The seniors hike the ball (from left to right, Ali Martinez, Julia Pendergrass, Stardeja Jordan hiking the ball, Tejhiana Amos, and Jacie Hinton receiving the ball from Jordan). [Photo by Griffin Hicks with The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program]

***This article was written by Jaime Radilla, a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.

On Thursday, Oct. 10, KHS hosted its first-ever powderpuff game. 

The game was set up with two 20-minute halves and a two-minute halftime. Senior girls competed against junior girls to help raise money for the senior class. 

Junior Kalleigh Gale was a key player for the juniors in the first half. Gale started with the first touchdown of the night, putting the junior class in the lead 6-0.

Shortly after, Gale picked off the ball and returned it all the way to the end zone for her second touchdown of the night. Gale then caught the ball for a two-point conversion, putting the juniors up 14-0. 

The victorious junior class celebrates under the scoreboard, flashing “W’s” and a sea of smiles. [Photo by Jaime Radilla with The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program]

Senior Tejhiana Amos fired back and scored, making the score 14-6. Soon after, junior Claire Taylor threw a pass to junior Ava Laue for a touchdown, shifting the score to 20-6.

Moments later, Laue picked off the ball, scored her second touchdown, and brought the score to 26-6.

Still down but not deterred, senior Marlee Bates handed the ball off to Amos, who ran it in for a touchdown, her second of the night. Bates passed the ball to senior Jacie Hinton for the two-point conversion, leading to a score of 26-14 at halftime. 

The juniors started with the ball after halftime and got to work during the first snap. Junior Taylor VanWinkle pitched the ball to Claire Taylor, who fired over to Ra’Kiya Amos for a junior touchdown, extending the Class of 2026’s lead to 32-14.

The seniors regained possession, and a determined Bates had the ball in the pocket and launched a flawless pass to senior Alejandra Martinez for a touchdown, which cut the lead down to 32-20. 

Despite the seniors’ best efforts, the junior class was able to hold for the rest of the game and walked away victorious.

The junior class seized victory 32-20, but the Class of 2025 earned $258 for its senior class trip. Overall, Thursday was a great night for the Boilers.

Additional Stats:

Juniors:

Kalleigh Gale: 1 receiving TD and a pick 6 for a TD

Ava Laue: 1 receiving TD and a pick 6 for a TD

Rakiya Amos: 1 receiving TD

1 PAT was good for 2 (scored by Kalleigh Gale by catching a pass) 

Seniors:

Tejhiana Amos: 1 Receiving and 1 Rushing TD

Ali Martinez: 1 receiving TD

1 PAT was good for 2 (scored by Jacie Hinton by catching a pass)