The Pahrump Valley High School Powder Puff game returned to the Trojans’ football field on Thursday, November 20, bringing together fall athletes from across campus for an evening of spirited competition, memorable plays, and a powerful cause. This year’s fundraiser supported the Unite for HER cancer foundation—recipient of half the proceeds—as well as the PVHS cheer and yearbook programs, each receiving a quarter of the remaining funds. By the end of the night, the event raised a total of $1,187.
Despite weather that went from gray skies to a full downpour, the crowd stayed loud, the players stayed determined, and the athletes found ways to put on a show worthy of any Friday night under the lights.
The two teams, made up entirely of varsity fall female athletes with two varsity football seniors on each roster, took the field under modified rules designed for fun, safety, and entertainment. The Teal Team 6—coached by seniors Jace Wulfenstein and Ashton McClard—featured a largely soccer-based lineup with players Aubrey Williams, Julianna Ondrisko, Natalia Vallin, Savannah Thompson, Natalie Soto, Mary Miller, Anjolina Mercado, Diona Nixon, Jazmyn Herrera, and Sydney Crotty. Their opponents, the Pink Panthers—coached by Jack Walker and Josh Slusher—were mostly volleyball athletes, including Madison Rodriguez, Rosie Miller, Henna Leigh, Christine Williams, Julianna Briggs, Addie Nelsen, Xe’ane Kamanu, Miani Freitas-Faamai, and Sedona Norton.
Adding to the evening’s entertainment was the cheer squad—a role reversal tradition that had varsity fall male athletes trading cleats for choreographed sideline routines. Under the guidance of senior cheerleaders Annabella Ondrisko, Kyndra Cardwell, Micaela Carson, and Ana Mateos, the all-male cheer team featured Brendan (Urijah) Torres, Ryan Hamlin, Tristan Torres, Cayden Cowley, Joaquin Flores, Akim Khan, Alejandro (Alex) Rayas, and John (Hunter) Wydick.
From the start, Teal Team 6 moved with confidence. Quarterback Savannah Thompson quickly settled into a rhythm, while the team’s defense showcased speed and instinct, setting the tone with an early fumble recovery by Rosie Miller of the Pink Panthers. After a defensive stand, a key interception by Julianna Ondrisko turned momentum in Teal’s favor, and she ran it all the way back for the game’s opening touchdown. The kick was good, giving Teal a 7–0 lead.
Pink tried to rally, but a mishandled handoff led to a loose ball that Aubrey Williams scooped up and walked into the end zone, bringing the score to 14–0. Moments later, another Pink turnover resulted in a Mary Miller pick-six, followed by a successful kick from Natalia Vallin, giving Teal a commanding 21–0 advantage.
Pink Panthers standout Sedona Norton provided several sparks, including a strong run for a first down, and quarterback Madison (Maddy) Gonzalez picked up key yards to move her team downfield. But Teal’s defense continued to swarm, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on field position. Near the quarter’s end, Vallin broke free for a long touchdown run, stretching the lead to 27–0.
The second quarter brought more of the same. Pink’s Henna Leigh grabbed a much-needed interception to halt a Teal drive, and Sedona came up big again with another late-half pick. But Teal’s offense continued to roll, and even a near touchdown from Pink—called back after bouncing and shifting hands—couldn’t change the momentum. Jazmyn Herrera turned that loose ball into a long runback to the 5-yard line, setting up Teal’s final scoring opportunity of the half. After a final defensive stand and another long Pink return, Teal headed into halftime leading 33–0.
At halftime, rain began to fall harder, soaking the field, the sidelines, and the fans who stayed under umbrellas and blankets. But the athletes showed no signs of wanting to slow down.
The second half opened with a highlight play from Sedona Norton, who hauled in a long catch to give the Pink Panthers their best field position of the game. However, Mary Miller answered immediately with her second interception of the night. Shortly after, Diona Nixon broke free for a spectacular 60-yard touchdown run, expanding Teal’s lead to 40–0.
As the rain intensified, Yearbook Advisor and event organizer Mr. Trenton Curtis approached both teams midway through the third quarter to ask if they wanted to call the game early for safety. Their answer was unanimous and emphatic: “We don’t want to quit! We want to finish this game!”
Curtis said he couldn’t have been more proud. “It was a great showing! It started to down pour toward the end of the second quarter, and the weather continued to get worse,” he said. “But each player, volunteer, and audience member showed up and supported our fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness. We hope—Marshira Nelson and I—to build on this success and have the fundraiser grow each year.”
With the score holding at 40–0 through the fourth quarter, the teams battled through the rain until the final whistle. The athletes on both sides closed the night soaked, muddy, smiling, and proud of their efforts—not just in the game, but in helping raise money for a meaningful cause.
Even in the storm, the Trojans made it clear: community comes first, and quitting isn’t in their playbook.
