World Bowl II
Encyclopedia
World Bowl '92 was the WLAF's
second championship game, played on June 6, 1992 at Olympic Stadium
in Montréal, Quebec
, Canada
. 43,789 witnessed the matchup between the Sacramento Surge
and the Orlando Thunder
.
The Surge won the game, 21-17, behind QB David Archer's
MVP performance (22 of 33 for 286 Yards with 2 Touchdowns and 1 Interception). The game would be the only World Bowl
involving two North American-based WLAF
teams, as well as the only World Bowl played on North American soil. It would also be the last game either team would play, and the last WLAF game until 1995 as the league sought to restructure.
45-7 in the playoff semifinal round, while North American West champ Sacramento defeated Barcelona
, 17-15.
Both sides failed to score in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Archer was finally able to get the Surge's offense going. He led a 10-play, 85-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard TD pass to TE Paul Green in the back of the end zone. After that touchdown, Archer completed a two-point conversion
pass to Mark Stock, allowing the Surge to trail by three points (17-14 Thunder). Afterwards, both sides had missed opportunities. A good-looking Thunder drive fell apart as Mitchell fumbled the ball as he got hit in the backfield. The Surge couldn't capitalize on the fumble recovery as their possession ended with a missed field goal attempt. Afterwards, Orland tried to put together a time-consuming drive that would drain some time and increase their lead, but thanks to the Surge pass rush, Mitchell was intercepted by Surge LB Mike Jones, who returned the ball to Orlando's 34-yard line. Sacramento capitalized on the opportunity as Archer completed a 31-yard pass to RB Mike hill the start of a 4-play, 34-yard drive that ended with a game-winning 2-yard TD pass from Archer to Eddie Brown (perfect redemption for his fumbled 1st Half punt). Afterwards, the Surge defense denied any chance of a Thunder comeback, assuring Sacramento a World Bowl victory and the WLAF championship, 21-17.
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
second championship game, played on June 6, 1992 at Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Montreal)
The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...
in Montréal, Quebec
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. 43,789 witnessed the matchup between the Sacramento Surge
Sacramento Surge
The Sacramento Surge was a professional American football team that played in the World League of American Football in 1991 and 1992. The team played its first season at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, and the second season in Hornet Stadium on the Sacramento State University campus. It was owned...
and the Orlando Thunder
Orlando Thunder
The Orlando Thunder was a member of the World League of American Football from 1991 to 1992 . The team played their games in the 70,000 seat Citrus Bowl, and was coached by Don Matthews in 1991 and Galen Hall in 1992...
.
The Surge won the game, 21-17, behind QB David Archer's
David Archer
David Mark Archer is a former professional American football player. A 6'2" undrafted quarterback from Snow College and Iowa State University, Archer played six seasons in the National Football League from 1984 to 1989 for the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and...
MVP performance (22 of 33 for 286 Yards with 2 Touchdowns and 1 Interception). The game would be the only 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...
involving two North American-based WLAF
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
teams, as well as the only World Bowl played on North American soil. It would also be the last game either team would play, and the last WLAF game until 1995 as the league sought to restructure.
Background
The Surge and Thunder finished with identical 8-2 records, the best win-loss record in the league. Orlando, the winners of the North American East division, easily handled BirminghamBirmingham Fire
The Birmingham Fire was a professional American football team based in Birmingham, Alabama that played in the World League of American Football in 1991 and 1992. The team played at Legion Field, and it made the playoffs in both seasons....
45-7 in the playoff semifinal round, while North American West champ Sacramento defeated Barcelona
Barcelona Dragons
The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
, 17-15.
Game summary
The Thunder struck first with a 12-play, 98-yard drive that was capped off when Thunder QB Scott Mitchell threw a 10-yard TD pass to FB Mike Mathes for the only score in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Surge got into the game with Louis Orengo's 32-yard field goal. The Thunder's second drive wasn't as successful as their first, so they had to punt. Fortunately for the Thunder, the Surge's All-World receiver Eddie Brown fumbled the punt, allowing the Thunder to recover the ball at Sacramento's 9-yard line. Two plays later, Mitchell threw an 8-yard TD pass to Willis Davis in the back of the end zone to increase their lead to 14-3. With the first half winding down and the Surge in a desperate attempt to cut the lead, Sacramento QB David Archer's pass was intercepted by Thunder DB Malcolm Frank at midfield and returned to the Surge's 9-yard line. However, the Surge defense held their ground and forced the Thunder to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Tracey Bennett. Archer then piloted a quick Sacramento drive that resulted in a 24-yard Blanchard field goal that reduced the Thunder's lead to 17-6 at the halftime break.Both sides failed to score in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Archer was finally able to get the Surge's offense going. He led a 10-play, 85-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard TD pass to TE Paul Green in the back of the end zone. After that touchdown, Archer completed a two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
pass to Mark Stock, allowing the Surge to trail by three points (17-14 Thunder). Afterwards, both sides had missed opportunities. A good-looking Thunder drive fell apart as Mitchell fumbled the ball as he got hit in the backfield. The Surge couldn't capitalize on the fumble recovery as their possession ended with a missed field goal attempt. Afterwards, Orland tried to put together a time-consuming drive that would drain some time and increase their lead, but thanks to the Surge pass rush, Mitchell was intercepted by Surge LB Mike Jones, who returned the ball to Orlando's 34-yard line. Sacramento capitalized on the opportunity as Archer completed a 31-yard pass to RB Mike hill the start of a 4-play, 34-yard drive that ended with a game-winning 2-yard TD pass from Archer to Eddie Brown (perfect redemption for his fumbled 1st Half punt). Afterwards, the Surge defense denied any chance of a Thunder comeback, assuring Sacramento a World Bowl victory and the WLAF championship, 21-17.
Scoring summary
- Orlando - TD Mathes 10 yd pass from Mitchell (Bennett kick) 11:27 elapsed 1st Qtr
- Sacramento - FG Blanchard 32 yd 5:16 elapsed 2nd Qtr
- Orlando - TD Davis 8 yd pass from Mitchell (Bennett Kick) 8:12 elapsed 2nd Qtr
- Orlando - FG Bennett 20 yd 14:06 elapsed 2nd Qtr
- Sacramento - FG Blanchard 24 yd 14:59 elapsed 2nd Qtr
- Sacramento - TD Green 12 yd pass from Archer (2-point: Stock pass from Archer) 3:33 elapsed 4th Qtr
- Sacramento - TD Brown 2 yd pass from Archer (Blanchard kick) 9:16 elapsed 4th Qtr