Once again, it was that time of year when the upperclassman girls battle it out in an intense game of flag football. That’s right.  Powderpuff time. 

Seniors and Juniors

Last year, the current seniors lost Powderpuff to the class of 2022. However, they’re coming back this year with experience and vengeance. 

Senior Jadyn Keet said, “I think we’re more determined to win, but also as seniors we need to win because we’re seniors.” Keet played in Powderpuff last year as a junior. In comparison to the team last year, she claims, “we know a lot more of what we’re doing and we’re even more excited.” 

The seniors’ coach Mr. Terence McSweeny has participated in the game for the past two seasons. He states the class of the 2023 team is more cohesive than last year and excited about having fun playing versus winning. 

As the game approached, senior, Clarissa Weaver, said, “all love to the juniors but I think we’re going to win.” We’ll see if the seniors can live up to the challenge. The class of 2024 makes their Powderpuff debut this year. 

Their coach, Señor Eric Datis, has coached for the past thirteen years. He said the class of 2024 team was a very fun team with great personalities and enthusiasm for the game. 

Junior Alex Sacavitch, claimed the starters were ready to take on the seniors. She also said she’d probably do Powder Puff again next year. Perhaps the juniors will have what it takes.

Game Time

Thursday’s game started out with an early lead for the seniors. A touchdown was scored within the first four minutes by senior, Shay Thevenin. The touchdown was followed by a completed field goal by Tori Adams. The ball was then punted to the junior who scored the first down on the ball return. Not long after the seniors’ touchdown, Allysa Tatem scored for the juniors. Kicker Kasey Eustace completed the field goal to tie the game. The ball went back and forth for the rest of the half, and the score at halftime was tied 7-7. 

The second half of the game started slowly. Both teams began getting physical, but only the seniors were called for it with the announcers claiming that the penalty was for “excessive sass.” The game started to pick up with a trick play implemented by the class of 2024 coach, Señor Datis. Junior Katelyn Nyce, pretended to fall on the right side of the field. While the seniors turned to see if she was ok, another player ran the ball up the left side. The seniors fell for the trick and the juniors nearly scored a touchdown. They gained the first down on the seven-yard line, and a touchdown was scored on fourth down by junior, Zoe Goldberg. Kasey Eustace once again scored the field goal and the juniors stole the lead. The seniors got the ball and Jaida Jenkins swiftly dodged the defense and scored the first down. 

However, the ball was intercepted during their second down by junior Ava Cipollono, whose flag was pulled right before the end zone. The juniors were close to scoring again until senior, Ciyani Santiago, got in the way of the pass. 

“She boomsticked her!” shouted two senior players on the varsity football team, Dylan Geller and Anthony Helsene, from the stands. 

Rather than going for a touchdown on fourth down, the juniors successfully went for a field goal for the three points. 

Senior, Jaida Jenkins, almost had a touchdown in the last two minutes of the game but she just missed it. Despite receiving a first down the seniors were unable to score. 

The game ended 17-7 in favor of the juniors.

The seniors on the field and in the stands appeared very unhappy. Many claimed the juniors were ‘violent’ without getting called for it as well as holding their flags on multiple occasions. 

Some seniors claimed the announcers ‘heckled’ the seniors, saying they were “too sassy” and “were losing because the players on the sidelines were not paying attention to the game.” 

Seniors interviewed said such comments definitely did not help the seniors’ morale and hope for turning the game around. 

Did the game prove that Powder Puff is not rigged in favor of the seniors?