Brighton gets ready to face Perfektborg in a game of Turnipball, and their new team member Ollie proves to be a keeper despite his inexperience. But a combination of Brighton falling behind and kringle bits found in their locker room causes the team to think their rivals are cheating... until Molly uncovers the truth. Meanwhile, Scratch possesses the mascot costume and forms his own rivalry with Perfektborg's own mascot.
Tropes:
- The Ace: Or a whole team of aces. Perfektborg is so skilled all of the past matches have been total washouts for Brighton. Ollie is treated as the ace of the Brighton team, even though he has no idea what he is doing.
- An Aesop: Your opponents' team may not be as mean as you think.
- Bittersweet Ending: Although Brighton lost the Turnipball game, at least Perfektborg showed some good sportsmanship and it's possible that Brighton might try again next year. On top of that, Brighton got to celebrate since the game didn't end with a shut-out.
- Calvinball: How you play Turnipball is never properly explained, with Ollie being unable to get a straight answer and only scoring points through dumb luck. The game seems to be some sort of fusion of just about every sport.
- Continuity Nod:
- Molly reminds Scratch of the last time he used his powers to help Molly win at sports.
- Scratch's not-so-subtle Call-Back when he compliments the Swedish Meatball mascot.Scratch: You're the wisest being I've ever met, and I met Abraham Lincoln once!
- Crowd Song: The song, "This is Brighton's Year" in which numerous Brightonians are given different parts to sing.
- Exactly What It Says on the Tin: Turnipball is a game where you use a turnip as a ball. Otherwise subverted as that is the only clear rule.
- Foreshadowing: An early sign of the Perfektborg players not being as antagonistic as they were made out to be, was its team captain Quinby (with a stern-looking game face) offering Molly a kringle.
- Golden Snitch: Inverted: Landing the turnip in the Sudden Death Zone gives the opposite team 170 points and almost guarantees losing.
- Improperly Paranoid: Principal O'Connor believes the kringle team captain Quimby gave Molly to be poisoned. When they find kringle bits in the locker room he believes it to be evidence of the Perfektborg team cheating. In reality, Perfektborg sent a basket of kringles as a token of goodwill, but Scratch ate them before anyone found out. They even agree to throw the match so Brighton can finally get a win after 129 years.
- Loophole Abuse: Molly bans Scratch from possessing any of the players, the coach, and the ball, but fails to ban him from possessing the discarded mascot costume. However, all he does with it is get into a dance-off with the rival mascot.
- Medium Awareness: During a break in the song, Ollie pulls Molly aside to ask her to explain the rules of turnipball to him, while Molly keeps on dancing to the music.
- Non-Standard Game Over: The Sudden Death Zone instantly gives Perfektborg 170 points and ends the game.
- Punchclock Villain: The Perfektborg players are only aggressive on the field and are very friendly otherwise.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: Even after Molly convinces Perfeckborg to throw the game, Ollie accidentally gives them 170 points by sending the ball into the Sudden Death Zone.
- Ship Tease: Molly calls Ollie an "absolute dreamboat".
- Tempting Fate: During the song Molly says to buy tons of non-refundable victory merch.
- Third Line, Some Waiting: Ollie struggles with understanding the rules, Molly is driven by competition and Scratch gets into a feud with Perfektborg's mascot.
- Time Stands Still: When the "vuvuzelas" play, everyone has to stay perfectly still and not make a sound. Ollie, not knowing about this rule, fails to follow it.
- Title Drop: Bobby Daniels exclaims, "Let's play turnipball!" as the game begins.
- Victorious Loser: Even though Brighton lost the game again, everyone is still happy the game didn't end in a shut-out.
