Area championship coverage of Italy vs. Valley View at Pennington Field

Barry Byers Posted November 26, 2012 5:05pm Additional Images

Image: Alyssa Richards, Morgan Cockerham, Taylor Turner and Jaclynn Lewis try to stay warm before the action heats up. — Alyssa Richards, Morgan Cockerham, Taylor Turner and Jaclynn Lewis try to stay warm before the action heats up. (Barry Byers)

Bedford — Additional images from the exciting Italy Gladiator 35-14 win over the Valley View Eagles to claim the 2012 1A Division 1 Region II Area Championship!

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Band members Gus Allen and April Lusk are smiling with excitement before kickoff. (Barry Byers)

Alexis Sampley tests her flute before the Gladiators hit the field to take on Valley View. (Barry Byers)

Bryce DeBorde and little brother Garred Wood keep the flag waving before handing it over to the players. (Barry Byers)

Gladiator players and cheerleaders get in battle formation during the coin toss. (Barry Byers)

Gladiator receiver Eric Carson(12) had 6 catches for 45 yards and a two-point conversion reception. (Barry Byers)

Marvin Cox(3) and Hunter Merimon(45) head to the sideline with the first-quarter coming to a close. (Barry Byers)

Elijah Garcia, April Lusk, Vanessa Cantu and Trevor Patterson help lead the band onto the field for their halftime performance. (Barry Byers)

Gladiator Regiment Band members Amber Hooker and Madison Washington make some noise during the game. (Barry Byers)

Lala Wilson and daughter Taleyia Wilson are ready for the Gladiators to whoop the Eagles. (Barry Byers)

T.K. and Shiela are ready for the area championship challenge between Italy and Valley View. (Barry Byers)

Gladiator quarterback Marvin Cox(3) gets ready at halftime with a look of determination. Cox would eventually score 20 of Italy’s 35-points including three touchdowns. (Barry Byers)

Gladiators Ty Windham(36) and Ryan Connor(7) talk shop during the game. (Barry Byers)

When I snapped this photo, I knew Valley View was in trouble. With tunnel crew member Michael Martinez as intense as Ryheem Walker(10), it was obvious the Eagles were about to have their gooses cooked. (Barry Byers)

Marvin Cox(3) and Ryheem Walker(10) keep the Eagle defense guessing. (Barry Byers)

Valley View has Cole Hopkins(9) and the Italy offense looking over their shoulder with the Eagles trailing by only 7-points and with the Gladiators backed up near their own end zone late in the third-quarter. (Barry Byers)

Gladiator offensive linemen Cody Medrano(75) and Darol Mayberry(58) take a breather before heading back into the trenches. (Barry Byers)

Gladiator linebacker Ryheem Walker(10) pumps up his defensive teammates with an area championship in their sights. (Barry Byers)

IHS teacher Brenda Davis and her son, former NFL star, but always a Gladiator, Keith Davis, are on hand to cheer on the team. (Barry Byers)

Senior Gladiators Zackery Boykin(55) and Cole Hopkins(9) have added three trophies to the shelf so far this season. (Barry Byers)

Cody Medrano(75) is proud of his teammates after they claimed the area championship by defeating Valley View 35-14. (Barry Byers)

The Eagles and the Gladiators team up for group prayer after the contest. (Barry Byers)

Valley View’s Cole Seese(7) congratulates Italy’s Ryheem Walker(10) after the game. Walker led Italy’s defense with 17 tackles with 15 solo stops and rushed 16 times for 133 yards on offense scoring one touchdown for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Colin Newman, Caden Jacinto, Kelvin Joffre and Hayden Woods pose with Italy’s area championship trophy with the final score in the background, Gladiators 35 and Eagles 14. (Barry Byers)