Saugus High School Powder Puff a blast

SAUGUS – The weather was cold, the ground was hard and the competition was fierce Wednesday afternoon as the Saugus High School senior girls took on the female staff in this year?s Powder Puff flag football game.After a hard-fought battle on the gridiron, the seniors came out on top 49-21, thanks in part to a long, 99-yard run by Rebecca Krasowski to seal the win at the end of the game.Before the game, students and teachers packed into the gym for the Color Day rally.?The students have been ready to go all day,” said English teacher Michelle Lee. “The students did skits and the teachers had a flash mob. I think that was the best part. Normally the girls play another school, but that didn?t happen this year so we stepped in to play to see it continue in the future and have a nice little tradition.The seniors jumped out to a 35-0 lead and things looked bleak for the teachers, but softball coach Jessica Lucier tossed a long touchdown pass to end the shutout followed by an interception return for a touchdown by science teacher Kristen Demick to make it 35-14.View a photo galleryThe seniors struck again on a scoring pass from Casey Hyde to Gina Vozzella to make it 42-14, but the teachers answered with another touchdown pass from Lucier, this time to art teacher Cecilia Baston to cut the lead to 42-21.After Krasowski?s long run to make it 49-21, time ran out and the senior girls stormed the field to celebrate.Kara Donati credited the team?s running game for the big win.?We run a lot,” said Donati, who had red and white stripes painted across her face. “We have basically the fastest girls in the school right now ? It?s just like bragging rights basically. We won the student tournament overall. So coming into school today ? it?s a big rivalry having all the teachers play against us.”Sophomore Tayla Giuffrida was handing out hot chocolate to spectators and players on the sideline as a member of the Student Athlete Leadership Council. Giuffrida admitted she was rooting for the teachers to pull out the win.?We lost to the seniors,” she said. “It?s the seniors versus the sophomores, the juniors versus the freshmen and then it was the juniors and the seniors against each other. Whoever won plays the teachers. This is like the best week. It?s fun, you get to dress up every day.”Students, teachers, friends and family crowded along the sideline to watch the game as a steady stream of country music blasted from an SUV parked on the field.Senior Kory Dominic was wearing his football jersey in preparation for Thursday?s big Thanksgiving game against Peabody. Dominic, a senior defensive end and center, was rooting for his fellow seniors.?This is one of the first years they did it with the teachers,” said Dominic. “We had the rally and then we watch this and then go have our last practice at Stackpole. I?m very excited. Hopefully we can run all over (Peabody) and not let them score.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].