It is not clear when the first powderpuff football game was played. However, the latest battle was fought this past Thursday (May 4, 2023) at LION STADIUM. The NDCL Senior Girls had a clear victory over the Junior’s squad with a 26 to 8 win.

Some (Wikipedia) say it was 1931; the first known photographic evidence of powderpuff was at Western State College of Colorado (now Western State Colorado University) in Gunnison, Colorado. Above this article is our contribution to the pantheon started back in ’31.

History goes on to tell us of one of the most well-documented powderpuff football games played on October 20, 1945, at Eastern State Teachers College in Madison, South Dakota. World War II led to the cancelation of usual Homecoming celebrations. Eastern Front, western front, the nuclear bomb, and TLDR… a peace treaty with Japan later…the war officially ended, and Homecoming was again on the schedule.

“A bunch of us were sitting around after gym class, and we thought, if we’re going to have Homecoming, we’ve got to have a football game,” said Susie Lowry, a freshman at Eastern in 1945. “We decided we should have a game of our own.” Bingo Powderpuff was born. The idea of women playing football “was enough to curl your teeth,” wrote some guy. Nonetheless, they persisted, and girls across America have enjoyed playing flag football ever since.

Which brings us back to this past Thursday night. When Mr. Waler presided over his last NDCL powderpuff, the stage was set by the slanting rays of the setting sun, which provided a warm orange tinge to the sky above our field. As the girls played, seniors Denny Gibbons and Timmy Sargi provided colorful commentary over the pa system. The Juniors would go into halftime behind and never regrouped. However, it was evident that ALL involved had fun – check out the gallery below if you do not want to take our word for it.

In closing, Junior girls, remember you’re tomorrow’s Senior girls, and there is always next year. As for the BOYS, specifically the boys’ volleyball, well, who cares about boys’ volleyball? Powderpuff is for the girls!

Gallery • 54 Photos