World Bowl VIII
Encyclopedia
World Bowl 2000 was NFL Europe's championship game, which would bring an end to the 2000 NFL Europe season. Played at Waldstadion
in Frankfurt
, Germany
on June 25, 2000, the match-up was between the 6-4 Scottish Claymores
and the 7-3 Rhein Fire
. 35,860 fans were in attendance to witness the Fire coming from behind to win a close match-up 13-10 in the second-lowest scoring World Bowl played (only the inaugural World Bowl
yielding fewer points). Fire QB Danny Wuerffel
took home MVP honors, despite going 12 of 30 for 90 yards with no touchdowns and 2 Interceptions.
. In the second quarter, the Claymores increased their lead by going 52 yards on 12 plays, yet ending up with a 32-yard field goal by Rob Hart. The Fire managed to respond on an 8-play, 34-yard drive, but the Claymore defense made Rhein settle for a 23-yard field goal by Burgsmuller. Heading into halftime, the Claymores led 10-6 and feeling confident that they would win another championship title. In the second half of the game, both sides failed to score a single point in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, it seemed like the Claymores had the game all but won. However, the Fire refused to go down without a fight. Getting the ball with 5:07 left on the clock, Fire QB Danny Wuerffel led his team on an 8-play, 43-yard drive that was not only time-consuming, but Fire RB Pepe Pearson scored the game-winning touchdown from a yard out. Even though the Claymores got the ball back and managed to gel some reasonable yardage, Hart's 40-yard field goal attempt (which would have tied the game up) went wide left, preserving Rhein's small lead and giving them their second World Bowl title in three years.
World Bowl 2000 was the final game in charge for the two head coaches, who up until then had each taken charge of every game in team history. Both would depart for the newly-created XFL
, with Rhein's Galen Hall
taking charge of the Orlando Rage
and Scotland's Jim Criner
at the Las Vegas Outlaws
.
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 25, 2000, the match-up was between the 6-4 Scottish Claymores
Scottish Claymores
The Scottish Claymores were an American football team from Scotland. The franchise played in the World League of American Football between 1995 and 2004, initially playing all home games at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh and latterly sharing home games with Hampden Park, Glasgow...
and 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...
. 35,860 fans were in attendance to witness the Fire coming from behind to win a close match-up 13-10 in the second-lowest scoring World Bowl played (only the inaugural World Bowl
World Bowl 91
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...
yielding fewer points). Fire QB Danny Wuerffel
Danny Wuerffel
Daniel Carl "Danny" Wuerffel is a former American college and professional football player who won the 1996 Heisman Trophy and the 1996 national football championship while playing college football for the University of Florida. After graduating from Florida, he played for four National Football...
took home MVP honors, despite going 12 of 30 for 90 yards with no touchdowns and 2 Interceptions.
Background
The Fire won the first meeting 22-10 in Düsseldorf, while the Claymores won the second meeting 31-24 in Scotland.Game summary
In this low-scoring affair, the Rhein Fire struck first when they went 51 yards on 11 plays in the opening drive, but they could only come up with a 21-yard field goal by Manfred Burgsmuller. The Claymores responded with their opening drive, by going 75 yards on only three plays and gracefully capping it off with a 36-yard run by RB Aaron SteckerAaron Stecker
Aaron Stecker is a former American football running back. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Western Illinois....
. In the second quarter, the Claymores increased their lead by going 52 yards on 12 plays, yet ending up with a 32-yard field goal by Rob Hart. The Fire managed to respond on an 8-play, 34-yard drive, but the Claymore defense made Rhein settle for a 23-yard field goal by Burgsmuller. Heading into halftime, the Claymores led 10-6 and feeling confident that they would win another championship title. In the second half of the game, both sides failed to score a single point in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, it seemed like the Claymores had the game all but won. However, the Fire refused to go down without a fight. Getting the ball with 5:07 left on the clock, Fire QB Danny Wuerffel led his team on an 8-play, 43-yard drive that was not only time-consuming, but Fire RB Pepe Pearson scored the game-winning touchdown from a yard out. Even though the Claymores got the ball back and managed to gel some reasonable yardage, Hart's 40-yard field goal attempt (which would have tied the game up) went wide left, preserving Rhein's small lead and giving them their second World Bowl title in three years.
World Bowl 2000 was the final game in charge for the two head coaches, who up until then had each taken charge of every game in team history. Both would depart for the newly-created XFL
XFL
The XFL was a professional American football league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WWE...
, with Rhein's Galen Hall
Galen Hall
Galen Samuel Hall is an American college and professional football coach and former player. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and an alumnus of Penn State University, where he played college football...
taking charge of the Orlando Rage
Orlando Rage
-Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:...
and Scotland's Jim Criner
Jim Criner
Jim Criner is a former American football player and coach in the United States. He served as the head football coach at Boise State University from 1976 to 1982 and at Iowa State University from 1983 to 1986, compiling a career college football record of 76–46–3...
at the Las Vegas Outlaws
Las Vegas Outlaws
The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax...
.
Scoring summary
- Rhein - FG Burgsmuller 21 yd 5:12 1st
- Scotland - TD Stecker 36 yd run 6:22 1st
- Scotland - FG Hart 32 yd 5:57 2nd
- Rhein - FG Burgsmuller 23 yd 10:01 2nd
- Rhein - TD Pearson 1 yd run 13:48 4th