The bleachers buzz with chants and cheers as the lights flood the field. Ponytails are up, flags fly, and the annual Powderpuff game is underway. Determined to defend tradition and title, the senior girls face off against the juniors. This year’s juniors might be a little nervous, but are full of determination to win.
Powderpuff is more than just a flag football game, it’s a long standing tradition that turns the tables and lets the girls take the field while the boys coach and cheer.
Powderpuff football runs deep in American high schools. It dates all the way back to 1945 at Eastern State Teachers
College in South Dakota, when a group of women decided to play their own football game while the men were away fighting in World War II.
What started as a playful act of defiance quickly spread nationwide and became a way for girls to take the field and
break stereotypes. At ELHS, the event has become more than just flag football. The game provides a chance for female students to step out of their comfort zones, and it’s a tradition that brings the school together before Thanksgiving break.
Last year, the current senior class fell short of a win, a loss they still haven’t forgotten. This time, they’re determined to flip the script.
“Last year, it was so fun having the whole grade come together. Our experience gives us the biggest advantage because we know what to expect,” senior player Ryleigh Erban said.
The seniors do look experienced. During practices this week, the seniors organized plays, reviewed routes, and got used to their positions. They’re hungry, confident, and motivated by unfinished business.
On the junior sideline, it’s a different blend of energy and nerves mixed with excitement. For most, this is their first time playing football.
Junior Cailin Delaney said she joined because it’s “just a fun thing to do with your friends and compete against the seniors.” She admits she’s both excited and nervous about trying a sport that’s “traditionally seen as for guys,” but adds that she’s ready to prove that “girls can play just as well as guys.”
The junior team is connected and fast, and they’ve already chosen their leaders on the field. Junior Lily Hyatt and Kristina Kreft are stepping in as quarterbacks, helping call plays and direct the offense. Junior practices have been energetic with music blasting, and girls swapping positions to find what works best.
On the opposing sideline, the seniors return with something to prove. After falling short last year, they’re hungry for
redemption, and with a year of experience, they’re ready to use it.
Senior coach Jacob Garro, who quarterbacks on the ELHS football team, has stepped into coaching and said the transition gave him a new appreciation for teaching the sport. “You have to break everything down to the smallest detail,” he explained. “A lot of these girls are new to football, so you’re really building a team from the ground up.”
While the coaches help with game plans, the girls are the ones shaping the competition whether they’re learning plays or practicing catches. Powderpuff may flip the tradition of football, but the message hasn’t changed: girls can compete, lead, and dominate the field.
History teacher Aaron Maddux, who has refereed the game for several years, said he keeps coming back because of the energy on the field and the teamwork it brings out. “Seeing the students take the field is always fun because you get to see different abilities and different ways the students support one another. There’s always a good vibe from both sides to have fun.”
The annual Powderpuff game is more than a battle for bragging rights, it’s also a fundraiser for the Safe Grad Committee, which supports East Lyme’s graduating class. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students, with the game kicking off Friday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. on the ELHS turf.
Whether you’re cheering for the returning seniors or the ambitious juniors, one thing’s certain, the lights will be bright, the cheers will be loud, and the competition will be fierce.
