By Lazarae Delvalle ’26
Players from every grade took the field Friday, Nov. 21, as Derby High School faced off against Oxford in this year’s annual Powder Puff game. Upon entering the game, fans placed food donations that were delivered to St. Vincent de Paul for Derby residents. During the game, the matchup was close from start to finish, with both teams trading touchdowns in high-energy, back-and-forth action. Derby kept the score close but ultimately lost, 30–26.
The cheerleaders played a major role in keeping the stands’ energy up. Brooklyn Fernandez ‘26, one of the cheerleaders, said, “From a personal standpoint, it was exhilarating.” He said, “Most of the football team coming together and learning the cheers was very interesting and fun.” He added that their goal was to support the players throughout the night. “We were very compassionate…Usually, every few minutes, there was a cheer that we had to do.”
Underclassman player Brianna Fernandez ‘28 said her favorite moment came during Derby’s attempted comeback. “I think when we were making a comeback, we kept scoring back and forth,” she said, also adding that the biggest challenge was recovering after a rough start. Fernandez said she was proud of the team’s effort overall but recognized some areas that needed improvement. “I think we did pretty well, but I think we could’ve been faster on defense and not let them get by us.”
Team captain Shea Gray ‘27, the only junior captain this year, said she felt added responsibility leading the team. “I felt more pressure to be a better leader since the other captains were seniors,” Gray said. “I just wanted the team to be successful.” Gray added how the team’s energy stayed high throughout the game, especially because of the rivalry. “The energy was high because we don’t like Oxford, and they were kind of playing a little bit unfairly,” she said. “That made our energy higher and made us want to beat them even more.” She also pointed out that the coaches made an effort to involve everyone. “We tried to get multiple groups in that game so that everyone had a chance,” and “I think everyone got the experience they wanted.”
This was the first season with new head coach Dan Perillo, who focused heavily on a defensive strategy. “Oxford flipped the script and was more of a pass-heavy offense,” Perillo said. “So we really had to try and focus more on pass defense.” He noticed major progress throughout practices, especially among newer players. “A lot of the girls who were shy and confused at first took it in stride and were more confident running the offense,” he said.
Despite the loss, the team showed improvement, teamwork, and strong motivation across all grade levels. Perillo said he was proud of how players handled themselves on the field, noting that they stayed composed even under pressure.
The Raider Press 