Upperclassmen Women Triumph in Powderpuff Football Game

Just a week and a few days after the men’s annual upper- vs. underclassmen flag football game, the Turkey Bowl, the California women went head-to-head in a football match of their own, affectionately known as the Powderpuff game. Powderpuff football, named for the beauty product, is a lighthearted high-school and college tradition in which female students try their hand at the sport.

At nine o’clock on Wednesday night, the competitors took to the athletic field, sporting their team colors – black for upper-, and white for underclassmen. The bleachers were full of enthusiastic student spectators, bundled up against the chilly December night, and eager for some fun, friendly competition. “It’s so great to see all these awesome girls working together with their teams!” exclaimed Chiara Zino (’26). 

The first half of the game flew by without a score as the two teams battled relentlessly, until Maggie Lemmon (’26) earned the upperclassmen six points with a touchdown. Later on in the second half, Elena Walz (’26) added onto the upperclassmen lead with another touchdown, bringing the to score 12-0. But the underclassmen wouldn’t back down, and Louise Guenther (’28) brought them back into the game with their first touchdown, making the score 12-6. 

In the end, despite valiant efforts from the freshmen and sophomore girls, the upperclassmen fortified their lead with another touchdown from Lemmon, plus a few extra points won by conversions, and claimed this year’s champion title with a final score of 21-6. After the underclassmen’s victory in this year’s Turkey Bowl, it was a thrilling redemption for the upperclassmen! 

More Powderpuff Football photos …

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