, and Shane Brooks, Waco, Texas / Reicher Catholic. The jackets are awarded to players who have been in the Kangaroo football program for two seasons. (Barry Byers)

Freshman Season: Austin College freshman #68 Zain Byers tackles a Harden Simmons running back for a loss during a JV scrimmage back in 2014. (Barry Byers)

A meme from his freshman season as an Austin College Kangaroo, it was just the beginning for Italy’s Zain Byers who is starting to leave his mark in the SCAC (Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference / NCAA DIII). (Barry Byers)