Gary Moskowitz
Long socks proved to be a good-luck charm for the eighth-grade girls
Wednesday during Wilson Middle School's Turkey Bowl flag-football
game.
The annual event -- hosted by the school the week of Thanksgiving
-- consists of flag-football games between the eighth-grade girls and
the sixth- and seventh-grade girls, and between the eighth-grade boys
and sixth- and seventh-grade boys.
During Wednesday's game, each touchdown was worth one point. The
eighth-grade boys won their game 3-1, while the eighth-grade girls'
team won 3-0. Students who regularly participate in intramural sports
were eligible to play in Wednesday's games.
Members of the eighth-grade girls' team wore long socks with their
blue shorts and jerseys, which helped unify the players, quarterback
Amelia Grossman said.
"We've also been practicing for about two months for this game,"
Amelia, 13, said. "This game is great. You get out of school to play
and the whole school is out here watching."
The boys were tied 1-1 at halftime of their game. Players like
Owen Sherman couldn't wait to get back on the field for the second
half.
"Their quarterback is really fast," said Owen, 14. "If we would have had more time, we could have broken that tie [in the first
half]. We're used to playing two-hand touch [football], though."
The school's drum corps played percussion riffs on the sideline
during the games, and the school's drill team and cheerleading squad
performed dance routines and cheers on the sidelines and during
breaks. Members of the performing groups tried not to take sides in
the match, said drill team member Natalie Pembedjian, a sixth-grader.
"We're cheering for everybody at Wilson Middle School," said
Natalie, 11.
