Around campus, around the city, and around the country, people can’t stop talking about the biggest American sporting event of the year. Continuing a fierce rivalry, on Sunday night, two teams faced off head to head – or should I say snout to snout. That’s right. It’s time to talk about the Puppy Bowl.
The two teams playing in Puppy Bowl XXI were Team Ruff and Team Fluff. Last year saw Team Ruff secure the coveted “Lombarky” Trophy, so Fluff went into the game hoping to take back the title of Puppy Bowl champions.
The stadium field was littered with toys, all of which count as balls in play at all times. Should a pup kick or drop one into either end zone, they score a three-point field goal. If they carry it past the 0-yard line, that’s a touchdown and seven points.
The game began with a recording of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Notably, many players opted to sit, stay, and even lie down during the playing of the national anthem, but these players faced no repercussions.
Within the first minute of the game, Ruff’s Enrique grabs the ball. After fumbling at the 30-yard mark, Enrique recovered only to be blocked by his sister, Rita, of team Fluff. Frustrated, Enrique took to the coolers, only to be called out by the ref for illegal doggy-paddling in the water bowl.
The first TD of the game was scored by Foxtrot, a collie from team Ruff. Foxtrot was almost intercepted by Fluff’s Mary, but proceeded to reset, then weave down the field to secure a 7–0 lead.
Enrique, never one to quit, seemed to score Ruff’s first field goal, sending a ball into the end zone. However, later footage revealed that it was actually Rita who touched the ball last, scoring three points for Fluff.
At the top of the second quarter, Ruff led Fluff 14–6, but the second quarter saw Fluff pulling forward, almost matching Ruff for a 21–20 lead with a minute left on the clock. Suddenly, Trio, a three-legged French bulldog on team Ruff, scored a clutch touchdown extending Ruff into a 28–20 lead. The second quarter also showed much unsportsmanlike conduct, with Ruff’s Jason watering the grass of his own end zone and Fluff’s Bonnie briefly stealing the ref’s flag. With seconds on the clock, a historic play was made by Fluff’s Charlotte, who managed to pull off a combo Field-Goal-TD, the first player to do so in Puppy Bowl history. At the close of the second quarter, Charlotte’s pupset had pulled Fluff into a two-point lead.
The halftime show left much to be desired. The four-kitten big band was good, but not the “Mardis Claw” extravaganza that game organizers promised. Due to a partnership with Wisdom Panel, a DNA test aimed at our furry friends, each player was then introduced with an on-screen graphic of their entire breed background — something that should only be implemented if the players are dogs.
The second half of the game progressed with both teams collar-to-collar. Unable to take the heat, Ruff linebarker Mr. Pickles began a tug-of-war with his own teammate. Ever the opportunist, Fluff’s Kiki took advantage of the commotion to score a TD.
Scores going into the fourth quarter were 61–56 with Fluff in the lead. Halfway through the final quarter, Ruff secured a five-point lead through a series of masterful plays. But, in the last 10 seconds, through a 50-yard play, Team Fluff’s Paws Allen, scored one final TD for team Fluff, earning them the Lombarky Trophy, and the admiration of the American public.
More importantly, the Puppy Bowl serves as a massive adoption initiative, with every one of its 142 players available to take home. Paws Allen may have earned his team the trophy, but his greatest triumph tonight was finding his fur-ever home.
