During Powerpuff, the annual girls’ flag football game, the seniors defeated the juniors 9-7 on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Parsons Field. With this win the seniors made history as they are one of the only classes to win in both their junior and senior years.
Both teams started the game with excitement and aggression. The seniors shined on offense, with Birdie Hawkins, Sasha Harwin and Olivia Zanini making substantial yard gains down the field. On the other end, the juniors excelled in defense, keeping the senior offense at bay for most of the game.
After a neck-and-neck start to the game, the momentum shifted to the seniors with just ten minutes left of the first half. Harwin made a break down the field, setting up senior Nai Azzi to score a touchdown with eight minutes remaining in the half.
“It was honestly amazing. I love football. I mean, I did it last year too, but this year it felt different because I was a senior and it’s my last time,” Azzi said.
For the remainder of the first half, the juniors shut down the seniors’ offense. The score was set at 7-0 going into the second half. Head coach for the juniors and English teacher Nick Rothstein attributed the close score to his team’s defense.
“Honestly, I’m very proud of defense. This is an extremely good senior team, a lot [of them are] fast. Really well coached, and all that, and our [defense] really did well. They were only open to score one touchdown,” Rothstein said.
Early in the second half, the seniors added two more points to the scoreboard off of a safety play. However, junior Jada Kimbro dodged the senior’s blockers to make it to the endzone, scoring the first junior touchdown of the game. According to junior Priscilla Hill, this touchdown was the result of a shift her team had felt going into the second half.
“I think it was better than the first. I think we kind of realized [the seniors] aren’t as scary as we think they are, just because they won last year, it’s not that deep. I feel like we were more hyped, [when] Jada got a touchdown, it was really fire,” Hill said.
With 15 minutes left in the game and the score at 9-7, neither team was ready to give up. For the seniors, Hawkins tried to rush the ball several times, but fierce defense from the juniors prevented her from making it to the end-zone. According to Hawkins her own defense also played a large role in the game.
“I think that twins Anna Dencker and Julia Dencker played awesome. They got so many girls’ flags and they’re just so amazing at defense,” Hawkins said.
With the score so close, the final minutes of the game were filled with palpable anxiety in the stands, with Hill and Kimbro making many daring plays. Rothstein said their strategy had changed as the game progressed.
“By the second half, it was really about getting the ball to the people we know can run. The people we know that are very dependable with the ball,” Rothstein said.
However, the seniors kept the lead, and the game ended 9-7. When the clock hit zero, senior fans–“bleeding blue”–jumped the fence, dashing onto the field to surround the celebrating senior players.
Senior coach and guidance counselor Clifton Jones was impressed with his team’s performance and hard work.
“The girls showed so much grit, determination and focus. They worked so hard, and even at times when it was a little shaky, they got it together and they pulled it off,” Jones said. “I’m super proud of what they did, how they handled their business, good sportsmanship, no trash talk, just business on the field.”
Despite the junior’s loss, Rothstein was positive about the outcome and potential of his team.
“I think our offense is just a couple of steps away from winning this game. We were very, very close. So, the seniors played a great game, but this was down to the wire. So we’re excited about the fact that we played as well as we did,” Rothstein said.
Junior Aviv Schwab-Jacobson said she values the tradition and camaraderie of the Powerpuff game.
“It’s super fun. Really good sportsmanship. A really good community and you get a good workout in,” Schwab-Jacobson said.
Jones said he is looking forward to next year’s matchup. He says the goal is for more girls to play next year and contribute to the growing flag football program.
“Today was about girls supporting each other, coming from different sports, different activities, and just coming together for a common goal,” Jones said. “It’s only one game, so it’s like the winner goes big or goes home, and I want to make sure this keeps on going.”
