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!

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

The Italy Gladiators went all pads on Friday during both 2-a-day practice sessions. Lineman worked the seven man sled for the first time and and receivers adjusted to catching with the shoulder pads on.

With the first scrimmage only days away, football fever is at an all time high. Attached are the schedules for the Varsity, Junior Varsity and Junior High Italy Gladiator Football teams. Go Gladiators!

With week one of 2-a-day practices coming to an end, the Italy Gladiators will suit up in full contact armor on Friday.

The 2010 Italy Gladiators, head coached by athletic director Craig Bales, began their 2-a-day football practices on Monday to kickoff a highly anticipated campaign to reclaim the district championship that has been so close yet so far away.

Final Football Sign-ups will be held Saturday, July 31 at Upchurch Ballpark from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. during the IYAA Garage Sale. Sign-up forms, county issued birth certificates and a registration fee of $65.00 can be submitted during that time.

IYAA Cheerleading/Football sign-ups will be held at the Upchurch Ball Fields on Saturday, July 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The cheerleading sign-up deadline has been extended and all Football players must be registered by July 28.

IYAA cheerleading sign-ups will be held at the Upchurch Ball Fields on Saturday, July 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The IYAA is currently accepting Football/Cheerleading sign-ups. Forms are available at the Varner Fina Station in Italy and at the concession stand at the Upchurch Ball Fields during games. Cheerleaders must sign-up by July 15 and players by July 28.

The 2009 Italy Gladiators football team had 15 players named to the District 21-A All-District list. Junior Jasenio Anderson was named District 21-A’s Most Valuable Player, 1st Team Punter and 1st Team Kicker. Anderson and his teammates helped to restore a winning football tradition in Italy by getting into the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

Rain, wind, cold, win, lose or draw, the dedicated IYAA Cheerleaders supported their teams through it all in 2009. Often performing on rain-soaked sidelines and having to endure cold temperatures, those glittery gold pom-poms never stopped shaking and spirits never waivered. And for all the sacrifices, the IYAA players and coaches want to say, “Thank You.”

Saturday morning in Hubbard, the IYAA (Italy Youth Athletic Association) fielded two football teams competing for a chance to become Superbowl Champions of their respective divisions. By the end of the day one thing was for sure, defense wins Championships….but offense comes in handy as well.

HUBBARD – The IYAA C-Team Gladiators defeat the Palmer Bulldogs to win the NESA “C” Superbowl 18-0. The IYAA B-Team Gladiators hold off the Ferris Yellowjackets for a 19-0 Superbowl win. The 2009 season marks the first time in IYAA history that all three football teams (A,B & C) qualified for the playoffs. Let the celebrations begin starting with the IYAA bonfire party tonight at 6:00 p.m.

After the IYAA C-Team and B-Team Gladiators compete for Superbowl Championships earlier in the day, the IYAA Bonfire party will start at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 21 at Gary Wood’s house located at 1326 L.R. Campbell Road in Italy.

The Italy Gladiators(5-4) who finished tied for 2nd in District 21-A were matched against the Lovelady Lions(10-0) and their 19-seniors in a battle for the bi-district championship. Italy took an early 14-0 lead but the Lions came roaring back.

The IYAA A-Team won their wildcard game at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning against Palmer to claim the 4th seed in the “A” Division’s Playoff standings. The victory marked the first time in IYAA history that all three football divisions (A, B & C-Teams) and their cheerleaders qualified for the playoffs. By days end, the IYAA B & C-Teams advanced to next Saturday’s Superbowl games to be played in Hubbard.

With a trip to the Playoffs guaranteed, the Italy Gladiators traveled to Patton Field in Itasca for one last district battle against their old rivals, the Itasca Wampus Cats. Italy’s sideline looked more like a M.A.S.H. unit before halftime as Itasca added insult to injury by taking a 16-8 lead over the Gladiators into halftime.

The Italy Gladiator Junior High and JV football teams capped off their 2009 seasons with home games against the Itasca Wampus Cats. For the 8th Graders, the night marked their final football game as Junior High Gladiators. For the JV, they were just glad to finally play a game before the sophomores move up to the Varsity level next season.

The IYAA Gladiators C-Team and B-Team scrapped with the Rice Bulldogs Saturday in Italy. Both teams were on a mission to finish the regular season as undefeated division champs. Mission’s accomplished!

Under the direction of Coach Craig Bales who is in his second year as head coach, the Italy Gladiators have come full circle. Unlike three seasons ago when Italy didn’t win one game, the winning tradition is being restored in Gladiator country.

The IYAA Gladiators pee-wee football teams and cheerleaders hosted the Hubbard Jaguars on Saturday in Italy. Even though it was Halloween, it would be some trick if Hubbard could treat themselves to wins over Italy.

The Friday pep rally inside the old gym at Italy High School was a fun time for students, cheerleaders, players, faculty and the community. A speech from NFL great and Italy alum Keith Davis highlighted the event along with the IHS cheerleaders as they performed a dance routine to the song, “Thriller.”

The Italy JH Gladiators had their hands full, of mud mostly, against the Dawson Bulldogs on Thursday. It was a hard fought game between both sides but when the final buzzer sounded, the game ended in a tie, 6-6.

Friday, October 30 at 3:00 p.m., the whole community is invited to enjoy the Gladiator Pep Rally. Keith Davis will be the guest speaker at the Halloween themed event – Wear your costume!

The Italy Gladiators blasted into Wortham’s Bulldog Stadium and pounded “Big Blue” into submission. Italy’s high powered offense didn’t rely on it’s air attack in this one, instead the Gladiators defeated the Bulldogs at their own running game. The win puts Italy at 4-0 in District with the Dawson Bulldogs coming to town on Friday.

Three games against the Dawson Bulldogs on Saturday resulted in three shutout wins for the IYAA Gladiator football teams and their cheerleaders. In the three games combined, Italy totalled 80-points to Dawson’s 0-points. “Ouch!”

ITALY – The undefeated Wortham Bulldogs showed their might against Italy’s Junior High team on Thursday at Willis Field. Amazingly, with less than a minute to go and Wortham in control of the ball, a scoreless Italy team avoided being shutout by the Bulldogs in dramatic fashion.

The IYAA football teams and cheerleaders enjoyed IYAA Picture Day on Tuesday. And even though picture day turned into picture night after the camera crew was delayed in the traffic, the kids were all smiles when it was time to say, “Cheese!”

The Italy Gladiators (4-2 overall) battled the Hubbard Jaguars (1-6 overall) Friday night at Willis Field in Italy. Early in the first quarter, the Gladiators gave the Jaguars a taste of what the rest of the game had in store for the spotted cats.