It’s tough to get the flag off Avon High’s Sophie Mango during Sunday’s powder puff flag football game in Avon. The Falcons prevailed, 34-24. More game photos
AVON, Nov. 20, 2022 – Traditions have to start somewhere.
The athletic Booster Clubs from Avon and Lewis Mills hope they started a new tradition on Sunday. On a cold, windy November afternoon, girls from Avon High and Lewis Mills met in a powder puff football game on the turf field outside the high school.
In two days, Avon and Lewis Mills football teams will play their season-ending contest on this same field. The Falcons (4-5) can keep alive their very slim hopes for a CIAC tournament bid with a victory over the Spartans (1-9) and a boatload of help from other teams around the state.
But this was an afternoon for the girls to show off their expertise on the football field. Most are varsity athletes on other teams in their respective schools – soccer and field hockey. For four quarters Sunday, they were flag football players.
Lewis Mills’ Abby Jankowski runs with the ball during Sunday’s game in Avon. She scored two TDs for the Spartans. More game photos
Avon prevailed in the contest, 34-24, with Sophie Mango scoring two touchdowns and Mylie Gawitt throwing three touchdown passes. Abby Jankowski threw a touchdown pass and scored two TDs for the Spartans, including a 35-yard interception return.
Lindsay Arigoni had a 50-yard touchdown run for Avon while Jankowski had a 50-yard TD run for the Spartans. Kacie Schmidt had a 45-yard TD run for Mills that cut the Falcon lead to two points, 20-18 late in third quarter.
But Avon scored two more TDs in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Boys from the respective high school football teams coached the girls while other boys from the football team served as referees.
The game was played on a 60-yard long field that was 30 yards wide and successfully pulling the flag off the runners wasn’t as easy as one would think, leading to some collisions and big plays.
Avon’s Celia Cleary runs with the ball during Sunday’s powder puff flag football game in Avon. More game photos
Avon 34, Lewis Mills 24
At Avon
Lewis Mills 0 12 6 6 — 24
Avon 14 0 6 14 — 34
First quarter
A: Lindsey Arigoni 50 run (Celia Cleary pass from Mylie Gawitt)
A: Sophie Mango 20 pass from Gawitt (run fails)
Second quarter
LM: Abby Jankowski 50 run (run fails)
LM: Jankowski 35 interception return (pass fails)
Third quarter
A: Kelly Hayes 15 pass from Gawitt (pass fails)
LM: Kacee Schmidt 45 run (run fails)
Fourth quarter
A: Maya Monteiro 14 run (Gawitt run)
LM: Gala Swirda 5 pass from Jankowski (pass fails)
A: Mango 9 run (run fails)
