MARBLEHEAD ― The annual powderpuff football game between the Marblehead and Swampscott senior girls returned to Piper Field Saturday morning, and the Magicians left no doubts by notching a 35-7 win over the Big Blue.
Annika Haley was the top performer on the day for Marblehead, rushing for three touchdowns in the win. Grace Miller also rushed for a touchdown in the win, while Ella Kramer had a touchdown pass and Cat Candelaria had a touchdown reception. Annie Sheridan made five point-after attempts in the win.
On the Swampscott side, Ava Taylor rushed for the lone touchdown and Sophie DiGrande made the point-after attempt. Emma Poska also played well in the loss.
The Magicians didn’t waste much time getting on the board in this one, as Haley took their first play from scrimmage 62 yards to the house for a 7-0 lead. But Swampscott answered right back, as a pair of big runs from Emma Poska set up a touchdown run for Taylor to tie the score at 7-7.
But Marblehead turned on the jets from there, and after the first quarter ended in a 7-7 tie the Magicians took control. It started with a touchdown run from Miller to give Marblehead the lead back, then Haley scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the half. The first one came on a 63-yard scamper with 3:48 to go, then Haley made it a 28-7 Magicians lead with 22 seconds to play when she took a sweep around the left edge for a seven-yard touchdown.
The scoring slowed down on both sides in the second half, but a notable moment occurred on the first play when Marblehead’s Molly Cronin connected with Grace MacLean for the first pass of the game. The next pass would prove to be a true dagger, as Kramer hit Candelaria for a 31-yard touchdown with 14:30 to play to round out the scoring and make it a 35-7 Marblehead lead.