Pretty, Plaid, Powderpuff Power

Photo Credit: Angelia Tran

November 11, 2009

Ramey Parks  

Filed under Fall Sports

            The crowd in the bleachers is screaming, yelling out names of team players. As the players take their stances, ready for the next throw and tackle, the whistle blows, and the football game begins. Sure, I could be talking about any other football game. But this one is more important. It is the defining moment of feminism and power at Presentation High School: our very own powderpuff football event.

            This Panther Pride event has been an idea floating around for many years, and it was just recently put into action by the very active, spirited club on campus. It was not just the officers who created the idea; it was a group in the actual club dedicated to bringing this sport to Pres.

            The rules of powderpuff football are very similar to American football, but there is less violent action involved. There are 11 players from each team on the field at a time. Subs are permitted. With seven people on the offense and four on the defense, the teams fight to get the ball to the opposite side of the field into the touchdown zone. There are four downs, as in four chances, to get the ball ten yards closer to the goal line. If the team hits their fourth down, the team has the opportunity to either try and cross the line with the risk of losing the ball at that spot if they do not cross it, or they can punt it. The difference between American football and powderpuff football is that there are flags involved instead of tackling. Any tackling in the game will result in a penalty.

            Playing on the team is not the only thing Panther Pride has to offer for the sport. There will be cheerleaders involved as well. “I have been waiting all my life to be a cheerleader, and going to an all-girls school I can’t…until now!” said Caitlyn Rogers, junior.

Another aspect of this first annual event is that people from the student body that are not in Panther Pride were able to sign up to play. Because of this rule, Emily Wallace, junior, is able to participate. “I am really excited to cheerlead and to support my classmates. I’m lucky to even be able to because I am not in Panther Pride. It will be so exciting to cheer on our own school with pompoms,” she said.

            The actual game of juniors and seniors versus freshmen and sophomores will take place in early December, with practice taking place throughout the end of November and beginning of December. The rivalry is intense and the bickering between teams has become too juicy not to quote. Taylor Johnson, senior, commented, “There is going to be a major domination over the lower classmen. This competitiveness is in my blood, I can’t help but to be pumped.”

Meryl Parks, freshman, disagreed. “Even though we are younger, we still have a lot of power and strength in our grade level, so it should be a good game. I can’t wait to be out there supporting my teammates.”

            As the teams gather, the cheerleaders will dust off their pompoms, and the rest of the student body will prepare for a great game.  Join Panther Pride and the other student body participants on the Mani Hernandez field during collaboration on December 3 or 11. Practices will take place for juniors and seniors on November 27 and December 3, while the sophomores and freshmen will practice on December 3 and December 7. Be there!

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Tags: powderpuff football