The game was held at Estadi Olimpic de Montjuic in Barcelona, Spain on Sunday, June 22, 1997. The game was played between the 7–3 Rhein Fire and the 5–5 Barcelona Dragons. 31,100 fans were in attendance as the Dragons won their first and only World Bowl title in franchise history by beating the Fire 38–24. Dragons quarterback Jon Kitna was given MVP honors after completing 23 of 31 attempts for 401 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Backgroundedit
The Dragons won the first meeting 27–12 in Düsseldorf, while the Fire won the second meeting 38–23 in Barcelona.
Game summaryedit
The Rhein Fire managed to get the game's early sparks going as they had a nine-play, 46-yard drive that led to a 31-yard field goal by Manfred Burgsmüller. However, the Dragons would put up some real firepower, as Dragons quarterback Jon Kitna led a four-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off with a 13-yard run by running back Terry Wilburn. Then, more than halfway through the first quarter, as Rhein began a drive from deep in their own territory, quarterback T. J. Rubley threw an interception towards Dragons safety Carlos Brooks, who returned the ball 16 yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter, the fireworks managed to start flying. Rubley would lead a seven-play, 39-yard drive and cap it off with a touchdown on a three-yard quarterback sneak. However, Kitna and the Dragons would respond with a four-play, 79-yard drive that concluded with a 66-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marco Martos. Then, a little later in the quarter, the Dragons would further increase their lead with a five-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 40-yard pass to wide receiver Alfonzo Browning. However, the Rhein Fire refused to trail 28–10 at halftime. Near the end of the half, Rubley would lead a nine-play, 56-yard drive that concluded with him running the ball in for a touchdown on a one-yard quarterback sneak. In the third quarter, both sides had their defenses stiffen throughout most of the quarter. However, the Dragons would eventually get an eight-play, 90-yard drive working for them, as Terry Wilburn capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run. Trailing 35–17 heading into the fourth quarter, the Rhein Fire had to get some points quick and fast. Unfortunately for them, the only score that they could get in the final quarter was a 22-yard pass from Rubley to wide receiver Sean Foster. The Dragons then capped off their World Bowl title with a 34-yard field goal by Spanish kicker Jesús Angoy.
world, bowl, also, referred, world, bowl, final, game, 1997, wlaf, season, american, football, fifth, championship, game, world, league, american, football, wlaf, third, since, wlaf, adopted, team, european, format, rhein, fire, barcelona, dragons24, 381234, t. World Bowl 97 also referred to as World Bowl V was the final game of the 1997 WLAF season in American football It was the fifth championship game of the World League of American Football WLAF and the third since the WLAF adopted a six team European format World Bowl 97Rhein Fire Barcelona Dragons24 381234 TotalRHE 31407 24BAR 141473 38DateSunday June 22 1997StadiumEstadi Olimpic de Montjuic Barcelona SpainMVPJon Kitna QuarterbackRefereePhil LuckettAttendance31 100TV in the United StatesNetworkFoxAnnouncersKevin Harlan Matt Millen and Bill Maas 96World Bowl 98 The game was held at Estadi Olimpic de Montjuic in Barcelona Spain on Sunday June 22 1997 The game was played between the 7 3 Rhein Fire and the 5 5 Barcelona Dragons 31 100 fans were in attendance as the Dragons won their first and only World Bowl title in franchise history by beating the Fire 38 24 Dragons quarterback Jon Kitna was given MVP honors after completing 23 of 31 attempts for 401 yards with two touchdowns and one interception Background editThe Dragons won the first meeting 27 12 in Dusseldorf while the Fire won the second meeting 38 23 in Barcelona Game summary editThe Rhein Fire managed to get the game s early sparks going as they had a nine play 46 yard drive that led to a 31 yard field goal by Manfred Burgsmuller However the Dragons would put up some real firepower as Dragons quarterback Jon Kitna led a four play 80 yard drive that was capped off with a 13 yard run by running back Terry Wilburn Then more than halfway through the first quarter as Rhein began a drive from deep in their own territory quarterback T J Rubley threw an interception towards Dragons safety Carlos Brooks who returned the ball 16 yards for a touchdown In the second quarter the fireworks managed to start flying Rubley would lead a seven play 39 yard drive and cap it off with a touchdown on a three yard quarterback sneak However Kitna and the Dragons would respond with a four play 79 yard drive that concluded with a 66 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marco Martos Then a little later in the quarter the Dragons would further increase their lead with a five play 80 yard drive that ended with a 40 yard pass to wide receiver Alfonzo Browning However the Rhein Fire refused to trail 28 10 at halftime Near the end of the half Rubley would lead a nine play 56 yard drive that concluded with him running the ball in for a touchdown on a one yard quarterback sneak In the third quarter both sides had their defenses stiffen throughout most of the quarter However the Dragons would eventually get an eight play 90 yard drive working for them as Terry Wilburn capped off the drive with a four yard touchdown run Trailing 35 17 heading into the fourth quarter the Rhein Fire had to get some points quick and fast Unfortunately for them the only score that they could get in the final quarter was a 22 yard pass from Rubley to wide receiver Sean Foster The Dragons then capped off their World Bowl title with a 34 yard field goal by Spanish kicker Jesus Angoy Scoring summaryQuarter Time Drive Team Scoring information ScorePlays Yards TOP Rhein Barcelona1 10 03 9 46 Rhein 31 yard field goal by Manfred Burgsmuller 3 01 8 26 4 80 Barcelona Terry Wilburn 13 yard touchdown run Jesus Angoy kick good 3 71 3 55 0 0 Barcelona Interception returned 16 yards for touchdown by Carlos Brooks Jesus Angoy kick good 3 142 14 02 7 39 Rhein T J Rubley 3 yard touchdown run Manfred Burgsmuller kick good 10 142 12 01 4 79 Barcelona Marco Martos 66 yard touchdown reception from Jon Kitna Jesus Angoy kick good 10 212 5 59 5 80 Barcelona Alfonzo Browning 40 yard touchdown reception from Jon Kitna Jesus Angoy kick good 10 282 1 47 9 56 Rhein T J Rubley 1 yard touchdown run Manfred Burgsmuller kick good 17 283 2 06 8 90 Barcelona Terry Wilburn 4 yard touchdown run Jesus Angoy kick good 17 354 13 31 8 71 Rhein Sean Foster 22 yard touchdown reception from T J Rubley Manfred Burgsmuller kick good 24 354 8 49 7 59 Barcelona 34 yard field goal by Jesus Angoy 24 38 TOP time of possession For other American football terms see Glossary of American football 24 38References edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title World Bowl 2797 amp oldid 1171194140, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
