Phoenix Face Loss, Falling Victim to Friday the 13

The bad luck of “Friday the 13th” haunted the football team when the Phoenix took on the Tuscarora Huskies — the game ended with the Huskies taking the victory over the Phoenix 45-6.

Shaila Patel

Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and it’s a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.

Shaila Patel, Danielle Kimpson Kaley, and Nidhi Manchala • November 1, 2023

The cold, ominous air of Friday the 13 filled the stadium as the Phoenix prepared to fight the eerie battle.

On Oct. 13, the Phoenix faced the Tuscarora Huskies for the annual pink-out football game. As the game quickly got going, the Huskies scored their first touchdown in the last 5 minutes of the first quarter. Soon after, the Phoenix gained possession from a fumble by the Huskies toward the end of the first quarter.

As the second quarter started, the Phoenix continued to fight as the Huskies overtook them. Toward the last few minutes of the quarter, senior Steven Boushra, safety and wide receiver for the Phoenix, intercepted the ball from the Huskies. His strong play did not result in getting some points on the board for the Phoenix, though, and the second quarter ended with Huskies up 31-0. Senior linebacker, running back, and team captain Austin Fisher plays closely with Boushra. “[Boushra’s] energy is something super positive that contributes to the team including myself,” Fisher said. “Seeing him on the field with me is always great and we are always having fun together.”

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The Phoenix quarterback, sophomore Xavier Smith, scrambled to avoid sacks from the defense throughout the whole game. One of the captains, junior linebacker Shamar Ferrell, made multiple attempts to assist Smith. “I try to not put my head down when we lose because if I [do, it’s] going [to] make them feel bad about themselves after one play,” Ferrell said. “I gotta try to keep my head up and let them know I [am] leading them to do better in the game.”

As the Huskies maintained the lead throughout the third and most of the fourth quarter, Smith scored a touchdown during the last 6 minutes of the game for the Phoenix. Despite his accomplishment, Smith humbly wished for a better result overall. “[The game] wasn’t that good, [it wasn’t] a crazy game for me,” Smith said. “As a team, we could’ve done better.” The final score of the spine-chilling Friday was 45-6 with the Huskies beating the Phoenix.

The last home game of the season will be played on Nov. 3.

About the Contributors

Shaila Patel, Website Coordinator

Shaila Patel is a senior in her second year on the newspaper staff, fueled by her strong sense of curiosity. Since a young age, Patel has been aiding people close to her. Whether it be through PEER or through daily actions, she is passionate about helping strangers, close friends, and family who are struggling in any way, but especially with any mental health concerns. Caring is a big part of who she is. Patel is also an avid dancer. She believes that dance is a form of art, especially the Indian classical dance she practices, Bharatanatyam. Patel sees it as a useful tool for many to convey stories, culture, who people are, and more.

Danielle Kimpson Kaley, Staff Writer

Danielle Kimpson is a junior, and this is her second year on staff. After transferring from Broad Run at the beginning of sophomore year, Danielle’s mother convinced her to join The Blaze after loving her own personal experience in high school. This year, Danielle wants to write more articles, work towards achieving Best of Sno, and take as many good sports photos as possible, after discovering her hidden talent during her first year on staff. In school, Danielle is involved in guitar, and has been playing the instrument for almost ten years. She is interested in playing the electric guitar and becoming a singer/songwriter, pursuing her love for music. Outside of school, Danielle loves fashion and gaming–she’s currently anticipating the release of GTA6. Additionally, she enjoys cooking and is hoping to make it into a hobby this year. Danielle plans to take part in the theater program and join soccer in the spring.

Nidhi Manchala, Design Editor

Nidhi Manchala is a senior and the Design Editor for The Blaze. Originally joining on whim, this is her fourth year on staff and she now recognizes journalism as her favorite part of school. Being a part of the school newspaper gave her better writing skills and is an outlet for her creativity through the magazine. As the Design Editor, Nidhi is responsible for how the publication looks, ranging from page layouts to color palettes, down to the text style of every last word. This year, she’s looking forward to winning an award for the news magazine and making an impact in her final year on staff. Other than the school newspaper, Nidhi has two wolves inside of her, the newspaper side, and the Cowboy Bebop side — the anime, specifically. She claims all other adaptations could never live up to the original’s greatness.

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Phoenix Face Loss, Falling Victim to Friday the 13

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