By Fred Solis
The Hutchinson Tribune
ANDALE—Fall homecoming last week signaled Andale’s annual flag football game between the senior and junior girls last Thursday night. The seniors prevailed over the juniors 19-6 in a weather-shortened powderpuff contest.
Played in front of enthusiastic students, parents and school staff, seniors donned black football jerseys while juniors wore gold and both squads affixed flag football belts with flags around their waists.
The traditional game is played with 10-minute quarters and a running clock. Because of area lightning this year, though, the game was curtailed at the five-minute mark in the second quarter, leaving time for another ritual, a crowd-pleasing, somewhat-choreographed halftime dance routine by senior boys.
A fall staple at Andale, the powderpuff game goes back farther than anyone can remember.
Principal Michelle Shackelford, a member of the class of 1989, remembers playing when she was a senior, but the game was already a well-established tradition by then, she said.
“It’s a great tradition,” Shackelford said. “I grew up with six brothers; I loved the game. When I had the opportunity to do it, it was exciting.”
Although she can’t remember which team won or what the score was, she remembers a fun night that included a bonfire.
Stephanie Winter of the class of 1999, also cherishes the fun memories.
“I watched them (powderpuff teams) when I was in grade school,” she said. “All my friends played. There weren’t many that didn’t,” Winter said.
“I remember we won. We had four Eck girls in my senior class,” she laughed. “We did a hot dog roast, boys dance and cheerleaders—the same tradition.”
This year the senior girls struck first following Emily Eck’s interception at 9:36 in the first quarter. A couple of minutes later, Rose Molitor scampered around the end on a keeper for the score and a 6-0 lead.
The juniors answered with a touchdown run to the corner by Josie Harp at 2:30 to tie the game.
Senior Addy Orth broke free for a touchdown with 17 seconds left in the opening frame to put the seniors back on top. Molitor converted the extra point to make it 13-6 and Brooklyn Sele put the finishing touches on the seniors’ victory with a run to the end zone.
“It’s very fun to beat the juniors,” said senior Addy Kessler, noting that her team lost to last year’s seniors on a last-minute play. “The goal is to beat the juniors.”
For Orth, powderpuff is something she always looked forward to when she was younger, especially after watching her older brother Tegan’s (Class of ’23) exploits on the gridiron.
“I got notes from him and looked up to him. I was trying to be like him,” Orth said. “It felt great. It was a clean, solid win.”