Waving the Flag, Fernandez Promises No Powder Burns

If junior Jessica Fernandez of Westlake High is as tenacious on the football field as she is in the offices of school administrators, Newbury Park is in trouble.

Fernandez might love powder-puff football, but she is no cream puff.

She wrangled with athletic directors and principals at Westlake and Newbury Park for a month before finally gaining approval for a powder-puff game between the schools tonight at 6 at Westlake.

A powder-puff game is 11-on-11 flag football in which the participants--female students--do not wear pads. Fernandez assured administrators the game will not become too physical.

“They were worried about it getting rough, so I had to form it with very strict rules,” she said. “Any unnecessary physical contact will result in an ejection.”

The intent, Fernandez said, is to foster spirit and camaraderie before the boys’ teams play Thursday night in a game that most likely will decide the Marmonte League championship.

The powder puff teams had a pizza party at Newbury Park on Tuesday night arranged by Panther powder puff commissioners Jason Henke and Alyssa Nelson.

Although football Coach George Hurley of Newbury Park would not allow his players to serve as powder puff coaches, Westlake coaches will be varsity players Travis Campbell, Mike Seidman, Joe Boskovich, Jordan Lampos and Tyrone Miller.

“Most everybody has gotten behind this by now,” Fernandez said. “I love football and always wanted to play it. This should be fun.”