World Bowl VI
Encyclopedia
World Bowl '98 was NFL Europe's 1998 championship game, located at Waldstadion
in Frankfurt
, Germany
. On June 14, 1998, the 7-3 Rhein Fire
went up against the 7-3 Frankfurt Galaxy
for the NFL Europe title. 47,846 fans were in attendance (which was the largest World Bowl crowd since 1991), as the Fire was able to avenge last year's World Bowl collapse by winning 34-10. Fire QB Jim Arellanes managed to fill in for the injured Mike Quinn
and earn MVP honors on his first official start by going 12 of 18 for 263 Yards with 3 Touchdowns and No Interceptions.
, it was Jim Arellanes and for the Frankfurt Galaxy
, it was Chris Dittoe. Even in the thrashing rain, the Fire managed to light first with a 29-yard field goal by Manny Burgsmüller
. Then, near the end of the first quarter, Arellanes led his Fire on a 10-play, 67-yard drive that was capped off with a 15-yard pass to WR Dialleo Burks. In the second quarter, the Galaxy finally managed to score, thanks to a 13-play, 80-yard drive that concluded with a 3-yard run by RB Jermaine Chaney. However, near the end of the first half, the Fire didn't want Frankfurt closing in on them, as Arellanes lead a 4-play, 40-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard TD pass to Burks, to make the score 17-7 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Galaxy struggled offensively to get points. In the end, all they could muster up was a 41-yard field goal by Ralf Kleinmann
. For the remainder of the game, it was all Rhein. After Frankfurt's field goal, the Fire wrapped up the third period with a 74-yard TD pass from Arellanes to WR Marcus Robinson. In the fourth quarter, the Fire managed to put the game away with Burgsmuller's 20-yard field goal and Jon Vaughn
's 15-yard run. When the game clock reached 0:00, the Fire celebrated their first-ever World Bowl title.
Commerzbank-Arena
The Commerzbank-Arena is a sports stadium in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. Commonly known by its original name, Waldstadion , the stadium opened in 1925. The stadium has been upgraded several times since then; the most recent remodelling was its redevelopment as a football-only stadium in preparation...
in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. On June 14, 1998, 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...
went up against the 7-3 Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
for the NFL Europe title. 47,846 fans were in attendance (which was the largest World Bowl crowd since 1991), as the Fire was able to avenge last year's World Bowl collapse by winning 34-10. Fire QB Jim Arellanes managed to fill in for the injured Mike Quinn
Mike Quinn
Michael Patrick Quinn is a former professional gridiron football quarterback. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 1997 and was also a member of the Rhein Fire, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Montreal Alouettes...
and earn MVP honors on his first official start by going 12 of 18 for 263 Yards with 3 Touchdowns and No Interceptions.
Background
The Fire won the first meeting 31-14 in Frankfurt, while the Galaxy took the second meeting 20-17 (OT) in Düsseldorf.Game summary
In this World Bowl, two back-up QB's were given the starting job for NFL Europe's biggest stage. For the Rhein FireRhein 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...
, it was Jim Arellanes and for the Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
, it was Chris Dittoe. Even in the thrashing rain, the Fire managed to light first with a 29-yard field goal by Manny Burgsmüller
Manfred Burgsmüller
Manfred "Manni" Burgsmüller is a retired German footballer who played mainly as a striker – he could occasionally operate as a midfielder....
. Then, near the end of the first quarter, Arellanes led his Fire on a 10-play, 67-yard drive that was capped off with a 15-yard pass to WR Dialleo Burks. In the second quarter, the Galaxy finally managed to score, thanks to a 13-play, 80-yard drive that concluded with a 3-yard run by RB Jermaine Chaney. However, near the end of the first half, the Fire didn't want Frankfurt closing in on them, as Arellanes lead a 4-play, 40-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard TD pass to Burks, to make the score 17-7 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Galaxy struggled offensively to get points. In the end, all they could muster up was a 41-yard field goal by Ralf Kleinmann
Ralf Kleinmann
Ralf Kleinmann is an American football player from Germany who played as a placeckicker for NFL Europe team Frankfurt Galaxy from 1995-2000 and 2003-2004. He also played briefly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 preseason before being released in late August 2003.-References:...
. For the remainder of the game, it was all Rhein. After Frankfurt's field goal, the Fire wrapped up the third period with a 74-yard TD pass from Arellanes to WR Marcus Robinson. In the fourth quarter, the Fire managed to put the game away with Burgsmuller's 20-yard field goal and Jon Vaughn
Jon Vaughn
Jonathan Stewart Vaughn is a former professional American football player who played running back and served as a kick returner in the National Football League for 4 seasons from 1991 to 1994 for the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs...
's 15-yard run. When the game clock reached 0:00, the Fire celebrated their first-ever World Bowl title.
Scoring summary
- Rhein - FG Burgsmüller 29 yd 4:13 1st
- Rhein - TD Burks 15 yd pass from Arellanes 12:29 1st
- Frankfurt - TD Chaney 3 yd run 4:13 2nd
- Rhein - TD Burks 20 yd pass from Arellanes 11:24 2nd
- Frankfurt - FG Kleinmann 41 yd 2:22 3rd
- Rhein - TD Robinson 74 yd pass from Arellanes 3:52 3rd
- Rhein - FG Burgsmüller 20 yd 11:01 4th
- Rhein - TD Vaughn 15 yd run 13:07 4th