Powder Puff Game Goes Down To The Wire

By GANNON HANEVOLD

Moapa Valley Progress

The annual Powder Puff football game was held on Tuesday, September 25. This traditional Homecoming event gives an opportunity for girls to toss around the football in front of a grand audience and for boys to put on their either coaching polos or cheer uniforms. This year was a Powder Puff event to remember.

The teams faced off with a combination of sophomores and juniors taking on the freshmen and senior team. Coaching the senior-freshmen squad this year was senior, Derek Reese. Junior, Adrian Huerta coached his class alongside the sophomores.

In the first half, an interception by senior, Tori Leavitt kept the other side scoreless. Neither team could reach the endzone, and for the first time in Powder Puff recent memory, it was a defensive battle. Ultimately, it would be 0-0 at intermission.

Off the field, Moapa’s new and improved “man squad” hilariously rallied the crowd. The team of male cheerleaders coached by Brylee Watkins, Kali Romero, Camille Hardy, Abby Rose, and Payten Peluaga, demonstrated some inflexible kicks and clumsy stunts.

The real show came at halftime, though. The comic squad danced to a routine taught by Watkins and Romero. Then came the annual cartwheel contest. The top cartwheel talent on the 2018 man squad would be senior Yadon Witsken who won the race to the other end of the field as fellow senior Grady Call trailed close behind.

In the second half of the game, neither side was able to score. With just minutes left, thought, the junior/sophomore team approached the endzone, thanks to some big plays by Kaitlyn Andersen.
Tori Leavitt stepped up once again, for the freshman/seniors, with another interception with only a few minutes left on the clock. Nevertheless, after three downs, still couldn’t get a first down. Reese elected to punt the ball with sixteen seconds left and a 0-0 score.

But this strange coaching decision paid off. On the first play of the drive, and the last play of the game, one of Powder Puff’s most memorable moments took place. With pressure on the quarterback by Averee Widdison and tough coverage by Abby Rose, a pass from the junior/sophomores landed in the wrong hands. Senior Lainey Cornwall intercepted, dodged a defender, and took the ball all the way for the game’s only touchdown; just as the buzzer sounded. Her teammates, coaches, and the sideline’s male cheerleaders stormed the field in celebration. The seniors and freshmen had won, 6-0!

“We endured to the end,” said Reese. “We played hard both halves, and then at the end we had a little more energy than they did.”
“Our preparation this year is what led us to a victory,” he continued. “Staying mentally strong the whole game.”

It was a game to remember for its comedy, lack of scoring, and it’s miraculous finish. It was a perfect Homecoming tradition for the books.