The 2023 Powder Puff tournament, consisting of football matches made of four grade-level teams with female players, disrupted expectations and served as an upset to the previous year’s winner last month on November 16.
The series of games began with the sophomore team starting with the ball, moving towards the end zone of the opposing Freshman team. Almost immediately, the sophomores made a run up the field and the announcers Jake Lee and Ryan Haber were quick to make humorous commentary.
“Wow, the Freshman team can run,” Lee said.
Announcer Lee had unknowingly mixed up the teams, and Haber quickly corrected him, commenting, “Jake, that’s the sophomore team.”
The sophomores sequentially made the first touchdown of the night, prompting Lee’s response once again, this time seemingly making fun of his previous mistake.
“I’ve said it before,” he said. “The Sophomore team can run.”
The Sophomores intercepted the ball and competed their way to be further ahead in score.
Towards the end of the second half of the sophomore versus Freshman game, the freshman team managed to pull through and score a touchdown, supposedly marking the end of the game. However, with less than a minute left, the sophomore team celebrated their third touchdown of the night, finishing the first game with a score of 20-6. The previous year’s winners of the Class of 2026 moved on to the second round.
In the next match, the junior team played against the senior team, who started with the ball.
As the first half continued, it was evident that the senior team had a strong quarterback arm, making passes across the field. This was seen by Lee and Haber as well.
“I think the Seniors have the advantage in this game,” Lee said.
The second half of this match brought forth two touchdowns. The first by the junior team, followed up by the seniors to make a 6-6 tie. However, the senior team won the game in overtime with a catch in the end zone.
With the first two games over, students were asked who they believed would end up winning the tournament at the end of the night.
“I honestly think the Seniors have this one in the bag,” said junior Kennedy Edwards. “Great footwork, great teamwork, overall an amazing team.”
According to junior Brady McKee, “the Seniors” would likely win, because “They’re the oldest and have the most experience.”
The third game consisted of the seniors playing against the Sophomores, who secured the first touchdown. In the second half senior player Olivia Ruminski completed a touchdown to end the score in a tie. Once again, the seniors played into overtime and scored last minute, beating the sophomore team. They claimed their second win of the night against the previous year’s returning champs, and would next compete against the staff team.
In the last game, the seniors versus the staff, the score stayed unchanged as neither team managed to make a significant play during the first half. The staff team continuously attempted to pass to receiver and physics teacher, Mrs. Bookwalter. Meanwhile, the announcers jokingly commented that player and school nurse, Norway, was “flattening Seniors out.” The students seemingly did not let this bother them as Ruminski once again brought the ball to the endzone. Although the staff team made the score even by the end of the game, their efforts were not enough to win the match.
After playing in three games that all went into overtime, the senior team came out of the 2023 Powder Puff tournament victorious.
