Friday fraternity football benefits Haiti relief efforts

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Andrew Ward ran around Finch Fieldhouse with the infamous Scream mask acting crazy Friday night.

The scene may have looked strange to some. But he did it all in the name of his beloved Alpha Phi Alphas.

The fraternity was part of the first “IceKream Bowl,” a powderpuff flag football event where women played for Alpha Phi Alpha’s, the ‘Cold as Ice’ team, or Kappa Alpha Psi’s, the ‘Kream’ Team.

“I’m getting all the girls pumped up,” said Ward, a Grand Rapids junior.

All of the event’s donations went toward Haiti relief efforts. Each team had about 20 girls competing with seven on the field at a time.

Players on the sidelines cheered energetically for their teams on the court. A disc jockey played music during the game.

Arquette Tyler, a Detroit junior, rooted for the ‘Kream’ Team.

“It’s adding to the adrenaline rush,” Tyler said of the music.

She was impressed with the players’ overall attitudes.

“I think it’s all in good spirits, because you don’t normally get to see girls out here playing football,” Tyler said.

Westland sophomore Alexa Gholston was thrilled to play with her teammates.

“There’s a little rivalry, but it’s all in good fun,” Gholston said. “It’s getting serious now, but it is still a lot of fun.”

Tensions mounted as the game ensued.

“The music helps with the excitement of the game,” said Canton senior Carmen Walker.

Walker took photographs of the players in action.

Game is a tie

By 9 p.m., the score stood at an even 12 to 12, pushing the match into double-overtime.

After nobody scored, the coaches decided to end the game as a tie, and roses were given to the players.

Gholston said the tie was a fair way to conclude the game.

“It’s kind of sad no one won, but it wasn’t going anywhere,” Gholston said.

Julius Bryant, a Lansing senior, hopes for more games in the future.

“We wanted a newer event, something never seen before.” he said.