New England Patriots player Wes Welker pulls off his helmet as Mathias Kiwanuka of the New York Giants celebrates. (AP Photo)

At Super Bowl XLVI, there were so many people! To get there, we had to walk a long way around the stadium. Then we went to the security tent, where we went through metal detectors. Then we headed into the stadium. Inside, we followed a path of blue tape that led us to our seats in the media section.

Our seats were very high up, but we had a great view of the field. Everything was so loud! There were more than 68,000 people in the stadium. The fans were cheering and there was music playing to get everyone excited. The players warmed up on the field before the game.

The New England Patriots won the coin toss, and they chose to kick the ball to the New York Giants. During the first quarter, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady got a penalty in his end zone. That gave the Giants two points. Then the Giants scored a touchdown with a little more than three minutes to go in the first quarter. Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz caught it and he did a salsa dance to celebrate. The score was 9–0.

Catherine sat in the media section. She had a table to write on and
a great view of the game!
(Laura Anastasia/Weekly Reader)

In the second quarter, Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski made a field goal. Then, with eight seconds left in the first half, the Patriots scored a touchdown. Patriots running back Danny Woodhead caught the pass. That brought the score to Patriots 10, Giants 9.

Then it was time for half time. While the stage was being put together in just eight minutes, cameras were flashing everywhere in the stadium. The bright flashes of light looked like twinkling stars. Then Madonna came out and there was screaming. During the four songs she sang, the lighting design was incredible. Cee Lo Green came out in the middle and he was singing with her. The one and only word to describe the half-time show was INCREDIBLE!

In the second half, the Patriots scored on their first drive. Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez caught the touchdown. That brought the score to Patriots 17, Giants 9. A little later, Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes made a field goal, making the score Patriots 17, Giants 12. With 35 seconds to go in third quarter, the Giants kicked another field goal, which made the score Patriots 17, Giants 15. The Giants were catching up slowly but surely.

Both teams’ defenses played really well in the last quarter. With only 57 seconds left in the game, the Giants got a touchdown. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw scored it. The Patriots tried to score after that, but they ran out of time. So … the Giants won! The final score was Giants 21, Patriots 17. Giants quarterback Eli Manning was named Most Valuable Player.

Confetti showered the field after the Giants won. Catherine took a
silver streamer home with her as a souvenir. (Laura Anastasia/Weekly Reader)
 

After the game, I interviewed Giants safety Kenny Phillips. I asked, “Who are you most excited to show your Super Bowl ring to and why?” He pointed to his mom and the rest of his family. “Those people right behind you—those are my family,” Phillips said. "It’s [because of] the support they’ve been giving me this entire season. I did it for them.”

Catherine interviewed Giants safety Kenny Phillips after the game.
(Laura Anastasia/Weekly Reader)
 

This was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget. Thanks to Weekly Reader for letting me do this!

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©2012 Weekly Reader Corporation. Published February 6, 2012. Thumbnail photo on Super Bowl landing page: AP Photo/David J. Phillip.