The Leominster High School Powderpuff games have been a tradition for many years.
Powderpuff is a game where the girls get a chance to play a flag football game against all the other classes for a chance to bring their class to victory. It is a game full of school spirit and competitiveness.
This year, the Class of 2026 senior girls wrapped up their final powderpuff game at historic Doyle Field by celebrating a tradition filled with excitement and meaning.
In their first match, the senior girls defeated the freshman, and in their second match they defeated the sophomores, securing the victory for their class.
For many, the experience meant even more because it was their last year.
“I think it meant more playing as a senior because it was expected that the seniors win,” said LHS Senior Tessa Rafuse. “It made us want to try harder.”
The Class of 2026 brought strong energy and school spirit to the field from the start.
“Our class brought a bunch of team spirit,” said LHS Senior Ava Mazzaferro. “We played hard and had fun celebrations.”
Others pointed to the team’s mindset as their biggest strength.
“I think my class brought the best mindset to the field, we were all just excited to be there,” said LHS Senior Grace Longtin.
Players also felt proud of how supportive the team was throughout the game.
“I was proud of everyone being positive and hyping each other up no matter what,” said LHS Senior Allison Cote. “All players put in the work to get us to win.”
LHS Senior football players served as coaches. Ryan Ricker, Owen Parlin, John Wilson, and Philip Nfor played a big role in building that confidence.
“They helped me learn the game and gave me motivation,” said LHS Senior Lilah Carr. “They helped me understand how to play.”
“Our coaches were a huge help, especially with practices and going over plays with us,” Ava added.
Several seniors were quick to highlight standout performances on the field. There was one name that did not fail to show up in everybody’s response: Priscilla Giglio.
“Priscilla was amazing, her speed pulling flags was a big part of our win,” said Ava.
Tessa agreed. “I think Priscilla and Arianna did a great job getting past the defense,”she said.
Allison echoed that. “Definitely, Priscilla and Ava surprised me with their speed and ability to handle the ball,” Allison said.
Grace said that Priscilla’s breakout performance caught her attention the most.
“She has never done powderpuff before, but she’s so fast,” said Grace. “She was great on defense and even scored a touchdown.”
For the seniors, this final game was about more than winning; it was about being a part of something special.
“Playing meant being involved in my school and having fun for my last year,” Lilah said.
As the girls walked off the field for the final time, they carried pride, memories, and a well-earned victory to close out their senior year.
“Being able to play as a senior, I knew we’d be able to win the whole thing this year,” Ava said.
The girls might have ended the game with a win, but they also ended the game with one of their first “lasts” as seniors.
