With war paint and game faces on, the players took the field. Under the lights the crowd went wild. “Ready! Set! Hike!”

It was just another Poland vs. Lake Region football game, except the players had ponytails and smiles.

On Friday, November 15, 2006, Poland Regional High School seniors and juniors participated in the first Powder Puff football game against Lake Region High School.

LRHS girls challenged senior girls of PRHS to a two-hand touch football game. Juniors had to be recruited to make a full team.

Poland players wondered why Lake Region would challenge them over other schools.

Brittany Roy, a senior from Poland who played in the game, guessed, “They probably challenged us because our football team and theirs were close competition this season.”

Whatever the reason, Poland girls were happy they were invited.

Rumor had it that the Lake Region girls had been practicing for quite some time and were really buff.

Poland had a total of three practices to learn the rules, strategies, and skills of football, before their big game day. Some players were able to make it to only one practice.

With Varsity Football Coach Mark Soehren coaching, and Assistant Athletic Director Don King as one of the referees, Poland was raring to go.

Upon stepping off the buses, Lake Region seniors handed the Poland girls a gift: a box of long sleeved shirts designed by them.

The hot pink lettering read “Powder Puff Football; November 15, 2006; Lake Region vs. Poland.” Lake Region’s shirts were black.

The stands were packed with parents and students from both schools.

After a brief warm-up, Poland and Lake Region started to play.

Poland lost by a landslide.

“It was like 100 to nothing,” Roy said. “But it didn’t really matter.”

“I had a blast,” Watkins exclaimed.

It was a chance for some of the girls to get to know each other better and have a good time. The experience was unforgettable.

Perhaps the 2006 Powder Puff game was the beginning of a new tradition. Roy and Watkins think it is a possibility.

“If it is a tradition people will probably take it more seriously and will practice more,” Watkins said.

Even with late notice, Poland managed to pull off a fun night in the Powder Puff football game against Lake Region.