The North Haven High School girls’ powder puff team bowed to Amity High School 14-7 in the 2009 NIKH Bowl.

The annual all-senior-girls flag football game was played before a packed crowd at Vanacore Field. The Indian girls donned matching maroon and black uniforms, complete with their name and number emblazoned upon the back. Bright strips of material hung to their hips from Velcro; the removal of the strips, or “flags,” by the opposing team signified that a ball carrier had been tackled.

The home team fans shouted, jingled keys, and stomped on the Vanacore stands. High school boys abandoned their shirts despite the cold weather, and proudly displayed the uniform numbers of NHHS senior girls. Other fans held up signs of encouragement. Even the opposing team’s stands were overflowing with a raucous crowd.

Before the opening kickoff, North Haven assistant superintendent and game announcer Patricia Brozek delighted the crowd with NIKH Bowl information.

“Traditionally called ‘powder puff’ football, this flag football game has become one of the most watched athletic events of the school year,” Brozek said over the field’s speakers. “These senior girls have made this contest a great display of athleticism and competition.”

“Nike was the goddess of victory, a title awarded to her by Zeus, the king of the Olympians,” Brozek continued. “With her great outstretched wings, Nike had supported the Olympians in their battle against the giants. When the giants were defeated, Nike was chosen as the symbol of victory. We chose to spell NIKH with the Greek lettering.”

Amity won the opening coin flip and chose to receive. North Haven’s Maria Sanzari boomed the kickoff over the Spartans’ heads and into the end zone for a touchback, and the crowd went wild for the strong kick.

On second down, the visitors ran the ball across the line of scrimmage and looked for big yards, but Indian Stephanie Mezzanotte literally tackled the Amity runner. The play earned an unnecessary roughness penalty from the referees, and a loud applause from the home team fans.

North Haven’s defense held strong and forced a fourth-and-long, boosted by Indian Erica Pustari’s great tackle on third down. During the game, whenever girls from either sides snagged flags, they proudly stood in place and hoisted the flag above their head as their teammates jumped around in celebration.

Amity punted and the Indians took over at their 34-yard line. Sanzari was North Haven’s preferred offensive player, and ran three times for lost yardage. Despite the backward movement, the Indian girls consistently shouted friendly encouragement to each other. Despite the game being flag football, the fans continually heckle the referees.

Sanzari boomed the punt over Amity players, placing them on their 20-yard line. Amity’s Kelly Turner attempted a series of runs, but she was stopped short by Pustari, Victoria Perrone, and Mezzanotte. Following an Amity punt, North Haven took over at their 47-yard line.

After Indian Chelsea Marks was stopped for a loss, quarterback Sarah McGovern attempted an unsuccessful pass. Sanzari punted again as the first quarter ended.

Amity’s Devin Diglio attempted a pass to open the second quarter, but the ball was batted down by Indian Gina Hunt. The Spartans punted again, sticking North Haven at midfield. The home team attempted an end around with wide receiver Amy Pandolfi, but the play, like the drive, did not gain yards.

The teams traded scoreless possessions. North Haven punted with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter. Spartan Veronica Amaya caught the kick, burst through the wave of tacklers, and twisted around several more for a touchdown. The extra point made it 7-0 as the first half ended.

North Haven received the ball in the second half. The offense continued to run through McGovern, Marks, and Sanzari, but the Indians failed to capture a first down. Sanzari’s punt put Amity at just North Haven’s 35-yard line. However, the Indians gave no ground, and Amanda Bozzuto broke up a fourth down pass play for a turnover on downs.

Sanzari ripped off a 15-yard run on North Haven’s next drive for a first down. Sanzari seemed to find another long run, which would have put North Haven into the red zone, but a penalty called the gain back. Two plays later, North Haven once again punted.

Amity’s following offensive drive stretched through the end of the third quarter and into the red zone. On third-and-10 from North Haven’s 25-yard line, Turner bolted down the sideline and was stopped on the 1-yard line by Indian Gina Hunt. Unfortunately, Turner took the ball into the end zone on the next play, and the extra point put the Spartans up by two scores.

Two plays into North Haven possession, Sanzari raced down the sideline again for a 15-yard gain to Amity’s 33-yard line. On the following snap, McGovern narrowly avoided the outstretched hands of a blitzing Spartan behind the line of scrimmage, and sprinted 23 yards to the 10-yard line. Two downs later, Sanzari bounced outside and captured the touchdown with seven minutes remaining in the quarter.

Up 14-7, the Spartans began to run the clock down, taking their time between snaps. North Haven did not receive possession until 2:47 remained in the game. Unfortunately, the Spartan stopped the Indians, forced a punt, and ran the clock out for the victory.

Despite the loss, it was a special experience for the NHHS senior girls, according to Brozek. “I’ve watched this game since 1988,” she said. “It’s such wonderful camaraderie. The senior girls get together for this, and some of them will have never known each other well until they’re in practice or playing this game.”

“These girls are from all aspects of the senior class,” Brozek continued. “Athletes, band members, drama kids – any senior girl in the high school who wants to be a part of it can.”

“It’s a wonderful event in their senior year. It’s so important to them,” Brozek added.