World Bowl 91
Encyclopedia
World Bowl '91, also commonly referred to as World Bowl I, was the first annual championship game of the World League of American Football
. It took place June 9, 1991 at London's Wembley Stadium. The game featured a matchup between the Barcelona Dragons
and the London Monarchs
. The Monarchs would win 21-0 in front of 61,108 fans.
Both teams had to travel to North America to win their respective playoff games. The Dragons defeated the Birmingham Fire
(North American West champions), 10-3, while the Monarchs won 42-26 at North American East champion New York-New Jersey
(a road game forced by a scheduling conflict with a soccer match at Wembley Stadium).
Both Quarterbacks for the game, Scott Erney and Stan Gelbaugh, played high school football less than five minutes away from each other, at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High
and Cumberland Valley High School
.
Dana Brinson
fumbled the opening kickoff, and the Dragons took over on the Monarchs 18-yard line. However, the Monarchs defense shut down the Dragons offense, and London recovered a muffed field goal attempt (the first of 6 Dragon turnovers on the day). The teams traded possessions, with London taking over just before the end of the first quarter. Monarchs quarterback
Stan Gelbaugh
, who had finished the season as the league's offensive MVP
, hit Jon Horton with a 69 yard touchdown pass to give the Monarchs a 7-0 lead at the close of the 1st quarter. On the Dragons' next possession, quarterback Scott Erney was intercepted by Dan Crossman
, who returned his second pick of the game for a touchdown
. Crossman would add another interception later in the second quarter, setting up a 14 yard pass from Gelbaugh to Judd Garrett
, giving London a 21-0 lead and all the offense it would need.
Barcelona tried, but could not come back in the second half, as the hometown Monarchs won in front of a raucous London crowd. The crowd was also treated late in the game by the entry of running back
Victor Ebubedike, born in London and a member of the Monarchs as per WLAF rules; he would gain 3 yards on his only carry of the game.
The Monarchs' win turned out to be the only shutout in World Bowl
history. Judd Garrett finished the day with 13 receptions, a World Bowl record that would never be surpassed. Dan Crossman's 3 interceptions easily earned him the World Bowl MVP award, the only time a defensive player would be so honored.
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
. It took place June 9, 1991 at London's Wembley Stadium. The game featured a matchup between the Barcelona Dragons
Barcelona Dragons
The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
and the London Monarchs
London Monarchs
The London Monarchs were a professional American football team in NFL Europe and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football . The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs...
. The Monarchs would win 21-0 in front of 61,108 fans.
Background
Both teams finished the 1991 season with the two best records in the WLAF. The Monarchs' 9-1 mark qualified them for the playoffs as European division champions, while the Dragons finished 8-2 and qualified as a wildcard. The Monarchs' only blemish on their record came at the hands of the Dragons, 20-17, at Wembley Stadium on the last week of the regular season.Both teams had to travel to North America to win their respective playoff games. The Dragons defeated the Birmingham Fire
Birmingham Fire
The Birmingham Fire was a professional American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama that played in the World League of American Football in 1991 and 1992. The team played at Legion Field, and it made the playoffs in both seasons....
(North American West champions), 10-3, while the Monarchs won 42-26 at North American East champion New York-New Jersey
New York/New Jersey Knights
New York/New Jersey Knights was a franchise in the World League of American Football for the 1991 and 1992 seasons. They played in the North American East division, which they won in the 1991 season. They were coached by Mouse Davis, an architect of the Run & Shoot offense.After 1992 the NFL ...
(a road game forced by a scheduling conflict with a soccer match at Wembley Stadium).
Both Quarterbacks for the game, Scott Erney and Stan Gelbaugh, played high school football less than five minutes away from each other, at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High
Mechanicsburg Area Senior High
Mechanicsburg Area Senior High is a secondary school located on 500 South Broad Street in the borough of Mechanicsburg, west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania...
and Cumberland Valley High School
Cumberland Valley High School
Cumberland Valley High School is a coeducational public high school located within Cumberland Valley School District in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The school was founded in 1954. The mascot is an eagle....
.
Game summary
Barcelona started the game with excellent field position, as London wide receiverWide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Dana Brinson
Dana Brinson
Dana Brinson is a former professional American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eight round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
fumbled the opening kickoff, and the Dragons took over on the Monarchs 18-yard line. However, the Monarchs defense shut down the Dragons offense, and London recovered a muffed field goal attempt (the first of 6 Dragon turnovers on the day). The teams traded possessions, with London taking over just before the end of the first quarter. Monarchs quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Stan Gelbaugh
Stan Gelbaugh
Stanley Morris Gelbaugh is a former professional American football quarterback. Although he played several seasons in the National Football League, he attained his greatest success in the World League of American Football with the London Monarchs, where he was the league's Offensive Most Valuable...
, who had finished the season as the league's offensive MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
, hit Jon Horton with a 69 yard touchdown pass to give the Monarchs a 7-0 lead at the close of the 1st quarter. On the Dragons' next possession, quarterback Scott Erney was intercepted by Dan Crossman
Danny Crossman
Danny Crossman is an American football coach who is currently the special teams coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. Previously, he served in the same capacity for the Carolina Panthers .-Playing career:Crossman was a second-team all-America and all-Big East...
, who returned his second pick of the game for a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
. Crossman would add another interception later in the second quarter, setting up a 14 yard pass from Gelbaugh to Judd Garrett
Judd Garrett
Judd Garrett is an American football coach and former running back. He is currently the director of pro scouting for the Dallas Cowboys.-Early years:...
, giving London a 21-0 lead and all the offense it would need.
Barcelona tried, but could not come back in the second half, as the hometown Monarchs won in front of a raucous London crowd. The crowd was also treated late in the game by the entry of running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Victor Ebubedike, born in London and a member of the Monarchs as per WLAF rules; he would gain 3 yards on his only carry of the game.
The Monarchs' win turned out to be the only shutout in World Bowl
World Bowl
The World Bowl was the American football Championship game of NFL Europe, similar to the Super Bowl of the National Football League.The World Bowl trophy itself was a globe made of glass measuring 35.5 cm in diameter and weighing 18.6 kg .-World League of American Football:When NFL Europe was...
history. Judd Garrett finished the day with 13 receptions, a World Bowl record that would never be surpassed. Dan Crossman's 3 interceptions easily earned him the World Bowl MVP award, the only time a defensive player would be so honored.
Scoring summary
- London - TD Horton 59 yd pass from Gelbaugh (Alexander kick) - 15:00 elapsed 1st Qtr
- London - TD Crossman 20 yd interception return (Alexander kick) - 2:42 elapsed 2nd Qtr
- London - TD Garrett 14 yd pass from Gelbaugh (Alexander kick) - 14:17 elapsed 2nd Qtr