Fun and Games or Death Sport?

Today, the girls of Coginchaug Regional High School participated in an annual tradition: Seniors versus Juniors in the PowderPuff Football game.  Many years ago it started off as a fun game of flag football.  Although the rules heavily favor the Senior team, the Juniors don’t object knowing that they will receive the benefits next year.  It was all fun and games until 7 years ago when junior Betsy Z and fellow cult members decided some of the seniors needed a special graduation gift. The gift of revenge for years of abuse and bullying. Betsy and her followers got their way and several seniors were injured.

Each year since, the game has gotten more violent. There hasn’t been any known atrocities from cult members; but the desire for revenge has spread throughout the student body. Now, every remembered slight, insult, and dirty look is a reason to get involved in the game.  Powderpuff football has grown to be more popular with the towns of Durham and Middlefield because of the brutal nature of the game.

The pressure on the girls is intense.  One of the girls was in an auto accident several nights ago, and her team mate who was a passenger that night “just wanted to fit in.” Needless to say, that in spite of the accident, they still got to practice. Another girl is going to miss her family’s Thanksgiving trip, because the peer pressure is just too great. Rhea said “Sure I love my family, and I’m disappointed that I’m going to miss my last Thanksgiving as a high school student; but I couldn’t possibly let me team down. It’s going to be a rough game, and I won’t let me friend get into this fight without me!! Plus, there’s a few juniors out there who need some tough love before I’m out of here.”

As of the time of this writing the Seniors won 32-0; however there’s no word on casualties. No doubt that the ambulances on hand were thoroughly utilized.