Italy — With all the fanfare of a high school football game, the IYAA (Italy Youth Athletic Association) wrapped up their final home games of the 2010 football season while entertaining fans throughout the day. IYAA players, cheerleaders and fans from both Italy and Rice enjoyed banner busting, flag waving entrances, big hits, exciting plays, sideline cheers and halftime performances by the IYAA cheerleaders.

Both Italy’s Junior High Gladiators and their JV Gladiators fell short of their ultimate goals on Thursday against two talented Buffalo Bison squads. However, there were plenty of exciting plays and a valiant effort was displayed by the boys in gold.

The Italy Gladiators (4-2,1-0) take on the Buffalo Bison this Friday, October 15 @ 7:30 p.m. in Buffalo (4-3, 0-1). The Gladiators will be going for district win number two while the Bison are hoping to charge into contention after an 18-14 loss to Centerville last week.

The Italy Junior High and JV Gladiators split wins with the Blooming Grove Lions this past Thursday. Both Italy teams played extremely well and fans are loving every exciting minute.

All three IYAA football teams, supported by their cheerleaders, won all three games on Saturday against the Dawson Bulldogs at Willis Field in Italy. The IYAA will be hosting their final home games next Saturday, October 16, starting at 9:00 a.m. against the Rice Bulldogs.

Blooming Grove — The Blooming Grove Lions(2-4), head coached by Scott Doring, hosted the Italy Gladiators(4-2), head coached by Craig Bales, Friday night in a 2A-2 Region II District 11 district opener for both sides. The Lions came off a 31-7 loss to Teague while the Gladiators were riding a three game winning streak coming into the contest after toppling the Life Mustangs 63-0 in their last outing.

The Italy City Council will conduct its regular monthly meeting tonight, October 11, 2010. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at 105 Main Street, Italy, Texas and will begin at 7:00pm immediately following the 6:00pm Proclamation Reception honoring the 2010 IYAA Volunteer and Citizen of the year.

The Milford Bulldogs were plum terrific in Blum forcing officials to invoke the 45-point lead mercy-rule after the Bulldogs went up 50-0 over the Bobcats in the third quarter Friday night. The Bulldogs travel to Trinidad this week hoping to win their conference opener over the Trojans.

The Italy JV Gladiators were able to reschedule a game during their bye week with the Palmer JV Bulldogs this past Thursday. Italy scored first but Palmer kept at it and eventually claimed the lead and held on for the win.

In Week 4, IYAA football players and cheerleaders traveled to Palmer to take on the Bulldogs in their own back yard. There were plenty of big plays and even bigger smiles, and by days end, it’s the experiences gained and the camaraderie shared that coaches and mentors hope will benefit our local youth in their future endeavors.

After falling in their season opener to Richland Springs, the No. 3 ranked in 6M DII Milford Bulldogs (5-1) have posted three consecutive shutouts and outscored the last four opponents 236-14. Milford’s latest victim, the No. 20 ranked in 6M DI Walnut Springs Hornets, were 4-1 coming into Friday nights game but are now 4-2 after Milford defeated the Hornets 52-6 to cap off a week long Homecoming celebration for the Bulldogs.

The Milford Bulldogs, their cheerleaders, the Milford High School Band and Bulldog alumni and fans will be celebrating Homecoming 2010 tonight in a battle against Walnut Springs starting at 7:30 p.m. at Milford High School.

Good news for all you hardcore Gladiator fans, there will be a Junior Varsity football game at Willis Field in Italy on Thursday, September 30 at 5:30 p.m.

ITALY — The Italy Gladiator (3-2) defense posted their second shutout in a row and earn their third straight win after annihilating charter school Red Oak Life, in this their first varsity season, 63-0 at Willis Field in Italy Friday night.

The Italy Junior High and Junior Varsity football squads traveled to Dallas to take on Red Oak Life Thursday. Without one of their own, ROL shares the Dallas Life School’s football field. The location was of no concern to the younger Gladiators who will play anytime, anywhere…

The IYAA Bantam and Minor teams completed their games against the Scurry-Rosser Wildcats today before heavy rains soaked players, cheerleaders and fans. However, despite their willingness to play, the IYAA Majors’ game against the Wildcats had to be postponed for a later time.

No Italy sporting events have been cancelled during the week of September 20-25. This article contains scheduling information concerning this week’s sporting events including IJH/JV/V Football, JV/V Volleyball and IYAA Sports. The Junior Varsity football game will be played in Dallas on Thursday.

Hubbard — In what was a well played scrimmage by both sides, the Italy Junior High Football team (7th & 8th) traveled to Hubbard to take on the Jaguars this past Thursday.

After the freshly painted football field had dried, and after the town’s participation in the Italy High School Homecoming Parade, and after the pre-game pep rally and the 18th Annual George Scott Memorial Scholarship Fund Dinner, and after honoring past players and alumni, there was just two things left, to announce the 2010 Homecoming Queen and to play the Homecoming game!

Winning their first set against Rice, two games to one, then in their second set beating Malakoff in two straight games, Italy’s 8th grade volleyball team came home with a championship trophy from the Rice Junior High Volleyball Tournament this weekend.

Italy’s Junior High Lady Gladiators, 7th and 8th grade, battled the Grandview Lady Zebras on Monday, September 13 to get their season started. Coaches Heather Richters and Tina Richards were as excited as the teams were as the butterflies were definitely fluttering before the first whistle.

IYAA Sports enjoyed successful Homecoming football games against the Ferris Yellow Jackets on Saturday. After Italy’s week one games were postponed due to inclement weather, IYAA players and cheerleaders were excited to finally show their skills in front of the home town fans.

On Thursday, Italy ISD School Board members Jon Mathers, Curtis Riddle, Paul Cockerham and Italy ISD maintenance crewman Michael Chambers painted both endzones at Willis Field in preparation for the Homecoming game Friday night. More painting scheduled early today as well.

The intensity has definitely picked up on the Gladiators’ side of the ball this week as Italy prepares to do Homecoming battle against the Hubbard Jaguars. Gladiator practices are no place for the weak. Former players returning for the Friday night festivities would cringe at some of the hits being dished out in preparation for the game.

The IYAA (Italy Youth Athletic Association) invites fans to to be a part of the IYAA Homecoming games and festivities including the Italy High School Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 17 and the IYAA football games on Saturday, September 18, against the Ferris Yellow Jackets.

Ticket vouchers must be purchased no later than 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 14.

Palmer — When Italy Gladiators’ fans awoke Saturday morning, the sun was shining brighter, the grass was a bit greener and the old gold had returned some of its luster. After an 0-2 start to their season, the Italy Gladiators(1-2) get into the win column by handing the Palmer Bulldogs(1-2) their second loss of the season, 27-7 in Palmer’s own backyard.

Pouring rains may have cancelled Thursday’s Junior Varsity and Junior High football games but that didn’t keep the Junior High team from getting in a few practice reps. IJH’s excited players will have to wait until next week to showcase their skills against Hubbard.

A high level of volleyball was displayed by the Italy Lady Gladiators on Friday. The ladies were hustling around the court, shifting formations on the fly and backing each other up with a new found vigor. When every lady on the floor has the same desire to win, positive things are likely to happen.

With the cancellation of the football games Thursday night it gives an opportunity to hold a meeting without too much conflict. Please make plans to attend a meeting of the Gladiator Booster Club Thursday night September 9th at 6:30. There are several decisions that must be made in regards to our bank accounts, bylaws, as well as non-profit status regulations. We will also use this time to collect ad copy, etc., for the 2010 Gladiator Football Program.

The Italy Gladiators challenged another tough opponent in the Mart Panthers on Friday night. Head coach Craig Bales hopes the experience gained from playing strong teams before district will make the Gladiators that much stronger. Italy survived the Panther attack, but can Palmer survive the Gladiators?

The Italy JV Gladiators battled back in the fourth quarter to give themselves a chance but the Mart JV Panthers finally put the game out of reach in the final minutes.

Italy’s select baseball team continues to round bases at Waco’s Doubl-R Fields, Riverbend Park in an effort to gain experience while competing against high caliber baseball teams.

Gladiators’ fans have been down right restless waiting on the football season to get here. Thursday’s JV game offered a taste of the season ahead but Friday night’s varsity loss to Maypearl has left “Gladiator Nation” hungry for a win over the Mart Panthers next Friday.

Willis Field, Italy — After a rousing “Meet the Gladiators” pep rally inside Italy Coliseum before the JV game, Italy’s JV Gladiators kicked off their 2010-2011 season against the Maypearl Panthers on Thursday.

IYAA Football weigh-ins will be Saturday, August 28 starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Upchurch Ball Fields in Italy. Players that miss the weigh-ins or weigh over the allowed weight to carry the ball will become “X” players. By league rule, “X” players are not allowed to run with the ball during games.

Thursday, August 26, at 4:30pm, there will be a community pep rally held in the dome at the Italy High School Campus. The entire community is invited to come and meet our varsity and JV football players and the varsity cheerleaders. With the Gladiators’ preseason opening this week with games against the Maypearl Panthers it is a perfect time to come together and pump our Gladiators up. Beat Maypearl !!!

The Italy Lady Gladiators competed in Dawson hosted volleyball tournament and accumulated several wins to finish in 3rd place.

The Gladiators must recover quickly from a rough outing with three-time defending TAPPS State Champions, the Waco Reicher Catholic Cougars. Italy will be marching into Maypearl to tangle with the Panthers on Friday, August 27, at 7:30 p.m. It may be a pre-season game but the Gladiators will be using their long-time rivals as a gage to measure how good they could be this season.

The JV and Varsity Gladiators will scrimmage the Waco Reicher Cougars on Friday, August 20, starting at 6:00 p.m. at Waco Reicher. The game was originally scheduled to be played in Italy but it has been relocated to Waco.

The Lady Gladiators and the Lady Eagles clashed on Tuesday night at the dome. Two strong teams came together for another pre-season game and walked away with almost identical scores. The audience sat on the edge of their seats for these games.

The Italy Lady Gladiator Volleyball teams will be playing against the Avalon Lady Eagles today inside Italy Coliseum. The JV game begins at 5:30 p.m. and the Varsity game will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Perceived contenders for the district championship this season, the Italy Gladiators are well on their way to making that goal a reality after a strong showing against the Valley Mills Eagles during a scrimmage on Saturday.

That’s the feeling head volleyball coach Heather Richters had as the Lady Gladiators began their pre-season volleyball games. Their first win came Tuesday night against the Dawson Lady Dawgs in the dome. Both JV and Varsity teams played with gusto and strength. IHS Volleyball has started off on a good foot. “Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake Woop!” is the battle cry of the new season.

The Italy Lady Gladiators began their 2010 volleyball season with enthusiasm last week under the tutelage of their new head volleyball coach Heather Richters and assistant coach Jennifer Reeves. Intense workouts have the Ladies reaching new heights and setting even loftier goals.