World Bowl XV
Encyclopedia
World Bowl
XV was NFL Europa's 2007 championship game, and the final game in the league's history. It was played at Commerzbank-Arena
in Frankfurt, Germany
on Saturday, June 23, 2007. The defending World Bowl champion Frankfurt Galaxy
(7-3) hosted the Hamburg Sea Devils
(7-3) in their own home stadium.
The game marked the third time that Frankfurt hosted the World Bowl. They were the host of World Bowl VI
in 1998 and of World Bowl VIII
in 2000.
World Bowl XV was the only World Bowl under the new NFL Europa branding. It was also the first World Bowl appearance for the Sea Devils, while the Galaxy made their 8th appearance, extending the record they already held.
Meat Loaf
and Neverland Express
served as the game's pregame show performance. The United States Army Europe Band and Chorus from Heidelberg Germany served as the game's half time show performance.
The Sea Devils won their first World Bowl championship with a 37-28 win, becoming the highest scoring World Bowl in league history (65 total points). QB Casey Bramlet
took MVP honors by completing 20 out of 27 passes for 347 yards and he threw a World Bowl record 4 touchdown passes. 48,125 people were in attendance.
completing a 3-yard TD pass to WR Justin Jenkins (followed with a failed PAT). Afterwards, Bramlet went right back to work with a 35-yard flea-flicker TD pass to WR Marcus Maxwell
. In the second quarter, the Galaxy finally got going with QB J.T. O'Sullivan completing a 24-yard TD pass to WR Brandon Middleton
, but Hamburg responded with RB Jermaine Allen
getting a 33-yard TD run. Frankfurt answered with RB Decori Birmingham
getting a 5-yard TD run, yet the Sea Devils closed out the half with kicker Shane Andrus
getting a 24-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Galaxy played some catch-up with O'Sullivan completing a 24-TD pass to WR Robert Ortiz
. However, Hamburg would eventually respond with Bramlet completing a 51-yard TD pass to WR Josh Davis
. Frankfurt would eventually get one last score with RB Sha-ron Edwards getting a 2-yard TD run at the end of the third quarter. However, in the fourth quarter, the Sea Devils took control for the rest of the game. They would get the only score of the quarter with Bramlet hooking up again with Maxwell on a 10-yard TD pass. With the win, Hamburg stripped the Galaxy of their championship title and won their first World Bowl title in their three-year history. The win also marked the fourth-straight year that a team lost in the World Bowl after having won the title in the previous year.
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...
XV was NFL Europa's 2007 championship game, and the final game in the league's history. It was played at Commerzbank-Arena
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, Germany
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...
on Saturday, June 23, 2007. The defending World Bowl champion 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...
(7-3) hosted the Hamburg Sea Devils
Hamburg Sea Devils
The Hamburg Sea Devils were an American football team that began play in NFL Europa from 2005 to 2007. They played their home games at Hamburg's AOL Arena . They played their first game on April 2, 2005 losing 24-23 to the Cologne Centurions...
(7-3) in their own home stadium.
The game marked the third time that Frankfurt hosted the World Bowl. They were the host of World Bowl VI
World Bowl VI
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...
in 1998 and of World Bowl VIII
World Bowl VIII
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...
in 2000.
World Bowl XV was the only World Bowl under the new NFL Europa branding. It was also the first World Bowl appearance for the Sea Devils, while the Galaxy made their 8th appearance, extending the record they already held.
Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
and Neverland Express
Neverland Express
The Neverland Express is the name for Meat Loaf's live band. The name is most likely taken from Jim Steinman's affinity for Peter Pan.This list does not contain guest members.-Current lineup:Paul Crook: Lead Guitars: Guitars, VocalsDanny Miranda: Bass...
served as the game's pregame show performance. The United States Army Europe Band and Chorus from Heidelberg Germany served as the game's half time show performance.
The Sea Devils won their first World Bowl championship with a 37-28 win, becoming the highest scoring World Bowl in league history (65 total points). QB Casey Bramlet
Casey Bramlet
Casey Bramlet was a professional gridiron football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
took MVP honors by completing 20 out of 27 passes for 347 yards and he threw a World Bowl record 4 touchdown passes. 48,125 people were in attendance.
Background
The Galaxy won the first meeting 20-17 in Frankfurt, while the Sea Devils took the second meeting 36-31 in Hamburg.Game summary
The Sea Devils drew first blood with QB Casey BramletCasey Bramlet
Casey Bramlet was a professional gridiron football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
completing a 3-yard TD pass to WR Justin Jenkins (followed with a failed PAT). Afterwards, Bramlet went right back to work with a 35-yard flea-flicker TD pass to WR Marcus Maxwell
Marcus Maxwell
Marcus James Maxwell is an American football wide receiver for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
. In the second quarter, the Galaxy finally got going with QB J.T. O'Sullivan completing a 24-yard TD pass to WR Brandon Middleton
Brandon Middleton
Brandon Anthony Middleton is a professional gridiron football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Houston....
, but Hamburg responded with RB Jermaine Allen
Jermaine Allen
Jermaine Allen is an American Football running back who is active for the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes since December 2009. He was signed by the London Olympians in 2005...
getting a 33-yard TD run. Frankfurt answered with RB Decori Birmingham
DeCori Birmingham
DeCori Birmingham is a former professional gridiron football running back. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
getting a 5-yard TD run, yet the Sea Devils closed out the half with kicker Shane Andrus
Shane Andrus
Shane Andrus is an American football placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
getting a 24-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Galaxy played some catch-up with O'Sullivan completing a 24-TD pass to WR Robert Ortiz
Robert Ortiz (American football)
Robert J. Ortiz is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
. However, Hamburg would eventually respond with Bramlet completing a 51-yard TD pass to WR Josh Davis
Josh Davis (American football)
Josh Davis is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Marshall....
. Frankfurt would eventually get one last score with RB Sha-ron Edwards getting a 2-yard TD run at the end of the third quarter. However, in the fourth quarter, the Sea Devils took control for the rest of the game. They would get the only score of the quarter with Bramlet hooking up again with Maxwell on a 10-yard TD pass. With the win, Hamburg stripped the Galaxy of their championship title and won their first World Bowl title in their three-year history. The win also marked the fourth-straight year that a team lost in the World Bowl after having won the title in the previous year.
Scoring summary
- Hamburg - TD Jenkins 3 yd pass from Bramlet (PAT failed) 8:04 1st
- Hamburg - TD Maxwell 35 yd pass from Bramlet 3:28 1st
- Frankfurt - TD Middleton 24 yd pass from O'Sullivan 12:28 2nd
- Hamburg - TD Allen 33 yd run 7:56 2nd
- Frankfurt - TD Birmingham 5 yd run 4:28 2nd
- Hamburg - FG Andrus 24 yd 0:03 2nd
- Frankfurt - TD Ortiz 24 yd pass from O'Sullivan 11:35 3rd
- Hamburg - TD Davis 51 yd pass from Bramlet 4:27 3rd
- Frankfurt - TD Edwards 2 yd run 0:00 3rd
- Hamburg - TD Maxwell 10 yd pass from Bramlet 10:55 4th
External links
- NFLEurope.com - Official league website
- Yello Strom World Bowl XV in Frankfurt
- World Bowl XV Article
- World Bowl XV Stats