By: Cody McElroy
“Play like a champion today.” These are the words the Notre Dame Fighting Irish see before every home game, and that’s exactly what the 2L and 3L athletes did October 14th on the LSU parade grounds. LSU Law’s annual Powderpuff game pits rival teams of 2L and 3L girls against each other in a flag football match, the winner earning the right to declare victory throughout the halls of Paul M. Hebert Law Center. This year’s face-off ended in a thrilling 12-6 win for the 3Ls, who continued the tradition of 3L dominance stretching back years in powderpuff history.
The festivities started before the game with a tailgate set up for players and guests. Music pumped, jambalaya simmered, and drinks sloshed as the crowd prepared to witness a battle for the ages. Players and coaches trickled out to warm up before busting through a tunnel made by the attendees. The crowd cheered and jeered throughout the game in similar measure to a night in Death Valley. To the innocent bystander, one might assume the Tigers were playing Bama.
The game started with 2L quarterback Becca Indest slinging the ball effectively down the field. It was a “high octane” offense, according to 3L quarterback Megan Daily, quickly adding that she “never doubted the defense.” The 2L receivers ran solid routes as Indest threw deep passes, adopting a Brees-like playing style. However, 3L MVP Arielle Minor closed the distance repeatedly to break up dangerous, long passes. All that gunslinging allowed the 3Ls to snag a handful of interceptions, most notably one by Katie Cook, who earned sweet redemption for a dropped touchdown pass. Ultimately, the 2Ls only scored once, the result of a spectacular catch in traffic by Sara Grace Sirera, capping off a well-executed offensive drive.
Offensively, the 3Ls found success in both the running and passing game. Aislyn Taylor nailed the game’s first score on a 20-yard sideline scuttle. On the final play of the game—score tied at six—Daily escaped the ever-present 2L pass rush. She shot the ball to Jade Shaffer for a short pass, and Shaffer dashed her way to the goal line right before her flag was pulled. Similar to last year’s game, a tie was broken on a dramatic final play in favor of the 3Ls.
In the end, the players left it all on the field. Last year saw too much intensity, but using the unbiased UREC officials alleviated most of that tension this year.
“The game shouldn’t be had without UREC referees,” said Daily, who organized the entire event. Audrey Gitz, 2L linebacker, agreed, saying the focus was on staying competitive while keeping emotions in check. “They kept the game safe and allowed the focus to stay on fun and charity,” Daily said.
Special thanks are in order for 3L coaches EJ Vincent, Chance Nerren, Coulter McMahen, and Chase Texada and 2L coaches Dakota Hawkins, Tyler DeAgano, Ahmed Soussi, Joe Cooper, and Carson Garand, who did their best to keep this feisty group of girls in line.
This year’s charity of choice was the Baton Rouge Area Foundation Flood Relief Fund, an over-arching organization that donates money to other nonprofit organizations, facilitates philanthropy, and funds research to aid flood relief efforts in South Louisiana. In light of the devastating flood that impacted Baton Rouge earlier this year, Daily sought a charity that would benefit the local community.
The charity auction held at Uncle Earl’s contributed $3,500 to the total $4,500 raised. Money was also raised through the individual players and at the tailgate, where donations were taken at the jambalaya stand. One of the favored student auction items was 2L Virginia Brown’s pet portraits, which went for $81. Other high-priced student items included a spin class with 3L Will Baay, which sold for $75, and a dinner donated by 2Ls Sarah Kuebel and Adrian Woods, which sold for whopping $190. As for professor-donated auction items, dinners with Dean Galligan and Judge Holdridge sold for $265 and $250, respectively. Always a good sport, Professor Devlin’s pie-ing in the face went for $75. In all, over 40 items were donated by students, professors, local businesses, and the Young Lawyer’s section of the Baton Rouge Bar Association.
LSU Law’s annual Powderpuff game is notorious for being competitive, but the primary focus has always been on having fun and supporting a great cause. For any 1Ls considering a spot on the team next year, lace up your sneakers and get ready for some good old-fashioned football.
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