On the surface, the Powder Puff Football matchups held Thursday night at the Tamaqua Area Sports Complex were for bragging rights.

While the participants took the games seriously, the final outcome, which saw the senior team defeat the freshmen team, wasn't the event's main storyline.Rather, it was the proceeds raised from the event to benefit the Oliphant family that was truly the focal point of the event, according to Roseann Weinrich, senior class adviser.Weinrich, a high school biology teacher, said the Tamaqua Area High School Class of 2016 and Biology Club sponsored the event.The family lost one of their sons, Keith, on April 17. A lifelong resident of Tamaqua, Keith, 24, was a 2010 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School.His father, Keith, shared his thoughts on his son while taking in the Powder Puff Game, which consists of several girls' football teams backed by male cheerleaders."My family is truly overwhelmed at the support from the people," Keith said. "Words can't describe … there are no words to describe it."With his other son, Kyle, a senior who is about to graduate from Tamaqua later this month, by his side, Keith described his deceased son as a person who could make anyone laugh."Keith was the type of guy who could go anywhere and make friends to share a drink, have a laugh," he said. "He would have a beer in his hand and a smile on his face."Keith said that his deceased son was a lieutenant with the Tuscarora Fire Company, and had a companion with whom he resided and was a devoted father figure to her sons."He took them as his own," he said. "He was always a happy-go-lucky guy."On the field, the four teams - one per each grade level - played their hearts out.The first game saw the freshmen defeat the juniors.After the contest, freshman Kayla Sherry said the event "was for a good cause."Her teammate, Peyton Gilbert, added, "it was a great experience."The second contest saw the seniors best the sophomores.In the Powder Puff championship, it was the seniors who triumphed over the freshmen.Afterward, senior Kaelyn Boran-Smith said it was a privilege to participate in the event."It was awesome," Boran-Smith said. "Happy to support this awesome cause."