World Bowl V
Encyclopedia
World Bowl '97 was NFL Europe's 1997 championship game. The game was played at Estadi Olimpic de Montjuic
in Barcelona, Spain on June 22, 1997. This World Bowl
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 QB Jon Kitna
was given MVP honors, by going 23 of 31 for 401 Yards with 2 Touchdowns and only 1 Interception.
led a 4-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off with a 13-yard run by Terry Wilburn. Then, more than halfway through the first quarter, as Rhein began a drive from deep in their own territory, Fire QB 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 7-play, 39-yard drive and cap it off with a touchdown on a 3-yard QB sneak. However, Kitna and the Dragons would respond with a 4-play, 79-yard drive that concluded with a 66-yard TD pass to WR Marcos Martos. Then, a little later in the quarter, the Dragons would further increase their lead with a 5-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 40-yard pass to WR Alfonzo Browning. However, the Rhein Fire refused to trail 28-10 at halftime. Near the end of the half, Rubley would lead a 9-play, 56-yard drive that concluded with him running the ball in for a touchdown on a 1-yard QB sneak. In the third quarter, both sides had their defenses stiffen throughout most of the quarter. However, the Dragons would eventually get an 8-play, 90-yard drive working for them, as RB Terry Wilburn capped off the drive with a 4-yard TD 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 WR Sean Foster. The Dragons then capped off their World Bowl title with a 34-yard field goal by Jesus Angoy. Eric Naposki had 1.5 sacks 7 solo tackles, 3 assited and a fumble recovery in this game.
Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys is a stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Originally built in 1927 for the 1929 International Exposition in the city , it was renovated in 1989 to be the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics...
in Barcelona, Spain on June 22, 1997. This 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...
was played between the 7-3 Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
and the 5-5 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...
. 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 QB Jon Kitna
Jon Kitna
Jon K. Kitna is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
was given MVP honors, by going 23 of 31 for 401 Yards with 2 Touchdowns and only 1 Interception.
Background
The Dragons won the first meeting 27-12 in Düsseldorf, while the Fire won the second meeting 38-23 in Barcelona.Game summary
The Rhein Fire managed to get the game's early sparks going as they had a 9-play, 46-yard drive that led to a 31-yard field goal by Manfred Burgsmüller. However, the Dragons would put up some real fire power, as Dragons QB Jon KitnaJon Kitna
Jon K. Kitna is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
led a 4-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off with a 13-yard run by Terry Wilburn. Then, more than halfway through the first quarter, as Rhein began a drive from deep in their own territory, Fire QB T. J. Rubley
T. J. Rubley
Theron Joseph "T. J." Rubley , is an American former professional football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 9th round of the 1992 NFL Draft. Rubley is a 1987 graduate of Davenport West High School. A 6'3", 205-lb. quarterback from the University of Tulsa, Rubley saw action in...
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 7-play, 39-yard drive and cap it off with a touchdown on a 3-yard QB sneak. However, Kitna and the Dragons would respond with a 4-play, 79-yard drive that concluded with a 66-yard TD pass to WR Marcos Martos. Then, a little later in the quarter, the Dragons would further increase their lead with a 5-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 40-yard pass to WR Alfonzo Browning. However, the Rhein Fire refused to trail 28-10 at halftime. Near the end of the half, Rubley would lead a 9-play, 56-yard drive that concluded with him running the ball in for a touchdown on a 1-yard QB sneak. In the third quarter, both sides had their defenses stiffen throughout most of the quarter. However, the Dragons would eventually get an 8-play, 90-yard drive working for them, as RB Terry Wilburn capped off the drive with a 4-yard TD 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 WR Sean Foster. The Dragons then capped off their World Bowl title with a 34-yard field goal by Jesus Angoy. Eric Naposki had 1.5 sacks 7 solo tackles, 3 assited and a fumble recovery in this game.
Scoring summary
- Rhein - FG Burgsmüller 31 yd 4:47 1st
- Barcelona - TD Wilburn 13 yd run 6:34 1st
- Barcelona - TD Brooks 16 yd INT return 11:05 1st
- Rhein - TD Rubley 3 yd run 0:58 2nd
- Barcelona - TD Martos 66 yd pass from Kitna 2:59 2nd
- Barcelona - TD Browning 40 yd pass from Kitna 9:01 2nd
- Rhein - TD Rubley 1 yd run 13:13 2nd
- Barcelona - TD Wilburn 4 yd run 12:54 3rd
- Rhein - TD Foster 22 yd pass from Rubley 1:29 4th
- Barcelona - FG Angoy 34 yd 6:11 4th