by Lauren Margliotti

Seniors carried the day at the annual Powderpuff football game, as the class of 2012 women defeated the junior women on Nov. 16 by a score of 18-6.

The seniors got on the scoreboard first, with a touchdown followed by a two-point conversion run by Laura Hall.

There was no scoring in the second quarter, although junior Rachel Homer intercepted a senior pass with about a minute and 20 seconds left. The halftime score was 8-0 with the seniors in the lead.

In the third quarter, junior Tori Scott ran for a touchdown with 7 minutes remaining. The 2-point-conversion, also by Scott, failed, making the score 8-6, seniors.

Hall ran in a touchdown for the seniors with about three minutes left in the third, and then she followed that with a successful two-point conversion, putting the seniors up 16-6. The seniors later added a safety, pushing the score to 18-6, which stood as the final tally.

The game represented the culmination of a lot of preparation by both teams.     

Math teacher and senior offensive coach Tom Simcho said that he “expects perfection” out of his players. Simcho also said that “a lot of people think this is just a pick-up game, but it really isn’t.”

The senior women had been practicing every school day since mid-October from 3 to 5 or 5:30 p.m. They participated in drills such as basic catching and throwing, as well as offense versus defense scrimmages with defensive coach Joe Dudjak, husband of math teacher Kelly Dudjak.

Sarah Schwartz said that since she is a senior, she had a better idea of what to expect.

“There’s also a better understanding of the game, now that we’re seniors. I also look forward to going to practice,” she said before the game.

Schwartz is also a soccer player, so playing in the Powderpuff football game is a “taste of something different.”

Gym teacher Dawn Welsch coaches the juniors alongside biology teacher Damon Lewis.

The juniors also practiced every day after school from around 3 to 5 p.m. Their drills included offensive routes, running plays, and scrimmages.

“It is serious to learn the game, but we also want everyone to have fun,” Welsch said.

Junior Katie McGuire said, “I didn’t think the practices would be so intense.”

Ashley Czerniewski, also a junior, said the whole experience was memorable.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “It’s a good time to see all different types of people from different sports come together in one fun football game.”

                The junior captains were McGuire, Julina Foy, and Yvonne Bevans. The senior captains were Hall, Schwartz, Karly Higgins, and Courtney Pyeritz.

                Proceeds from ticket sales went to the senior class.