CHARLOTTE – A team of ninth-grade girls representing Mallard Creek High School came away as champions of the bi-annual Powder Puff Football Tournament held Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Bank of America Stadium practice fields, but all the participants walked away as winners.
The Carolina Panthers and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teamed up for the latest installment of the event, which offers girls a unique chance to get in the game through the NFL's flag football initiative.
Mallard Creek won the title, and Shelesse Miller of Mallard Creek won a sportsmanship award, but the Mavericks weren't the only victors. Megan Quinterro of Butler also won a sportsmanship award, and Butler won the "Accessorize for the Prize" award for their tie-dyed team jerseys with sparkling numbers and homemade earrings displaying their Butler Bulldog pride.
In addition to Mallard Creek and Butler, teams from Marie G. Davis, Providence and Vance took part.
"We were thrilled to see the enthusiasm, hustle and determination by the teams and know the event provided students and families with a positive and memorable experience," Panthers youth football manager Peter Vacho said. "The Panthers are proud to partner with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for this program and appreciate the large role they play in that effort."
The tournament was structured in a round-robin format, culminating with a championship game between the two top-seeded teams. Providence had won the previous tournament but met strong opposition early in the day, with Mallard Creek and Vance emerging to play for the title.
