Well… was it the start of a new rivalry? Did the Pigs Fly or did the Firemen Drown them out? If you didn’t make it to the 19th annual Pig Bowl you were one of just a few… The stands were packed from top to bottom and there were so many screaming fans we even ran out of food before the final whistle had blown!

Lei and Malu arrived in style on the back of an Antique Fire Truck escorted by Columbia Gorge Law Enforcement and Columbia Gorge Fire and EMS personnel.

Women supporting the badge served delicious pulled pork and scrumptious food from Papa Murphy’s, Spookys, Safeway, Pepsi, Subway, Chef’s Store and more! Dutch brother’s was back and their energy drinks definitely helped energize the crowd!

After an awesome opening prayer by pastor Allen Refsland of Life In Christ Center, Carolyn Lei sang the national anthem and Lei called the winning coin toss, opting to give the Fire and EMS team the ball to start the game. They didn’t have the ball for long though before Law Enforcement had an interception and was going the other way.

The Dalles City Police Officer Jeremy Dutton, who used to quarterback at the Pig Bowl for the Oregon Law Enforcement Team back in the day, was back at QB and tossed an early touchdown to Oregon State Police Sergeant Adam Shimer. Five Year Pig Bowl Veteran Kicker Caitlin Plese of the Hood River Sheriff’s Office started her MVP night by booting the extra point through the uprights.

Dutton wasn’t done as he tossed three additional touch downs, one each to Skamania County Corrections Officer Ben Childs, Hood River Sheriff’s Office Detective Kyle Cozad, and The Dalles City Police Officer Samuel Perez. Dutton then threw a fifth touchdown pass, his second of the night to Oregon State Police Sergeant Adam Shimer. Depty Caitlin Plese kicked extra points after the first four scores, but then started backing up well beyond the typical mark and finally missed a kick from over 40 yards! Not to worry though a short time later she added a long distance field goal to put the police up 37-0.

The Dalles City Police Officer Antonio Argueta caught yet another pass from Dutton for a Touchdown before Officer Ben Childs scored the first rushing touchdown of the night… and he did it while wearing a red tutu! Not sure anyone foresaw the tutu as an offensive weapon; covering up the flags! Then finally in the 4th quarter, Firefighter Tanner Fletcher took a sweep left all the way to the house to put the Fire Folks on the board. Then somehow the Fire and EMS team hired Deputy Caitlin Plese to kick their extra point!

The crowd did what they could to slow down the cops by putting the Quarterback in boxing gloves. It looked as if their efforts had succeed as Officer Jeremy Dutton’s first attempted pass accidently went backwards. Moments later though, officer Antonio Argueta picked up the backwards pass and made an impressive run through the defense for yet another Law Enforcement touchdown!

The Firefighters then brought in a secret weapon, first time, self initiated, “Jack the Waterboy” and sure enough he scored a touchdown! Law Enforcement had a trick up their own sleeves and put a uniform on Lei’s son Malu getting him in on the action in the final moments. Unfortunately he came up just short, but the smile on his face and love for his mom made the whole night worth while.

The final score on the field had Law Enforcement dominating the Fire and EMS team 55 to 13, but we just heard yesterday that practices have already begun for Pig Bowl 2023 and the Firefighters are bound and determined to come back with a vengeance. The final score on the scoreboard was the closest it has ever been. Prior the game starting Law Enforcement held a slight advantage at 1731 to 1720. The fans purchased all kinds of points, but for the first time ever the score on the field actually made a difference as Law Enforcement edged out the Firefighters by just 6 points; 1994 to 1988! See the score breakdown.

On Thursday night September 29th Pig Bowl board members met at Westwind Frame and Gallery for this year’s check presentation. We truly do live in an amazing community!

Check out what we are all able to do when we work together…

Columbia Gorge Law Enforcement

Vs.

Columbia Gorge Fire Fighters

In case you missed it, here is copy of the 2022 PIG PROGRAM courtesy of Bohn’s Printing.

Also a HUGE thank you to Meadow Outdoor for posting not one, but FOUR Billboards around The Dalles!

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Please support those who support the Pig Bowl and please mark your calendars for

the 20th annual Pig Bowl September 23rd 2023!