It's time for the annual football game between the Salvatore School and the Mystic Falls High School, with this game played at the former school. Hope joins the team of her new school as part of the plan to find and turn Rafael back into human form. Unlike all the other years, the supernatural players are encouraged by their headmaster to discretely use magic to win and show their superiority over humans. Alaric learns of this and confronts the new headmaster, who bans him from the school. Josie uses a spell given to her by the headmaster to inadvertently break the arm of the other team's quarterback, destroying his chances at a football scholarship. Landon catches Hope in his room, and she tells him that Alaric asked her to help Rafael. They go into the woods, but Alaric learns from Dorian that a new monster is in the woods that feeds on werewolves. Hope finds Rafael and turn him human again, allowing the three to kill the monster. At night, Landon realizes that Rafael isn't entirely back to normal and still has animal instincts. The headmaster finds the monster's body and eats it. In the meantime, Lizzie is trying to find Sebastian. She eventually catches up to him and asks him what he is. He explains that he's a vampire, and she kisses him. MG finds Lizzie and sees her kissing air.
- Badass Normal: Despite the supernaturals using magic, the other team still manages to give a good showing, with the quarterback almost winning them the game. Only Josie using the headmaster's arm-breaking spell ends the game with a victory for the Salvatore School.
- Bullying the Dragon: As ever, the Mystic Falls team and students mock the Salvatore School, unaware they're insulting a pack of supernatural creatures. Unlike other years, this time the Salvatore kids are encouraged to cut loose and wipe the floor with the Mystic Falls bunch.
- Career-Ending Injury: The breaking of the quarterback's throwing arm ends his chances for a football scholarship.
- For Want Of A Nail: Hope is thrown to hear Rafael has been stuck in wolf form and realizes it's because she wasn't around to give him a ring to turn.
- He's Back!: Rafael is back in human form and helps take down the monster. However, the months spent as a wolf have taken their toll.
- Humans Are Average: Invoked by the Headmaster who says the Salvatore student should use the game to "prove your superiority." He openly slams Alaric as holding them back in previous years and "making them weaker by pretending to be normal."
- I Am a Monster: Sebastian doesn't want Lizzie to get close to him because he's a vampire. Lizzie is actually relieved, as she suspected him of being one of the monsters released by Malivore. She tells him that some of her friends are vampires and kisses him.
- Ignorant of Their Own Ignorance: The head jock of Mystic Falls pushes for a prank spray-painting the Salvatore School sign.Jock 1: It's tradition.Jock 2: Yeah, so's the electoral college.Jock 1: Never heard of them. Their football team must suck.
- Internal Reveal: Hope discovers Maya and Ethan's mom is the local sheriff.
- Hope also learns how Rafael has been stuck in wolf form without her.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Josie's reaction to the other team's quarterback's arm snapping as a result of her using the headmaster's spell on him.
- Oh, Crap!: It takes a bit for it to sink in to Alaric that unlike when he was in charge, the Salvatore School team isn't holding back using magic and supernatural abilities and his team of unknowing regular humans is screwed.
- Shapeshifting Excludes Clothing: Landon is confused when Hope starts stripping in the woods and forced to turn away. He's thrown when he turns around to find Hope is now a wolf.
- Put on the Bus: Off-screen as it's stated Matt has left Mystic Falls for good.
- Throwing The Game: Subverted as the Salvatore team is prepared to once more go through the act of losing to keep their cover. They're delighted to be told by the new headmaster to go ahead and do what it takes to win.
- Wham Shot: The headmaster extending his mouth to an inhuman size and eating the Monster of the Week.
