The annual Tamalpais High School flag football game between junior and senior girls, dubbed the Football Fest game, was held during Homecoming week. It took place on Sept. 11 during lunch and was held by Tam’s leadership class–specifically the spirit committee–and supported by the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). At the game, the PTSA supplied pizza for the first 100 spectators.
The game consisted of two ten-minute halves and was almost completely run by students, with players from the football team coaching, and student volunteers announcing and refereeing. Nathan Johnson, Tam’s athletic director also assisted with officiating.
In preparation for the annual bout, both teams held four practices. While the class of 2025 lost the previous year in a close competition to the class of 2024 with a final score of 6-0, this year they had the chance to redeem themselves against the class of 2026.
To start the game, the juniors won the coin toss and opted to start with the ball, but on the second play of the game, junior and starting quarterback Elle Dunn threw a dangerous pass that was picked off by senior Rowan Scobie. Shortly after, senior running back Marissa Scanlan scored a 50-yard rushing touchdown to open up the game bringing the score to 6-0.
While the seniors seized the momentum after their interception and touchdown, the juniors’ offense was still stifled and they turned the ball back over to the seniors. When the seniors gained possession again, they sustained a long drive, and senior Kate Carvalho scored on a five-yard jet sweep to extend the lead to 12-0 right before halftime.
Coming out of halftime, the seniors continued to dominate. The juniors kept being shut out by the seniors’ defense and eventually, the seniors added another touchdown when Scanlan found the endzone for the second time, making the score 18-0. The game finished with a final score of 18-0, in favor of the seniors. John Welborn, one of the coaches of the senior girls’ team, explained his thoughts postgame.
“We worked hard in practice and that paid off,” Welborn said, “The juniors fought hard but they couldn’t compete with our lockdown defense.”
Scanlan, the game’s touchdown leader for the game, described everything that went into the game.
“There was a lot of tension before the game, especially being seniors, there was a lot of pressure on us,” Scanlan said, “Once we got onto the field, we dominated, and that set the tone for the rest of the game.”
While the seniors were extremely happy with their performance, on the other side of the field it was a different story.
“It was just not our best work,” junior Annie Payne said.
While the seniors are typically the favorites to win the game, it is rarely a blowout game like this. Wyatt Leach, one of the juniors’ coaches, voiced about his team.
“We had a great group of girls, but I was disappointed in the outcome,” Leach said, “But we will come out with a dub next year.” The class of 2026 does have an opportunity next year to redeem themselves when they play the class of 2027 as seniors. ♦
