1951 Champions Cup

The 1951 Champions Cup was the 5th official, and 6th overall Champions Cup game, the deciding game(s) of the NERC season. This installment was played between the Manhattan Archers and Buffalo Panthers. Manhattan was looking to win their first title in their inaugural season, while the Panthers were looking for their second title in 3 years.

The Archers ended up victorious, after a dominant first quarter which they never looked back from.

## Opening

It was a little on the colder side compared to previous Champions Cups games, but it was still a great day for Runty. New York Runty Park and the surrounding area were buzzing as always. Right outside the stadium’s main entrance were a boatload of hot dog carts and buskers, setting the stage for the main attraction. On one side of the field were the first-year wonderteam, the Manhattan Archers. Manhattan was looking to become the first team in North American pro sports history to win their league championship in their first year. On the other side of the field were the Buffalo Panthers, who were no stranger to playing big games in NYC. This was their third Champions Cup game in four years, having lost in 1948 and won in 1949.

## First Quarter

The opening jump-ball was won by the Archers, and they got to work quickly. They scored a point on their first rush, then intercepted a Buffalo rush, went back down the field, and kicked another. Off the ensuing jump-ball, they would then again go to the Buffalo end, and RU Joe Wheaton barreled a shot into the top left corner, putting the Archers up 6. They still weren’t done, as they kicked another point and goal on their next two rushes, putting themselves up 11-0 not even 7 minutes in. Buffalo would eventually regain composure, and start stalling the Archers’ attacks. Despite this, they themselves couldn’t get any good rushes of their own. Eventually, With under 10 minutes to play in the quarter, the Archers would score goals on back-to-back rushes, Putting themselves up 19-0. Fans of both teams were in shock, the game looked like it was already over. Despite this, the Panthers would eventually get their first shot on net and goal with under 6 minutes to play, from Nestor Wright. Buffalo added a late point to cut the lead to 14, but it was still going to be a tough hill to climb.

## Second Quarter

Buffalo controlled the ball for the first few minutes of the second, and got a goal from Walter Manning to cut the lead to 10. Unfortunately for them, the Archers won the jump-ball, rushed back down the field, and negated that goal with one of their own, Hyatt Barron’s second of the game. Despite the electric start, the pace would die down for a bit, and the ball was stuck at midfield. The Panthers kicked a point, and soon after, Allen Formock drew a penalty shot. However, his attempt was read perfectly by Wheaton, and he didn’t even allow a point on the play. The Archers kicked a point to regain their 10-point lead. Soon after, but with just over 6 minutes to play in the half, Buffalo RB Josiah Jimway went on a great run, going past multiple defenders before kicking a picture-perfect shot past Wheaton. Buffalo was now only down by 10, and there was still time for more. The Panthers spent the last minutes trying to get anything, but the Archer defense stood tall as the half drew to a close. Manhattan was still up comfortably through 48, but Buffalo wasn’t down and out yet.

## Third Quarter

Buffalo still had momentum from the first half, and they used it to their advantage. Christian Charpentier scored 4 minutes in for the Panthers, who were now just 6 points back. They were running like a well-oiled machine, and managed to break into the arc two more times on consecutive rushes, but both rushes resulted in points. Now only needing a goal to tie, the Panthers rushed into the arc once again, but their rush was intercepted by the Archers, who went all the way back down the field and kicked a point. There was then a period of slow play, where neither team could get anything going. Eventually, the two teams exchanged points once more. It was looking like the next team to score a goal would go on to win. With 2:30 to play, the Archers would draw a corner kick. The ball wound up at the feet of RFB Ed Thompson, who managed to kick it straight off the ground and in. That was Thompson’s first goal in the NERC, and it put the Archers up 30-21. On their next rush, the Archers scored again, crushing the Panthers’ hopes. The Archers were up 13 with 24 minutes to play.

## Fourth Quarter

Buffalo’s players were clearly defeated as the fourth quarter started. The two Archers goals had driven a dagger into their momentum, and they couldn’t seem to get themselves together. Most of the fourth quarter consisted of half-hearted Buffalo rushes that were easily stopped by the tightened Manhattan defense. Artie Booth managed a shot on goal, but it missed well wide. Overall, what was expected to be an exciting final quarter was instead one of the most boring quarters of runty the Champions Cup had seen. Radio announcer Stewart Patrick summed it up “This is what one would expect in a young boys’ game of runty, not in the pinnacle of the sport. This is a disgraceful end to an otherwise tremendous game.” As time grew shorter, the Panthers starting picking up their play, and made their way into the arc more. Despite this, they only managed a single point with 2:26 to play, when the game was all but over. As the final whistle sounded, The Manhattan half of the NYRP erupted, as the Archers had completed a historic feat: Becoming the first North American professional sports team to win a league championship in their first season.