During football season on Friday nights, Highlands High School hosts regular football games where students cheer for their team. 

But once a year, the junior and senior girls take the field for a special game, with their male peers cheering them on from the sidelines. 

The event is filled with school spirit. The stands are full of excited parents, teachers, and fellow Highlands high school students. 

The Powderpuff football game is a tradition where junior and senior girls face off in a friendly but competitive football game. 

At Highlands High School, the Powderpuff game is a big deal, with students playing to win. 

Although the game was invented in 1972, Highlands began participating in this tradition in 2009. The event was first featured in the school’s yearbook in 2013.

“The girls were thrilled to be playing. It’s a point of pride, They really enjoyed the atmosphere. It’s always a good crowd, the coaches, the guys involved are having fun. It’s a lot of fun for everyone,” returning Powderpuff game referee and math teacher William Schlarman said.

The Powderpuff game is a beloved tradition at Highlands, enjoyed by both students and teachers. While it’s full of fun and excitement, it also requires commitment and responsibility from everyone involved. Players practice hard, coaches guide and push them to do their best. 

“The coaches definitely pushed us a lot and wanted us to live up to the expectations of how they play but they were still nice. We did lots of station work and worked on positions that we would be best at, it was really fun to be with everyone and how the guys got to coach us. It was definitely a fun way to make the grade bond all together,” Avery Barber (11) said.

Powderpuff games not only have exciting entertainment and fun for both participants and spectators, but they also bring a sense of community among girls who may not be involved in a school team sport. While participating in these games comes pride and belonging from the teams that they train, organize, and play with. 

“I think that it is unique. It is not necessarily a sport here at highlands, it’s all something that we work on and evolve to as juniors and seniors and I think it brings community,” Schlarman said. 

Powderpuff is a fun twist on the usual football game, giving the girls a chance to showcase their skills while the boys support them in a new role. The event strengthens school pride, camaraderie, and creates lasting memories. 

“I think it’s fun every year to watch them compete. They all come out. It’s the beginning of the day and everybody has a chance to win the game. Although there is a competitive atmosphere there is still a sense of joy and fun in everyone involved,” Schlarman said.