On Tuesday night, girls from all four grades huddled in groups on the RM football field to participate in the annual Powderpuff Games. This simplified variation of flag football eliminates stress and worry so that the players can experience a shortened and less overwhelming game while retaining a high level of competition. The proceeds of the event would all be donated to raise money for breast cancer research.
The first game, freshmen against juniors, kicked off at 3:15pm. Almost immediately, two touchdowns took place: the first one to the juniors and the second to the freshmen. However, the tie didn’t stay for long. The juniors took control of the ball, but they were stopped at the ten yard line by freshman Marie Ann who grabbed their flag and saved the freshmen. However, being so close to the touchdown zone, the juniors sprinted past and claimed another touchdown, making the score 14-7.
After a brief halftime, freshman Helena Chang showed off her football skills with a few great cuts, avoiding the juniors defenses, and making it all the way to the touchdown zone. All three touchdowns for the freshmen were made by Chang, but despite her efforts, the juniors still won the game at 28-21.
The second game was only more intense. The seniors came out strong, claiming the first seven points, by completing an amazing pass and making it to the touchdown zone by just the second down. In general, it was noted that most of the touchdowns were completed by either the first or second down. From that point on, the seniors continued to dominate. They pushed forward with skillful handoffs and astonishing passes. The most intense part of the game was around less than a minute, when the sophomores tied it up at 14-14. Even with such little time left, the seniors continued to remain calm and optimistic. They scored not just one, but two touchdowns, due to their ability to avoid the sophomores’ defensive blocks. The game ended in a huge victory to the seniors: 35-14.
The last game matched up the two winners: juniors vs. seniors. Throughout the entire game, the players surprised the audience with their football skills. Taking up only half the football field, both teams managed to quickly score multiple touchdowns. The seniors continued to push forward their offensive skills, and received several amazing catches.
With such little time, about halfway through the last game, it was clear the seniors would win. However, the juniors refused to give up and continued to push towards a victory, while laughing and cheering their teammates on. The seniors claimed the last touchdown and the score ended in their win, 35-14.
Though the seniors won the Powderpuff games, each team gained something more important than a victory. “We actually did learn a lot about football from our coaches,” sophomore Anna Damiani revealed. Their progress was clear to the eyes of the audience because of their great passes, catches, and skillful plays.
Not only did they learn more valuable football knowledge, they also raised money for an important cause. “A lot of girls don’t want to play football because it’s too rough,” senior Isabel Knudson explained. “They might also not want to play because it’s a boy game, but honestly nothing should be a boys game. We should all just be able to play whatever game we want.”
In general, it was an amazing experience for all the players of the team. “[It’s] a great way for girls to just come together and play this awesome sport,” Knudson stated. She recommends all the RM girls to try this team sport, despite its physicality. “We had some injuries during the game… [but] it’s a great way for girls to just come together and play this awesome sport.”
Especially for girls who don’t participate in sports or clubs, the powderpuff games are a chance to be a part of a team and represent something more than themselves. There’s a bond that forms in each team and the games are an enriching experience for everyone.
