World Bowl X
Encyclopedia
World Bowl X was NFL Europe's 2002 championship game. The game was played at Rheinstadion
in Düsseldorf, Germany
on June 22, 2002. It would be the final event held at Rheinstadion before its demolition.
In this game, the defending champion Berlin Thunder
were hoping to protect their title after going through another 6-4 season. This time, their opponent was the 7-3 Rhein Fire
, who won the World Bowl
in 2000 and were hoping to take home another title. There were 53,109 fans in attendance (the largest World Bowl crowd since 1998), who witnessed NFL Europe history. The Berlin Thunder became the very first NFL Europe team to win back-to-back World Bowls, thanks to their 26-20 victory over the Fire. Thunder WR Dane Looker
was given MVP honors, after having 11 receptions for 111 yards and 2 Touchdowns, with his longest reception being 41 Yards.
's pass, setting up a 47-yard field goal by Danny Boyd. On their next drive, Thunder QB Todd Husak led an 8-play, 85-yard drive that was capped off with a 41-yard pass to WR Dane Looker. On their next possession (which would be the last one of the quarter), the Thunder failed on three passes to turn an interception into a touchdown. So, they had to settle for a 27-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Berlin's defense prevented the Rhein Fire from getting some needed heat and the Thunder offense managed to get a touchdown near the end of the half, thanks to a 15-yard pass from Husak to Looker. With that touchdown, Berlin entered halftime with a commanding 20-0 lead. In the third quarter, the Fire finally managed to score, thanks to RB Tony Taylor getting an 8-yard TD run. However, the Thunder responded with Boyd's 45-yard field goal. Trailing 23-7 entering the fourth quarter, the Rhein Fire needed points and they needed them fast. The Fire's next touchdown would come from a 2-yard pass from Tee Martin to Scott Cloman. Unfortunately, the two-point conversion pass to Oyeniran Odunayo Ojo failed. To make it even worse, the Thunder responded with a 38-yard field goal by Boyd. Near the end of the game, Fire QB Tee Martin ran in a 1-yard TD. However, by that point of the game, that touchdown meant nothing, since they failed to overcome a huge deficit. When the official clock reached 00:00, the Thunder celebrated their second championship, which was also their first back-to-back championship title.
Rheinstadion
The Rheinstadion was a multi-purpose stadium, in Düsseldorf, Germany. The stadium was built, near the Rhine, in 1926 and held 55,900 people, at the end of its life....
in Düsseldorf, Germany
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
on June 22, 2002. It would be the final event held at Rheinstadion before its demolition.
In this game, the defending champion Berlin Thunder
Berlin Thunder
The Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe, which was a springtime American football league serving primarily as a developmental league for the National Football League. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive...
were hoping to protect their title after going through another 6-4 season. This time, their opponent was 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...
, who won the 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...
in 2000 and were hoping to take home another title. There were 53,109 fans in attendance (the largest World Bowl crowd since 1998), who witnessed NFL Europe history. The Berlin Thunder became the very first NFL Europe team to win back-to-back World Bowls, thanks to their 26-20 victory over the Fire. Thunder WR Dane Looker
Dane Looker
Dane Alan Looker is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2000...
was given MVP honors, after having 11 receptions for 111 yards and 2 Touchdowns, with his longest reception being 41 Yards.
Background
The Fire swept the regular season series against the Thunder (20-16 in Berlin & 24-14 in Düsseldorf).Game summary
Rhein's opening drive came to an abrupt end on the just the second play from scrimmage, as Thunder DE Dwayne Missouri intercepted Fire QB Tee MartinTee Martin
Tamaurice Nigel "Tee" Martin is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League and Canadian Football League...
's pass, setting up a 47-yard field goal by Danny Boyd. On their next drive, Thunder QB Todd Husak led an 8-play, 85-yard drive that was capped off with a 41-yard pass to WR Dane Looker. On their next possession (which would be the last one of the quarter), the Thunder failed on three passes to turn an interception into a touchdown. So, they had to settle for a 27-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Berlin's defense prevented the Rhein Fire from getting some needed heat and the Thunder offense managed to get a touchdown near the end of the half, thanks to a 15-yard pass from Husak to Looker. With that touchdown, Berlin entered halftime with a commanding 20-0 lead. In the third quarter, the Fire finally managed to score, thanks to RB Tony Taylor getting an 8-yard TD run. However, the Thunder responded with Boyd's 45-yard field goal. Trailing 23-7 entering the fourth quarter, the Rhein Fire needed points and they needed them fast. The Fire's next touchdown would come from a 2-yard pass from Tee Martin to Scott Cloman. Unfortunately, the two-point conversion pass to Oyeniran Odunayo Ojo failed. To make it even worse, the Thunder responded with a 38-yard field goal by Boyd. Near the end of the game, Fire QB Tee Martin ran in a 1-yard TD. However, by that point of the game, that touchdown meant nothing, since they failed to overcome a huge deficit. When the official clock reached 00:00, the Thunder celebrated their second championship, which was also their first back-to-back championship title.
Scoring summary
- Berlin - FG Boyd 47 yd 3:28 1st
- Berlin - TD Looker 41 yd pass from Husak 9:59 1st
- Berlin - FG Kruse 27 yd 14:01 1st
- Berlin - TD Looker 15 yd pass from Husak 13:04 2nd
- Rhein - TD Taylor 6 yd run 10:21 3rd
- Berlin - FG Boyd 45 yd 14:34 3rd
- Rhein - TD Cloman 2 yd pass from Martin (Two-Point Failed)
- Berlin - FG Boyd 38 yd pass 7:00 4th
- Rhein - TD Martin 1 yd run 14:40 4th