Cavanaugh vs. Walsh
Cavanaugh coach Lou Perry is hoping to create order out of the Chaos when the team faces the Wild Women of Walsh this Sunday at 2 p.m.
Walsh is recollecting the images from last season and believes its team exudes enough confidence that will prove to be unstoppable in this Sunday's match-up.
"Our experience and new talent is one of our biggest selling points," Walsh captain Carrie Campbell said. "We are more confident on the field this year."
Last season, Cavanaugh came out victorious against Walsh as the referees implemented the 'mercy' rule. Fortunately, the Wild Women are using the loss to its advantage to avenge last season's loss.
"We want to leave the impression that we are a team to be reckoned with," Campbell said.
The Wild Women are depending upon its seasoned veterans to lead the team to victory in its season opener. Walsh returns seniors Amanda Borys, Katie Hesmond and Karla Bell on defense.
"A lot of players look up to Karla on and off the field," Campbell said. "She is really emotional and passionate and is great at getting the team fired up."
The team is hoping that its trio can stop the Chaos, who are led by quarterback Lisa Retter and team captain Sara Gilloon.
"We've watched some film from last season and isolated several of our weaknesses from last year," Perry said. "I think this team is very motivated and has the talent to go all the way."
Cavanaugh bowed out of the playoffs early last year and Perry has his heart set on the stadium.
"We don't particularly want revenge on any one team - we dislike them all
equally," he said.
With an apparent rivalry between the two teams, it is sure to guarantee an intense match-up.
"We want to show that we have matured and that we are going to be a team to watch throughout the season," Campbell said.
Pangborn vs. Welsh Family
For captain Katie Murray and the Pangborn Phoxes, this football season will be a test not of muscles, but of the mind. The Phoxes will examine this theory Sunday as they face the Welsh Family Whirlwinds at 5 p.m. on West Quad.
"We've got a great core group of athletes coming back from last year's team, so our biggest challenge is going to be staying confident, trusting ourselves, and keeping disciplined. If we can do that, I think we're going to have a great season," Murray said.
Pangborn is coming off its best season in half a decade, and has high hopes for this year.
"We had a really good season last year. Before that, we hadn't scored a touchdown in five years, so winning two games was a really big confidence booster for us," Murray said. "This year, we're hoping to improve our record even more. We were in the Blue League last year, so this time season we will get play a whole new group of teams, which should make it pretty fun."
The Welsh Family Whirlwinds hope to blow Pangborn off course, however, with its stingy defense and the experience of its older players.
"I think the biggest key to our success is going to be the leadership of the seniors," Whirlwind captain Mary Pendergast said. "We had a lot of people return this year from studying abroad, and I think that will add a lot to our success."
Pendergast also feels that her team will benefit immensely from returning players from last season's semifinal team.
"We had a really surprising season last year; no one expected us to do as well as we did," Pendergast said. "The entire defense from that team is back this year, and that is definitely going to be our anchor for this season."
Both teams have worked hard thus far to prepare for the kickoff this season and are excited to finally get the ball rolling.
"We scrimmaged PW last week, and I thought we looked really good," Murray said. "We can't wait to get into a real game and see how we adjust as a team."
The Whirlwinds are also excited to start the much-anticipated season.
"I've been waiting for this all year. We've been practicing for three weeks, and our coaches have worked us really hard," Pendergast said. "Everyone seems to have picked up the offense really well, and I'm looking forward to seeing how we do in a game situation."
Lewis vs. Badin
After eleven months of waiting, the Lewis Chicks finally have their chance for revenge against Badin at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
After coming out on the short end of a hard-fought 7-6 championship game last fall against the Bullfrogs, the Chicks are ready for another run at the stadium.
"We're going to have to play really well to get there," Lewis captain Sheila Dawes said. "[It's] totally on our shoulders."
Dawes will lead the Lewis defense along with sophomore linebacker Mia De La Rosa. On the other side of the ball, Lewis will use a balanced offensive attack, led by junior wide receiver Kara Bailey.
Bailey will lead a relatively new group of receivers for Lewis, but that does not appear to be a concern for the Chicks.
"We have a lot of returning players, but we also have a ton of freshman filling in key rolls for us," Dawes said.
For the defending champions, their stellar defense of last season was hit hard by graduation, leaving a few question marks behind.
"Hopefully our offense can carry our defense a little this year," Badin senior captain Stephanie Heath said.
Heath will lead the Bullfrogs' experienced offense as the starting quarterback after splitting time under center last year. Badin will also look for big games from senior receiver Erin Diminick and sophomore Meg Charlebois.
The Bullfrogs will look to air the ball out and put points on the board early, giving its defense a cushion.
"We have a really good core of receivers returning this year," Heath said. "Hopefully we can move forward."
Although inexperienced, Badin's defense does have some strong leadership. Senior Rita Morgan will be playing multiple positions on the defensive side again this year, while sophomore Colleen Mallahan will lead the defensive line.
The Bullfrogs are not are not overly confident, even after last year's championship.
"It's always a new season," Heath said. "I think it will be an intense game."
The Chicks' captain agreed.
"It will come down to who's going to come ready to play," Dawes said.
Howard vs. Lyons
If anyone spotted the rector of Howard Hall dressed as a lion last year, do not expect to see it again this year if the Ducks have their way.
Every year Howard and Lyons Halls wager on their flag football game. The bet is not monetary or even in the form of a gift. It's all about dorm pride. The rector of the losing team must dress in the costume of the winning dorm. Howard was defeated in this matchup of sister dorms last year, but that game was only one loss of a winless season. The Ducks hope to reverse that this year and it starts with this key rivalry game.
The Lyons Lions are coming off of a .500 season last year and are hoping to improve upon that this year. The Lions have started off strong in the pre-season, holding many practices leading up to the first game. This commitment ties in with one of the team's goals for the season - to take football more seriously and work on team togetherness. The Lions are led by captain Traci Kazmerski and upperclassmen Meghan Regan, Meghan Hassel and Michelle Celli.
The Ducks hope to capitalize on a more experienced core of upperclassmen that can lead an athletically talented crop of incoming freshman. Captain Callie Whelan hopes the freshmen's speed combined with senior leadership can gain the Ducks some victories.
Key players this year for Howard are Renee Alessi, Brin Anderson and Laura Nilan. Howard knows of the great amount of preparation Lyons has put in for the game, but is not worried. Preparation for the Ducks has consisted of what Whelan describes as "carbo-loading".
With dorm pride and a wager on the line, both teams are ready to bring their A-game to the field on Sunday.
"Howard is ready mentally and physically to take it to Lyons and get revenge for last year," Whelan said.
Kazmerski is ready to put the Lion back into Howard.
"We've been preparing offense and defense for several weeks, and we've shown sufficient improvement to give Howard a good game this weekend," she said.
Farley vs. Breen-Phillips
Sunday afternoon, two north quad neighbors will battle for dominance on the football field. The Babes of Breen Phillips will take on Farley's Finest in the season opener.
Although Breen Phillips won last year's matchup, Farley plans to combine skilled leadership and freshman enthusiasm to bring home a win.
"We've got a very promising offense and defense this year, they show ambition, energy and skill at every practice," coach Nicole Rapagnani said. "I'm looking forward to a great season."
Aside from all of the hard work, the team has also improved fundamentally.
"Our team is a lot faster this year and I think the addition of a good play book will really help us out," Farley captain Angelina Zehrbach said.
Breen Phillips, however, won't be coming down without a fight. Last year they tied for second with Badin in the final interhall rankings.
Breen Phillips has dedicated itself during the preseason as well, hoping to make it to the finals in the stadium later this fall.
"We've been working really hard on the practice field and we've had a great turnout at all of the practices," captain Jaimie Feltault said. "We're ready for the stadium this year"
Instead of a new crop of freshman, Breen Phillips has the advantage of a veteran team. "Our whole defensive line is returning this year and we've got a core of great receivers who are coming back as well," Feltault said.
The game should prove to be a battle between an experienced team and an energized one.
"We're hoping to take Farley by storm," Feltault said.
"We want to play and fight."
