There are many traditions in Albuquerque Academy’s long history, but one of the most known and best is the Homecoming flag football game. In this game, Junior and Senior girls face off in a flag football competition with a side contest of Junior boys cheerleading versus Senior boys.
For several years the Seniors have dominated the game and either won or tied. Despite this trend of seemingly unbeatable Senior teams, the Juniors hoped to change the norm, and get a win for the Junior side.
This year’s game started off with a bang, as the Juniors scored on the opening drive of the game with a play by #12 Cambria ‘27. This play set the tone and there was no turning back for the Juniors after the hot start.
Almost as quickly a second touchdown was scored by the Juniors off of an interception. This put the Juniors up two touchdowns to none, and gave the Seniors a difficult hill to climb for the remainder of the game.
After the excitement of the opening part of the game, things cooled off for a little while as the two teams exchanged unsuccessful drives down the field back and forth. Then, right before the end of the half, the Juniors struck again. Right as time expired there was an interception returned for a touchdown by Selena ‘27. With that touchdown the Junior girls finished the half with an impressive 18 – 0 lead overwhelming the seniors with an impressive defensive showing in the first half.
As the second half began, the Seniors appeared to have a bit of hope with a successful offensive drive that resulted in a touchdown by Senior Gabby ‘26. This victory was short lived, however, as the Juniors responded to the Senior touchdown with one of their own and completed a two point conversion to put the Juniors up an impressive and shocking 26 – 6.
The game ended due to rain with 10 minutes left on the clock and the Juniors leading 26 – 6.
Despite the Juniors’ obvious success and domination in the game, referee David Kim ruled the game a tie saying, “Due to the incompletion of the game the referees have decided that the game does not count and will result in a tie.” This decision to declare the game a tie continues to be very controversial. However, the result is final. The Seniors’ unbeatable reputation continues.
