NHS Girls Hit The Gridiron For Powder Puff Battle

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School junior and senior girls traded in their eye liner for eye black and their seats in the bleachers for spots in the starting lineup when they hit the gridiron for a game of football — powder puff football that is — at Blue & Gold Stadium on June 19.

The juniors battled the seniors in a just-for-fun student government-organized event. Of course, talk to these players and their coaches (members of the varsity football team drew up the plays and coached the girls) and this was about more than just fun.

The junior and senior teams, after all, had bragging rights on the line. In the end, the juniors prevailed 13-6 in a highly competitive, albeit goofy sort of game.

“It really wasn’t a matter of winning or losing,” junior Kristen Tanner said. “Last year it got rained out so everybody was really excited because this was like a year and half in the making.”

It may have been a powder puff game (basically your standard flag football competition only with girls, hence the powder puff reference) but there was more rough than there was puff in this contest. For the most part, the girls followed the rules ... but there was a tackle and some sideline trash-talking here or there. Girls will be girls though and good sportsmanship prevailed as a result. There were some times in which opposing players could be seen fixing each other’s head bands.

The teams played a pair of 20-minute halves. NHS Football Coach Steve George officiated the game.

The juniors carried a 7-0 lead into halftime after Becca Castegner intercepted a pass and ran it back 30-or-so yards for the game’s first touchdown. Quarterback Kristen Tassinari completed a point-after conversion pass to Kaley Kruger.

In the second half, senior Tania Domingos displayed the soccer agility and speed that earned her All-America status when she weaved her way through myriad junior defenders for a 73-yard touchdown scamper. The ensuing conversion failed and the juniors maintained a 7-6 lead.

The seniors had all of the momentum early in the second half.

Jenna Legros intercepted a pass and alertly flipped the ball to Kasey Schulz, who ran into junior team territory before her flag was grabbed to end the play. Moments later, Legros appeared to give the seniors the lead on a ten-yard touchdown rush but the TD was called back because her flag belt had fallen off.

Soon thereafter, junior Katie Pessin intercepted a pass. Then, with 3:27 remaining, the juniors added to their lead. Tassinari, who apparently throws a football as well as she swings a tennis racquet, connected with Pessin for a 79-yard scoring pass play. Berenice Bryant made a nice block to allow the play to happen, her teammates pointed out.

The juniors failed on their point-after attempt but on the next play from the line of scrimmage the seniors fumbled the ball and junior Morgan Mills pounced on it. The seniors came up with a big stop on defense but could not drive the length of the field in the final minute despite a valiant effort by Domingos, who was caught near midfield after another long run.

“It was fun. We had a good time and it was competitive which made it fun,” Domingos said.

Tim Wheeler, one of the senior team coaches, pointed out that the game could have been a little more organized from a playbook standpoint. A handful of practices leading up to the game were held but not all of the players attended, he pointed out. Still, it was a fun pigskin battle.

“It was so much fun. You can’t not have fun watching these girls play. Not all of them are that great but that’s what makes it fun — watching people who don’t usually play football try to,” Wheeler said.

But, then again, some of the girls looked as though they might give the guys a run for their money.

If the returning powder puff players hit the weights and watch film this summer ... watch out this fall, boys!