World Bowl XI
Encyclopedia
World Bowl XI was NFL Europe's 2003 championship game. It was played at Hampden Park
in Glasgow, Scotland on June 14, 2003. The game was between the 6-4 Rhein Fire
and the 6-4 Frankfurt Galaxy
. The Fire was hoping to avenge last year's loss to Berlin
, while the Galaxy was looking for their first World Bowl title since 1999. 28,138 fans were in attendance, as the Galaxy easily won 35-16 over the Fire. Galaxy running back
Jonas Lewis earned Most Valuable Player
honors, when he ran 16 times for 126 yards (World Bowl record) and a touchdown, with his longest run being 42 yards.
James Brown led his team 8-play, 79-yard drive that ended with Lewis running the ball in from a yard out. The Fire tried to responded with a touchdown, but Frankfurt's defense made them settle for a 39-yard field goal by Todd France
. In the second quarter, after the Fire goofed a punt attempt, Frankfurt quarterback Quinn Gray
led his team on a 3-play, 15-yard drive and he concluded it with a 10-yard pass to wide receiver
Marc Lester. Again, the Fire tried to respond with a touchdown of their own, but again, the Galaxy defense made them settle for another field goal, which was a 31-yarder by Ingo Anderbrügge
. Afterwards, the Galaxy would quickly respond with a 3-play, 79-yard drive that ended with running back Robert Gillespie
running 29 yards for a touchdown. With only two minutes left until halftime, the Fire desperately needed a touchdown to keep up with Frankfurt. At first, their drive showed promise as they started from their own 44-yard line and managed to get to Frankfurt's 9-yard line. Unfortunately, the drive stalled once the Fire got there and they had to settle for 27-yard field goal by Anderbrügge. At halftime, the Galaxy had a comfortable 25-9 lead over the Fire. In the third quarter, Rhein got the ball to begin the second half and on their opening drive and the Fire managed to get to Frankfurt's 1-yard line. However, they failed to get the ball in on 3rd & goal. Then, on 4th & goal, Fire center
Dustin Keith fumbled the ball and Galaxy defensive tackle Daniel Benetka managed to recover the ball, preventing Rhein from another touchdown opportunity. After Benetka got the ball for Frankfurt, Brown lead his team on a 10-play, 99-yard drive that ended with running back
Adam Tate running in for a 1-yard touchdown strike. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Fire trailed 32-9 and only a miracle could save any hope of Rhein winning another World Bowl title. Alas, the Galaxy would just kick a 34-yard field goal by Ralf Kleinmann
to increase their lead and make the score 35-9. Even though the Rhein Fire would finally respond with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Chris Greisen
to Dwayne Blakely, it was too little, too late for the Fire. When the official clock reached 00:00, the Galaxy celebrated their third World Bowl victory in franchise history.
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
in Glasgow, Scotland on June 14, 2003. The game was between the 6-4 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 6-4 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...
. The Fire was hoping to avenge last year's loss to Berlin
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...
, while the Galaxy was looking for their first World Bowl title since 1999. 28,138 fans were in attendance, as the Galaxy easily won 35-16 over the Fire. Galaxy 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...
Jonas Lewis earned Most Valuable Player
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...
honors, when he ran 16 times for 126 yards (World Bowl record) and a touchdown, with his longest run being 42 yards.
Background
The Fire won the first meeting 14-7 in Düsseldorf, while the Galaxy won the second meeting 38-7 in Frankfurt.Game summary
The Galaxy drew first blood with a 4-point field goal, which was Jon Hilbert's 53-yard attempt. On their next attempt, Galaxy quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
James Brown led his team 8-play, 79-yard drive that ended with Lewis running the ball in from a yard out. The Fire tried to responded with a touchdown, but Frankfurt's defense made them settle for a 39-yard field goal by Todd France
Todd France
Todd M. France is a placekicker in the Arena Football League. He currently kicks for the Orlando Predators . In the National Football League he kicked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Giants, and the Philadelphia Eagles...
. In the second quarter, after the Fire goofed a punt attempt, Frankfurt quarterback Quinn Gray
Quinn Gray
Quinn F. Gray, Sr. is a former American football quarterback who played for four seasons in the National Football League and one season each in the United Football League and NFL Europe. He played for the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2003, the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2005–2007, the Kansas City...
led his team on a 3-play, 15-yard drive and he concluded it with a 10-yard pass to wide receiver
Wide 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...
Marc Lester. Again, the Fire tried to respond with a touchdown of their own, but again, the Galaxy defense made them settle for another field goal, which was a 31-yarder by Ingo Anderbrügge
Ingo Anderbrügge
Ingo Anderbrügge is a retired German footballer who played mostly as an attacking midfielder.-Football career:...
. Afterwards, the Galaxy would quickly respond with a 3-play, 79-yard drive that ended with running back Robert Gillespie
Robert Gillespie
Robert Gillespie is a British actor.He was brought up in Nantes until his parents moved to Manchester, having arrived in Plymouth in 1940...
running 29 yards for a touchdown. With only two minutes left until halftime, the Fire desperately needed a touchdown to keep up with Frankfurt. At first, their drive showed promise as they started from their own 44-yard line and managed to get to Frankfurt's 9-yard line. Unfortunately, the drive stalled once the Fire got there and they had to settle for 27-yard field goal by Anderbrügge. At halftime, the Galaxy had a comfortable 25-9 lead over the Fire. In the third quarter, Rhein got the ball to begin the second half and on their opening drive and the Fire managed to get to Frankfurt's 1-yard line. However, they failed to get the ball in on 3rd & goal. Then, on 4th & goal, Fire center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
Dustin Keith fumbled the ball and Galaxy defensive tackle Daniel Benetka managed to recover the ball, preventing Rhein from another touchdown opportunity. After Benetka got the ball for Frankfurt, Brown lead his team on a 10-play, 99-yard drive that ended with 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...
Adam Tate running in for a 1-yard touchdown strike. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Fire trailed 32-9 and only a miracle could save any hope of Rhein winning another World Bowl title. Alas, the Galaxy would just kick a 34-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:...
to increase their lead and make the score 35-9. Even though the Rhein Fire would finally respond with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Chris Greisen
Chris Greisen
Christopher J. Greisen is an American football quarterback for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Northwest Missouri State...
to Dwayne Blakely, it was too little, too late for the Fire. When the official clock reached 00:00, the Galaxy celebrated their third World Bowl victory in franchise history.
Scoring summary
- Frankfurt - 4-Point FG Hilbert 53 yd 2:55 1st
- Frankfurt - TD Lewis 1 yd 9:18 1st
- Rhein - FG France 39 yd 14:04 1st
- Frankfurt - TD Lester 20 yd pass from Gray 5:07 2nd
- Rhein - FG Anderbrügge 31 yd 11:18 2nd
- Frankfurt - TD Gillespie 29 yd run 12:54 2nd
- Rhein - FG Anderbrügge 27 yd 15:00 2nd
- Frankfurt - TD Tate 1 yd run 11:47 3rd
- Frankfurt - FG Kleinmann 34 yd 10:23 4th
- Rhein - TD Blakley 47 yd pass from Greisen 13:05 4th