NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans VooDoo and PlayNOLA raised over $5,000 in the first annual Preauxs versus Jeauxs charity flag football event on Friday night at Pan American Stadium. The money will go to Ella Dolhonde Elementary school to purchase books for its new library and Each One Save One.
“It was great to see over 450 people out at Pan American Stadium to support this great cause,” said Dan Newman, New Orleans VooDoo owner. “I was impressed with the men’s game and the talent that PlayNOLA had, but my favorite was the ladies game. Watching all of those girls play hard and learn football was something else.”
The VooDoo Dolls and Ella Dolhonde Elementary school teachers started things off with a female flag football game. The ladies had a tryout and a practice and the two teams: Team Monogram Express (blue) and Team VooDooStuff.com (grey).
As the two teams took the field, Team Monogram Express was heavily favored in the game, but went four-and-out on its first offensive series, and Team VooDooStuff.com took over on downs. Team VooDooStuff.com marched down the field, and five plays later found the end zone as quarterback VooDoo Doll Brittney H. found wide receiver VooDoo Doll Brittany W. wide open down the sideline for the 7-yard score.
The point after attempt failed, leaving Team VooDooStuff.com with a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The score would remain that way until halftime.
After a quick intermission that featured a performance by the Ella Dolhonde cheerleaders, Team VooDooStuff.com went back to work in the third quarter with VooDoo Doll Brittney H. connecting with VooDoo Doll Brittany W. again, this time for a 6-yard touchdown. The point after attempt failed, making the score 12-0.
Team Monogram Express scrambled to get its offense together, but found the tough Team VooDooStuff.com defense too difficult to maneuver around. In fact, Ella Dolhonde teacher Christine Kerber intercepted a pass by Team Monogram Express and returned it to the 5-yard line.
Kerber’s interception turned into points three plays later with Brittney H. connecting with VooDoo Doll Gia over the middle for the team’s final score to make the contest 18-0 with 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Team VooDooStuff.com was looking to pitch a shutout, but Team Monogram Express’ VooDoo Doll Brittney L. was not having it, scoring in the final seconds of the game on a 17-yard run down the left side as time expired.
The final score was Team VooDooStuff.com 18 Team Monogram Express 6.
Team VooDooStuff.com was led by quarterback VooDoo Doll Brittney H. with 97 yards passing and three touchdowns while completing 11-of-13 passes. Leading all receivers in the game was VooDoo Doll Brittany W. with 33 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns.
Team Monogram Express was led by quarterback VooDoo Doll Brittney L., carrying the ball 13 times for 76 yards and 1 touchdown. She was also 3-of-6 passing for 22 yards.
After the game was over, the New Orleans VooDoo and PlayNOLA All-stars took the field for the night’s main event, and after a grueling, hard-fought game, the VooDoo and All-Stars tied 42-42 at the end of regulation.
The All-Stars had a chance to win the game, scoring with 10 seconds left to tie the game at 42 but failed on the point after attempt – twice due to a VooDoo penalty on the first attempt.
Leading the VooDoo team was quarterback Duke Rousse, owner of The Duke Academy, with 238 yards passing 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Rousse completed 14-of-18 passes in the game.
Skyler Green was the VooDoo’s leading receiver with four catches for 127 yards and one touchdown. Green’s touchdown came on the VooDoo’s first offensive series.
PlayNOLA All-Stars was led by quarterback Trey Diggz with 347 total yards of offense. Diggz carried 11 times for 114 yards and three scores and completed 16-of-26 passes for 222 yards and 1 touchdown.
Leading all receivers for PlayNOLA was wide receiver Reggie Fournier with two catches for 55 yards.
“It was a great time and a great night for all of the charities involved,” added Newman. “I am proud to be the owner of this team and to have a hard-working staff that sees the value in being involved in the community. This is the beginning of a good season for the VooDoo.”
