Of all the senior festivities and activities, “Senior Assassins,” an all-out Nerf war, brings out the fiercest of competitors. Any senior with an interest in playing paired with a same-gender duo partner could participate. Then teams of four—two girls and two guys—scheme and game plan to attack their opposition. Starting with 32 teams in bracket-style play, the competition is now down to the elite eight. Opponents have been taken down in the line of foam fire, leaving their jobs, the gym, and their homes. With money—and bragging rights—on the line, who will come out victorious?

Teams have one week to take down their competitors with their single-shot nerf guns. School grounds and other NAHS-affiliated activities are off limits, so the game is truly a race against time. Parking lots, golf courses, and houses become warzones, as early mornings and late nights are popular times to strike. In the case of Ryan Hohenstein, fate was not on his side. In consecutive rounds, Hohenstein’s opponents patiently waited inside his car, anxious for his return. In both occurrences, Hohenstein, unaware of his looming competition, was shot in the front seat of his ride. “What is the saying? Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on me,” he said.

Unlike Hohenstein, some players have taken a more offensive-minded approach. For teammates Kira Spivey and Jacob Lloyd, the best defense is just more offense. Spivey got the inaugural kill within hours of the game’s start, while Lloyd single-handedly took out all four members of one team within 24 hours. “You’ve got to keep your head on a swivel at all times,” said Lloyd. “It is all about getting one step ahead.”

While senior games have been around for years, who are the masterminds behind NAHS’ ultimate Nerf war? Seniors Lindsey Vicens and Lanier Beckham took on the challenge of putting together and coordinating the game, a task even more daunting than participating. “It took a lot to put this together and keep it going,” said Beckham. “Having to manage, corral, and keep track of everything is a lot, but it is rewarding to see everyone enjoying it so much.”

A test of strategy, stealth, and skill, Senior Assassins is not a game for the faint of heart. Players have been living in a constant state of paranoia since the game’s beginning, not knowing if their opponent is lurking outside their car or around the corner. Daily routines are being broken and steps retraced. The game will go on until only one team remains, but no one is looking to go down without putting up a fight. Nerf on!