While history teaches that the senior girls will most likely emerge victorious in the annual Powder Puff “touch” football game played in advance of the annual Homecoming game at Becker High School each year, the 2015 edition was a done deal almost from the first play from scrimmage.
The first ominous note for the spectators rooting for the junior team came when observers noted the almost total absence of tutus attached to the senior game uniforms. While a number of juniors came attired in lacey ballet gear and dazzling leggings, the seniors opted for few frills on their dark Bulldog Blue battle gear.
The first series for the seniors saw running back Hailey Fitzpatrick begin as she meant to go on, chewing up large chunks of real estate and bewildering the junior defenders on her first march to the end zone. And when Fitzpatrick was not sprinting clear of the defense, Alexa Hanowski was tormenting the underclasswomen through the air, catching two touchdown passes in the end zone to help seal the deal early.
Junior quarterback Brynn Barthel and receiver Megan Hoppe did connect on one spectacular play that brought a roar from the crowd in the first half, but the juniors were unable to capitalize on the gain and turned the ball over on downs.
The contest was pretty well out of sight for the juniors by the end of the first half, when the Eppard Field scoreboard read 22-0 in favor of the seniors, but they soldiered on gamely in the second half.
A comeback for the juniors was not to be, however, and the final result was a satisfying 28-0 victory for the senior squad, who easily avoided the much-dreaded dishonor of losing to the youngsters in this annual event.
