MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Matthew C. Perry High School held a Powderpuff football game during homecoming week at the M.C. Perry High School soccer field here Feb. 8.
Powderpuff football is played once a year, during homecoming. The females and males switch roles during this specific flag football game.
The females were on the field, blocking and rushing, while the males dressed up as cheerleaders.
“All students 7th through 12th grade can participate,” said Don Gornto, a M.C Perry High School Student Council sponsor. “Girls play and boys cheer.”
Each grade had several girls sign up to play during the Powderpuff flag football game.
The games started out like a normal tournament where all teams compete for the final win.
The 7th-grade girls competed against the 8th-grade girls in the first game of the day.
After getting into the swing of things, the 8th graders won 6 to 0, a win that took them to the semi-finals.
Soon after the 8th grade win, the 9th- and 10th-grade girls played.
The 9th-grade girls defense dominated the 10th graders offense and scored the only points of the game when they created a safety right before halftime.
The 9th graders beat the 10th graders 2 to 0 and moved on to the semi-finals.
“The only team that actually held any practices before the games was the 9th graders,” said Kelli Clark, a senior on the winning Powderpuff team. “We didn’t practice at all.” After a short break the games continued, the semifinals began.
The 8th graders competed against the 12th graders in the first semifinal game.
With the 12th graders being the only team in cleats, they were not about to let the 8th graders embarrass them.
After scoring several points before halftime, it was clear the 12th graders were all about winning.
They triumphed the 8th graders 14 to 8.
“I enjoyed playing the game, not only because we won,” Clark said. “If we would have lost, I still would have had fun playing.”
The 9th graders dominated the field in the semifinals when they played the 11th graders.
With the massive lead the 9th graders had, there was no way the 11th graders could recover from a 20 to 0 score with less than a minute on the clock.
“The girls had good defenses, but I feel they should actually get together and practice their offense next year,” said Gornto.
In the final match, the freshmen went up against the seniors.
The seniors managed to run the ball to their end of the field, dodging and weaving through the freshmen.
The seniors scored the final touchdown, making them the 2010-2011 Powderpuff champions with a score of 18 to 8.
“Some advice for the girls in the following Powderpuff games, perfect your victory dance,” said Clark.
Although both teams put up a good fight for the championship title, there could only be one winner.
The girls of the senior football team scraped and bruised their way to the title.