Once again, English wins Powder Puff

LYNN – For a game that featured just one scoring play, the annual Powder Puff showdown between rivals Classical and English proved as entertaining as it was competitive.A 40 minute, defensive chess match culminated with safety Georgejet Kotee chasing down Rams running back Jenn Ierardi, deep in Bulldogs territory, on the game?s final play, preserving a 6-0 English victory at Manning Field.?For a group that hasn?t really played before, these girls did a great job,” said English coach Dick Newton. “That final play was something special.?Both schools put a tremendous amount of work into preparing for this game every year. They are the perfect way to begin Thanksgiving week.”In a matchup frequently lacking the niceties of a “touch-football” game, Shanna Zeramby provided the Bulldogs with a lead that wouldn?t be relinquished early on in the second quarter.Facing a second and 15, the running back took a reverse-handoff around the right end for a 72-yard sprint to pay dirt at the 8:41 mark.?What a great piece of running,” said Newton of the game winning score.?That was the type of play we knew would be needed to win this game. Classical?s defense did a great job of slowing us down the rest of the way.”Zeramby, a key player on the Bulldogs softball team, believes she may have found a new calling after raking up 68 yards on six carries.?I love football now and really wish I had played growing up,” she said. “I?m happy I had the opportunity to play and help my team to a win. I never expected that a single touchdown would decide the game.”In addition to Kotee, the linebacker trio of Islania Acosta, Janet Ezenba and Brianna Maynard helped lead the English defense.Despite being held without a point, Classical?s offense moved the ball with much more gusto, led by quarterback Angela Sarrette who impressed through the air, finishing 9 of 21 for 73 yards.Ierardi (89 yards) and Jenn Gaudet (67) combined for 20 carries out of the Rams busy backfield.?All three are tremendous athletes who will be hard to replace next year,” said Classical coach Rob Smith of the productive trio.?Both teams gave it everything they had which is all we can ask for as coaches. The overall execution today was much better than I anticipated.?I have to take my hat off to English for keeping our offense at bay. This was a great football gamem” Smith said.Both coaches spoke on the many displays of overall feistiness.?Girls are tougher than boys sometimes,” said Newton. “These kids were out here taking a beating without pads today. They knew it would be rough.”Smith agreed.?That?s part of the game. Tempers are understandably going to flare from time to time but the girls did a great job monitoring themselves. I know that both teams had a lot of fun and that?s the message we preach every year.”