Year 19 of DOL was a season of the unexpected. Hathaway didnt really make any changes in the off-season besides officially promoting Bentley to co-comissioner status- something he hasnt seen since spear-heading the 2007 move to the ESPN platform.

As I said, "Unexpected" would more than likely be the best words to describe this year's DOL BOWL XIX matchup and the 2021 season.

…and that’s a good thing. That’s what makes this league great. Once you get into the playoffs, all bets are off, and this year they definitely were.


Hathaway and the Lowe’s were undoubtedly the favorites in Vegas going in. Both lost a combined 5 games on the year and had great stories to bare. Hathaway was on a redemption trek back to the DOL Bowl they lost the previous year and the Lowe’s were on a mission of dedication, cleaning up most of the awards throughout the season.


But this is DOL and the final four was as far as they would make it.


Thanks to a mixture of Covid mixing up rosters and great coaching from the underdogs, A-Train inc and Creel inc both made their 2nd and third trips (respectively) to the big game. Both squads had never lost a trip to the finals, so for somebody it was going to be a first.


Creel looked to put his name in the three championship tier of the league, held only by 2 other active league members (Hathaway and Jordan). An 8-5 record and finishing as runners-up in the Blouses Division handed the 16-year veteran the #3 seed and a path to the championship that ran through the Blouses Division Champion Lowes. One which, thanks to outstanding performances from Cooper Kupp, lifted Creel to 19th annual DOL Bowl.
On the flip side, Ashton’s story for the 2021 season was a little more up hill. It came down to the last week of the regular season, the newly added 13th week for A-Train inc to slide into the post season. Finishing up 2nd overall in the Shirts Division, They were never really in the hunt for the division championship, finishing up 4 games behind Hathaway for the crown. But once the post season started, it simply didn’t matter. Russell Wilson and Odell Beckham Jr were relentless in big wins over the 4th seeded squad from Whitson inc and then holding off top seeded Hathaway in what was essentially the Shirts Conference Championship game on his way to DOL Bowl XIX.
But in the end, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Rodgers were too much as well as a remarkable performance from the Cowboys Defense as Creel and company rolled to a big 48.14 point win. The fifth biggest margin of victory in DOL BOWL history. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers took home the DOL BOWL MVP with a 25.98 point performance, interestingly enough- the second LOWEST point output from an MVP in DOL BOWL history.

But it got the job done, getting his jersey enshrined in infamy as well as solidifying Creel amongst the legends of DOL.
*This has also been the first Adidas Franchise to win the Championship.

 

 

2021 (ESPN)
League Name: D.O.L.
1. The Wentz of Change: Jonathan Creel (8-5)
2. Swamp Donkeys: Ashton Jernigan (7-6)
3. BlueBell Ranbow Herbert: Bob and Zane Lowe (10-3)
4. Earthworm Jim Waters: Bryan Hathaway (11-2)
5. Mixon n Chasen: Stephen Whitson (7-6)
6. Skynet AI: Hank Hullett (6-7)
7. Aint runnin downHILL: Preston West (5-8)
*******
8. Unsolicited Dak Pics: Troy Jordan (5-8)
9. JT's Bringing Sexy Back: Shaun Rannals (5-8)
10. Animal Mother: Taf Bentley (4-9)
11. Wannabe Waller Shot Caller: Weston Lunsford (4-9)
12. Mouse Rat: Jacob Jordan (5-8)