Italy takes control, hands Axtell first loss, 21-7
ITALY – The Italy Gladiators, under the guidance of AD/Head Football Coach Mike Loveless, faced their biggest test of the season Friday night as the undefeated Axtell Longhorns herded into Gladiator Stadium, also boasting an undefeated record – as well as winning 16 out of their last 17 games.
With control of the district race up for grabs, Italy was off to a rocky start after Axtell recovered their own onside kick attempt to set up the Horns’ offense at Italy’s 48-yard line. Axtell quickly drove to Italy’s 15-yard line and then sophomore Longhorn quarterback, Levi Leathers threw a quick out pass to Coldyn Horn who made a nifty inside-out move to reach the end zone. Axtell led 7-0 with 9:27 still to play in the opening quarter.
Italy’s struggles continued on both sides of the ball, but Axtell was unable to capitalize and add to their scoreboard advantage. As both offenses stagnated to a degree, both teams punted back and forth, allowing the defenses to duke it out until halftime. Axtell held their 7-0 advantage going to the break but the momentum would soon change to the home side of the field.
After Italy kicker Elijah Stewart sailed the start of the second half into the end zone for a touchback, Italy’s defense soon forced Axtell to punt from their own 14-yard line. The ball was placed in Axtell’s territory and Gladiator senior quarterback Gared Wood made the most of the descent field position. Wood kept left, followed his massive pulling guard Maddox Dickerson, found a lane thanks to well executed blocks by halfback Tristan Camacho and receivers Lucky Johnson and Tripp Slovak, allowing Wood to go the distance, 47 yards for the touchdown.
Austin Cate snapped and Slovak held as Rogelio Torres-Luna punched through the game tying point-after kick.
Wood, in a single play, had all but erased Axtell’s efforts up to that point, knotting up the contest 7-7 at the 9:57 mark of the 3rd quarter. The pendulum was beginning to swing away from red to gold.
On the ensuing kickoff, Camacho raced downfield to tackle Axtell’s return man at the Longhorn 8-yard line. Italy’s fans were pumped with the Longhorns penned deep into their own territory, yet again. On 3rd-and-7, Leathers launched a pass to the left but Italy defensive back Raul Acosta made a spinning interception and landed inbounds at Axtell’s 34-yard line.
Both sides traded punts, however, with Italy eventually driving to Axtell’s 30-yard line. Wood threw deep to Treylan Fennell who drew a pass interference call just before the goal line. The ball was spotted at the Horns’ 15-yard line and, from there, Wood handed off to Acosta who sprinted untouched to reach the left pylon, giving Italy the lead. Torres-Luna capped off the moment with his second successful point-after kick, helping the Gladiators take a 14-7 advantage over the Longhorns with 2:07 left in the 3rd.
After being stopped at the 19 following the kickoff by Stewart, Axtell got their herd moving again and drove all the way to Italy’s 9-yard line. On 4th-and-4, however, Leathers tried a pass to the right flat to his running back Cole Tindle in hopes of gaining the yardage needed. Unfortunately for Axtell, Tindle was unable to maintain possession as he went out after the sticks and Italy’s offense stormed back onto the field. Italy was still in front, 14-7, with 8:30 remaining.
A handoff and an inside pitch to Acosta moved the ball to the Gladiator 7-yard line. With their capes to the goal line and clinging to a 7-point advantage, however, Wood and the Gladiators would put the game out of reach on the next play. With Dickerson leading the way again, and with fellow offensive linemen J.J. Acosta, Landon Johnson, Garrett Lennon, and Brayden Enriquez, each locking on to a Horn defender, Wood found the crease he needed, slipped through an arm tackle, and then split two more Horn defenders to outrace the Axtell defense 93 yards. Torres-Luna was true on his third point-after kick to officially give Italy control of the game, 21-7 with 7:00 left.
Axtell put together another lengthy drive, but on 4th down at Italy’s 33, Leathers’ flea-flicker trickery was broken up midair by Johnson at Italy’s 6-yard line.
With 5:15 left to play. Italy’s next drive stalled at Axtell’s 32-yard line, but the Longhorns would eventually run out of time and be forced to absorb their first loss of the season. The Gladiators held on for a big win in little Italy, 21-7 over the Longhorns.
Offensively for Italy, Gared Wood rushed 21 times for 186 yards and 2 TDs, averaging 8.9 yards per carry. Wood also completed 7-of-15 passes for 61 yards. Senior tailback Eric Solis carried the ball 7 times for 30 yards, Raul Acosta carried the ball 5 times for 26 yards, and Lucky Johnson had 1 carry for 4 yards. Johnson also caught 5 passes for 54 yards, and Treylan Fennell caught 2 passes for 7 yards.
Defensive leaders for Italy were Tristan Camacho with 5 solos and 6 assists, Wood had 7 solos and 3 assists, Treylan Fennell had 5 solos, 3 assists, and 1 TFL, J.J. Acosta had 4 solos and 4 assists, Kaelynn Cockran had 4 solos, 3 assists, and 1 TFL, Eric Solis had 2 solos and 4 assists, Lucky Johnson had 3 solos, 1 assist, 1 INT, and 3 PBUs, Terence Jones had 3 solo tackles, Raul Acosta had 2 solo tackles and 1 INT, Austin Cate had 1 solo tackle, 1 hurry, and 1 pressure, and Alejandro Villasenor had 1 assist.
Italy (6-1,3-0) will travel to Bosqueville (4-4,1-3) to take on the Bulldogs Friday at 7 p.m. in yet another district showdown.