Girl Power: Seniors Play Powder Puff Football Game

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, both sides converged, drenching each other with water and spraying shaving cream at one another.

It was the typical ritual following Caldwell High's annual Powder Puff football game Friday evening at Bonnel Field.

The JCHS senior girls switched roles with their male counterparts on the field and threw passes, made blocks and ran patterns as the senior boys took over the cheerleading duties.

The event benefited this year's Project Graduation, an all-night, substance-free party following graduation.

While there was plenty of fun, the competitive juices were flowing, too.

On the Blue side, there were the likes of Taby Teau, Teez, J-Boo and K-Daug, while the White side boasted Little Dom Dom, Sibs, Juicy Julz and Muscles, which were among other nicknames for the girls in the touch football game.

As it turned out, the White team outlasted the Blue squad 16-14 in front of about 100 people who turned out to support Project Graduation.

"It feels awesome," said Gianna Jamison, a member of the White team who seemed to evade the shaving cream. "Nobody thought we were going to win. We were the underdogs."

The teams were chosen at random, but Jamison said she was lucky to have many of her friends on her team, including Kelly Murphy.

Jamison, who was a cheerleader and was a member of Caldwell's softball team, played quarterback on Friday and threw a touchdown pass and scored the eventual winning two-point conversion.

The Blue team opened the scoring when quarterback Chelsea Young hit receiver Cara Iodice for a 30-yard score. Young then tossed to Kasey Bohnert for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 Blue lead.

But the White team responded on the next possession as Tracy Cvik ran for a touchdown from 5 yards out. Young then hit Becky Zamiskie for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 8.

The White team's momentum continued when Jamison threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to teammate Zamiskie just over the hands of Bohnert's defense to put the White team ahead 14-8.

Jamison then ran in for a two-point conversion as she avoided the rush from the Blue team for a 16-8 lead.

The Blue team answered later in the second half when Katie Hennigan intercepted White quarterback Alexa Capardi's pass and ran 49 yards for a touchdown. 

"I was just watching the quarterback's eyes," said Hennigan, who played soccer and basketball at Caldwell. "It was my greatest football highlight."

Hennigan, however, said her greatest overall highlight at Caldwell was winning the 2008 state sectional soccer championship.

After Hennigan's touchdown, the Blue team's two-point conversion attempt failed, and the game eventually came down to the final play when the White team's defense halted Hennigan at the 21-yard line.

As soon as the game ended, both teams, coaches and male cheerleaders stormed the field.

White Team

Players—Ashley Abendshoen, Kate Banaszynski, Alexa Capardi, Stephanie Caplan, Cyndy Carol, Dominque Colella, Ali Cook, Diana Cote, Tracy Cvik, Stephanie D'Bernado, Jaime Godfrey, Gianna Jamison, Catherin Lefkowitz, Karina Manrique, Deanna Marinucci, Gaby Migliore, Danielle Miller, Kelly Murphy, Stephanie Polise, Julie Rudoshko, Allie Sibio, Ariel Sparrow and Becky Zamiskie. Cheerleaders—Dan Gargiulo, Andrew Kratsch, Brandon Lombardi, Dave Pepe, Raf Siniscalchi, Anthony Strobolakos, Matt Topper, Dylan White and Bobby Zaragoza. Coaches—Tony Aquila, Michael Fess, Greg Snedeker, Mark Zigarelli and Dan Pierce.

Blue Team 

Players—Danielle Boggio, Kasey Bohnert, Laura Buermann, Cassie Burt, Melanie Corbertt, Alice Costa, Alex DeFrance, Meredith Hauser, Kate Hennigan, Cara Iodice, Bailey Ismail, Christine Joannidis, Valerie Linteau, Jen Marek, Maggie Mullin, Kelly Neill, Nicole Pappas, Laura Roldan, Jennifer Sanders and Amanda Schlussel, Molly Sellars, Danielle Stein, Lauren Szmak, Chelsea Young, Adenekia Davis and Paula Aristizabal. Cheerleaders—Scott Busby, Erik Draijer, Anthony Fiumefreddo, Zach Hertzberg, Frank Laratta, Tim Lohmann, Nick Mazzo, Jess McAlister and Mike Terranova. Coaches—Marc Bader, Brian Lockward, Anthony Marotta and Billy Zois.

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