Seniors and sophomores win
Woodford County High School held its annual powder puff football games Thursday, Nov. 5, with the seniors and sophomores earning bragging rights after a night of big plays, touchdowns and friendly competition.
Members of the WCHS football team coached all four teams, providing instruction from the sidelines.
Woodford County athletic director Dennis Johnson said the event has become something the girls look forward to each year.
“Oh, dude, this is awesome,” Johnson said. “These girls get into it. It means a lot to them. They have fun, their practices have been good, and it teaches our players what it’s like on the other side of it. I enjoy it. I love it.”
Johnson said he also enjoys watching the football players take on coaching responsibilities and repeat instructions they have heard from their own coaches.
“It does kind of stay with them,” Johnson said. “That’s pretty cool. That’s good stuff.”
Seniors 24, Juniors 16
Sacoyia Garcia wasted little time getting the seniors on the scoreboard, breaking free for a 60-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.
The juniors answered with a touchdown run by Annastyn McIntosh and a two-point conversion from Lily Hamilton to take an 8-6 lead.
Addie Bryant put the seniors back in front with a touchdown run before Layla Aubrey recovered a junior’s fumble. Bryant scored again to extend the lead to 18-8.
McIntosh connected with Abby Lowe for a touchdown and added the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 18-16.
Garcia answered with her second 60-yard touchdown run of the night with two minutes remaining. The juniors mounted one final drive but came up short in the 24-16 loss.
Bryant said the seniors were concerned about their limited roster heading into the game.
“We didn’t really have that many players, so we were all a little nervous,” Bryant said. “We had a lot of fun, and I was so glad we won.”
Bryant said Garcia’s speed gave the seniors confidence.
“She blows past them. She’s so fast,” Bryant said. “As soon as that first ball, she took off down the field, I was like, ‘Oh, this is gonna be cake.’”
Garcia enjoyed the opportunity to finish her powder puff career with a victory.
“Man, it was so fun,” Garcia said. “I think this is the best year we’ve had.”
Sophomores 20
Freshmen 6
The sophomores used a balanced offensive attack to defeat the freshmen 20-6.
Quarterback Ava Jones connected with Hannah McColl for the game’s opening touchdown and a 6-0 lead.
The freshmen nearly scored before halftime when Afton Hall caught a pass down the sideline but was stopped short of the goal line.
McColl broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run in the second half to extend the lead to 12-0.
“I just thought about track,” McColl said. “That’s just had me moving because I’m ready for my season.”
Lonnie Jones scored for the freshmen to cut the deficit to 12-6, but the sophomores answered with a long completion from Ava Jones to Michelle Gomez, setting up a touchdown pass to Natalie Gladdis. A successful two-point conversion sealed the 20-6 victory.
“We had a lot of practice. We came ready, we came prepared,” Ava Jones said. “I’m really proud of this team. I feel like we worked hard for it, and all glory to God.”
Several players said they’d like to see girls flag football become an official sport at WCHS now that the KHSAA has approved it.
“I think that there’s a lot of people interested in this sport, and I feel like we have a lot of talent,” Jones said.
McColl said she would welcome the opportunity, as long as it did not conflict with track season.
“If it weren’t during track season, I’d totally play this,” McColl said. “This was the best thing I’ve ever done.”