World Bowl 1997

Barcelona Dragons 38 - 24 Rhein Fire
World Bowl 1997 - Barcelona 38, Rhein 24
Estadi Olimpic de Montjuic; Barcelona, Spain; June 22, 1997
Attendance: 31,100
Temperature: 27°C

Photo
World Bowl 1997 MVP:
Barcelona QB Jon Kitna.
Picture: Photo-stock.co.uk

BARCELONA DRAGONS 38, RHEIN FIRE 24 -- DRAGONS quarterback Jon Kitna passed for a World Bowl-record 402 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead Barcelona to its first World Bowl victory.

The Fire were on the board first in a high-scoring opening quarter when Manfred Burgsmüller landed a 31-yard field goal . But the Dragons hit back to lead 14-3 on Terry Wilburn's first touchdown run of the afternoon, a 13-yarder, and a 16-yard interception return by safety Carlos Brooks.

Fire quarterback T.J. Rubley, the league's Offensive MVP, began and ended the second quarter by running for touchdowns, from 3 yards and 1 yards. In between Rubley's scores, however, Kitna had hit Mexican Marco Martos for a 66-yard score, the second-longest touchdown pass in World Bowl history, and found Alfonzo Browning for a 40-yard score.

Photo
World Bowl 1997 Champions:
Barcelona Dragons.
Picture: Photo-stock.co.uk

Leading 28-17 at halftime, Barcelona extended its lead on a 4-yard run by Wilburn, before Rubley, restricted to 157 yards passing, hooked up with Sean Foster for a 22-yard score. A 34-yard field goal from Jesus Angoy padded the Dragons' lead to 38-24 with 8:49 remaining and the Fire was unable to reduce the lead.

Jon Kitna, narrowly beaten in the season's MVP voting, was named World Bowl MVP.

  1 2 3 4   Total
Rhein 3 14 0 7 -- 24
Barcelona 14 14 7 3 -- 38

Scoring Summary
Team Quarter Elapsed Time Scoring Play Drive Score
Rhe 1 4:47 FG Manfred Burgsmuller 31 9-46 3-0
Bar 1 6:34 TD Terry Wilburn 13 run (Jesus Angoy kick) 4-80 3-7
Bar 1 11:05 TD Carlos Brooks 16 interception return (Jesus Angoy kick)   3-14
Rhe 2 0:58 TD T. J. Rubley 3 run (Manfred Burgsmuller kick) 7-39 10-14
Bar 2 2:59 TD Marcos Martos 66 pass from Jon Kitna (Jesus Angoy kick) 4-79 10-21
Bar 2 9:01 TD Alfonzo Browning 40 pass from Jon Kitna (Jesus Angoy kick) 5-80 10-28
Rhe 2 13:13 TD T. J. Rubley 1 run (Manfred Burgsmuller kick) 9-56 17-28
Bar 3 12:54 TD Terry Wilburn 4 run (Jesus Angoy kick) 8-90 17-35
Rhe 4 1:29 TD Sean Foster 22 pass from T. J. Rubley (Manfred Burgsmuller kick) 8-71 24-35
Bar 4 6:11 FG Jesus Angoy 34 7-59 24-38

Team Statistics
    Rhein Barcelona
First Downs   21 27
Rushes - Yards   29 - 148 29 - 119
Passing Yards   139 394
Total Yards   287 513
Comp-Att-Int   11-30-2 23-31-1
Return Yards (not including kickoffs)   26 31
Interception Returns   1 - 26 2 - 16
Punt Returns   0 - 0 2 - 15
Kickoff Returns   6 - 121 5 - 89
Punts - Avg   5 - 38.8 2 - 34.0
Sacked - Yards Lost   1 - 18 1 - 7
Fumbles - Lost   0 - 0 2 - 1
Penalty - Yards   8 - 71 10 - 55
Time of Possession   29:01 30:59

Individual Statistics
 
Passing Rhein T. J. Rubley 30-11-157, 1-TD, 2-INT
  Barcelona Jon Kitna 31-23-401, 2-TD, 1-INT
Receiving Rhein Sean Foster 4-57, 1-TD; Bill Schroeder 2-36; A. J. Ofodile 1-24; Thomas Bailey 1-11; Derrick Clark 1-11; Michael Dritlein 1-11; David Rhodes 1-7
  Barcelona Terry Wilburn 5-77; Tyree Davis 4-96; Marco Martos 4-83, 1-TD; Alfonzo Browning 4-76, 1-TD; Sheddrick Wilson 2-46; Bryce Burnett 2-21; Michael Hicks 2-2
Rushing Rhein Derrick Clark 11-54; T. J. Rubley 6-41, 2-TD; Ontiwaun Carter 9-35; Ricky Powers 3-18
  Barcelona Michael Hicks 15-68; Terry Wilburn 10-44, 2-TD; Jon Kitna 4-7
Missed
Field
Goals		 Barcelona Jesus Angoy 37 (wide left)

Play-by-Play

Coin toss won by Rhein Fire, they decided to receive. Dragons choose southern side of the gridiron.

1st Quarter

Down/To go Position Action Yards
1 - 10 RF-40 Penalty: Encroachment Dragons 5
1 - 5 RF-45 Pass Rubley to Schroeder - Incomplete
2 - 5 RF-45 Pass Rubley to Schroeder - (Tackle: Wright) 6
1 - 10 RF-49 Penalty: Encroachment Dragons 5
1 - 5 BD-44 Rush Carter right side (Tackle:Long) 6
1 - 10 BD-38 Pass Rubley to Rhodes (Tackle: Brooks) 7
2 - 3 BD-31 Rush Carter right side (Tackle:Brannon) 13
Timeout Rhein Fire (11:47)
1 - 10 BD-18 Rush Carter through the middle (Tackle:Glover) -1
2 - 11 BD-19 Rush Carter left side (Tackle:Naposki,Malo) 5
3 - 6 BD-14 Pass Rubley to Dritlein - Incomplete
4 - 6 RF-14 31-Yard Field Goal Burgsmüller (0-3)
Kickoff Larsen 65
Return By'not'e 15
1 - 10 BD-20 Pass Kitna to Wilburn (Tackle: Beavers) 4
Penalty: Unintentional Face Mask Beavers 5
2 - 1 BD-29 Penalty: Defensive Offside Anderson, D 5
1- 10 BD-34 Pass Kitna to Marcus (Tackle: Fieldings) 10
Penalty: Unnecessary Rughness Beavers 15
1 - 10 RF-41 Pass Kitna to Wilburn (Tackle: Shelling) 28
1 - 10 RF-13 13-Yard TD Rush Wilburn nach links (6-3) 13
PAT - Kick Angoy (7-3)
Kickoff Beckley 66
Return Bailey 6
Lateral to Schroeder (Tackle: Washington) 12
Penalty: Unsportsmanlike Conduct Schroeder -11
1 - 10 RF-11 Rush Powers right side (Tackle: Smith) 1
2 - 9 RF-12 Rush Powers left side (Tackle: Hunter) -4
3 - 13 RF- 8 Rush Powers through the middle (Tackle: Brannon) -2
4 - 15 RF- 6 Punt Richardson out of bounds 25
1 - 10 RF-31 Pass Kitna to Davis - Incomplete
2 - 10 RF-31 Rush Wilburn through the middle (Tackle: Fieldings, Williams) 3
3 - 7 RF-28 QB sack by Anderson, D -7
4 - 14 RF-35 Punt Beckley out of bounds 31
1 - 10 RF- 4 Pass Rubley to Rhodes - Incomplete
2 - 10 RF- 4 Rush Clark right side (Tackle: Smith) 8
3 - 2 RF-12 Pass Rubley
16-Yard TD Interception Return Brooks (13-3) 16
PAT - Kick Angoy (14-3)
Kickoff Beckley 66
Return Bailey (Tackle: Hunter) 17
1 - 10 RF-21 Rush Carter right side (Tackle: Woolfork) 2
2 - 8 RF-23 Pass Rubley to Foster - Incomplete
3 - 8 RF-23 Pass Rubley to Dritlein - Incomplete
4 - 8 RF-23 Punt Richardson 33
1 - 10 BD-44 Pass Kitna to Burnett
Interception Shelling an RF-35 (Tackle: Wilson) 26
1 - 10 BD-39 Rush Clark left side (Tackle: Smith) 4
2 - 6 BD-35 Rush Clark through the middle (Tackle: Malo,Brooks) 15
1 - 10 BD-20 Rush Clark right side (Tackle: Malo) 6
2 - 4 BD-14 Rush Carter through the middle (Tackle: Woolfork) 3

2nd Quarter

Down/To go Position Action Yards
1 - 1 BD-11 Rush Carter left side (Tackle: Landrum) 3
Penalty: Unintentional Face Mask Landrum 4
1 - G BD- 3 3-Yard TD Rush Rubley (14-9) 3
PAT Burgsmüller (14-10)
Kickoff Larsen 69
Return By'not'e 6
Lateral to Browning (Tackle: Merritt) 14
1 - 10 BD-21 Rush Hicks through the middle (Tackle: Gay) 3
2 - 7 BD-24 Pass Kitna to Browning (Tackle: Beavers) 8
1 - 10 BD-32 Rush Hicks through the middle (Tackle: Fieldings) 2
2 - 8 BD-34 66-Yard TD Pass to Martos (20-10) 66
PAT Kick Angoy (21-10)
Kickoff Beckley 52
Return Bailey (Tackle; Landrum) 18
1 - 10 RF-36 Pass Rubley to Dritlein - Incomplete
2 - 10 RF-36 Pass Rubley to Ofodile 24
Timeout Rhein Fire (11:47)
1 - 10 BD-40 Rush Carter left side (Tackle: Landrum,Robinson) 7
2 - 3 BD-33 Rush Carter right side (Tackle: Long) -1
3 - 4 BD-33 Penalty: False Start Ilic -5
3 - 9 BD-39 Pass Rubley to Dritlein - Incomplete
4 - 9 BD-39 Punt Richardson - Touchback 39
1 - 10 BD-20 Rush Hicks through the middle (Tackle: Merritt) 11
1 - 10 BD-31 Rush Hicks through the middle (Tackle: Williams) -1
2 - 11 BD-30 Pass Kitna to Davis (Tackle: Anderson, J.) 30
1 - 10 RF-40 Pass Kitna to Hicks (Tackle: Merritt) 0
2 - 10 RF-40 40-Yards TD Pass Kitna to Browning (27-10) 40
PAT Kick Angoy (28-10)
Kickoff Beckley 57
Return Bailey (Tackle: Hunter) 21
1 - 10 RF-34 Pass Rubley to Dritlein - Incomplete
2 - 10 RF-34 Pass Rubley to Bailey (Tackle: Wright) 11
1 - 10 RF-45 Rush Clark left side (Tackle: Brannon) 0
Timeout becout of boundse of injury - Long (Dragons)
2 - 10 RF-45 Rush Clark left side (Tackle: Brooks,Landrum) 11
1 - 10 BD-44 Pass Rubley to Schroeder (Tackle: By'not'e) 30
1 - 10 BD-14 Rush Clark right side (Tackle: Landrum) 1
2 - 9 BD-13 Pass Rubley to Foster (Tackle: Landrum) 10
1 - 10 BD- 3 Rush Clark right side (Tackle: Brannon) 2
2 - 10 BD- 1 1-Yard TD Rush Rubley through the middle (28-16) 2
PAT Burgsmüller (28-17)
Kickoff Larsen 69
Return By'not'e (Tackle: Cole) 22
1 - 10 BD-23 Pass Kitna to Burnett (Tackle: Gay) 9
Fumble - Ball gesichert von Martos
2 - 1 BD-32 Pass Kitna to Hicks (Tackle: Fieldings) 2
1 - 10 BD-34 Rush Hicks left side (Tackle: Shelling) 9
2 - 1 BD-43 Pass Kitna to Browning - Incomplete
3 - 1 BD-43 Pass Kitna to Martos (Tackle: Swift) 4
Timout Barcelona Dragons
1 - 10/TD> BD-47 Pass Kitna to Browning - Incomplete
2 - 10 BD-47 Pass Kitna to Wilburn (tackle: Ilic) 6
Timout Barcelona Dragons
1 - 10 RF-41 Rush Kitna left side (Tackle: Anderson, D.) 6
2 - 4 RF-35 Pass Kitna to Hicks - Incomplete
Unnecessary Roughness Rhein Fire 15
1 - 10 RF-20 37-Yard Foeld Goal try - Angoy - missed (left side)
1 - 10 RF-27 Rubley down with his knee

3rd Quarter

Down/To go Position Action Yards
Kickoff Larsen 73
Return By'not'e 11
Penalty: Holding Dragons -4
1 - 10 BD- 4 Rush Wilburn left side (Tackle: Stanley) 0
2 - 10 BD- 4 Pass Kitna to Wilburn - Incomplete
3 - 10 BD- 4 Pass Kitna to Browning (Tackle: Merritt) 25
1 - 10 BD-29 Pass Kitna to Martos - Incomplete
2 - 10 BD-29 Rush Wilburn right side (Tackle: Shelling) 17
1 - 10 BD-46 Rush Wilburn left side (Tackle: Ilic) 0
2 - 10 BD-46 Pass Kitna to Martos - Incomplete
3 - 10 BD-46 Pass Kitna to Wilson (Tackle: Shelling) 16
Timeout becout of boundse of injury - Wilson (Dragons)
1 - 10 RF-38 Penalty: False Start Lindsay -5
1 - 15 RF-43 Rush Wilburn left side (Tackle: Fieldings) -4
2 - 19 RF-47 Pass Kitna to Browning - Incomplete
3 - 19 RF-47 Pass Kitna to Wilburn (Tackle: Anderson,J) 14
4 - 5 RF-33 Pass Kitna to Browning (Tackle: Stanley) 3
Timeout becout of boundse of injury - Browning (Dragons)
1 - 10 RF-30 Pass Rubley to Foster (Tackle: Naposki) 13
1 - 10 RF-43 Rush Carter left side (Tackle: Long) 1
2 - 9 RF-44 Pass Rubley to Bailey - Incomplete
3 - 9 RF-44 Shotgun-Pass Rubley to Bailey - Incomplete
4 - 9 RF-44 Punt Richardson 53
Return Davis (Tackle: Rhodes) 7
1 - 10 BD-10 Rush Wilburn left side (Tackle: Stanley) 3
2 - 7 BD-13 Pass Kitna to Davis (Tackle: Fieldings) 15
1 - 10 BD-28 Pass Kitna to Wilson (Tackle: Anderson, J.) 30
1 - 10 RF-42 Rush Wilburn through the middle (Tackle: Williams) 4
2 - 6 RF-38 Pass Kitna to Martos (Tackle: Beavers) 3
3 - 3 RF-35 Pass Kitna to Wilburn (Tackle: Cole) 19
1 - 10 RF-16 Pass Kitna to Burnett (Tackle: Cole) 12
1 - 4 RF-42 4-Yard TD Rush Wilburn left side (34-17) 4
PAT Kick Angoy (35-17)
Kickoff Beckley 63
Return Bailey (Tackle: Green) 22
1 - 10 RF-29 Pass Rubley to Schroeder - Incomplete
2 - 10 RF-29 Pass Rubley to Schroeder - Incomplete
3 - 10 RF-29 Rush Rubley out of bounds Shotgun through the middle 16
1 - 10 RF-45 Pass Rubley to Ofodile
Penalty: Defendive Pass Interference (Brooks) 19
1 - 10 BD-36 Pass Rubley to Clark (Tackle: Robinson) 11

4th Quarter

Down/To go Position Action Yards
1 - 10 BD-25 Rush Clark left side (Tackle: Long) 3
2 - 7 BD-22 Pass Rubley - Incomplete
3 - 7 BD-22 Pass Rubley to Rhodes - Incomplete
Timeout Barcelona
4 - 7 BD-22 22-Yard TD Pass Rubley to Foster (35-23) 22
PAT Kick Burgsmüller
Penalty: Holding Rhein Fire -10
PAT Kick Burgsmüller (35-24)
Kickoff Larsen 70
Penalty: Offside Rhein Fire -5
Kickoff Larsen 72
Return Davis 7
Lateral to By'not'e (Tackle: Dritlein) 14
1 - 10 BD-24 Pass Kitna to Davis (Tackle: Anderson, J.) 6
2 - 4 BD-30 Rush Hicks through the middle (Tackle: Shelling) 6
1 - 10 BD-36 Pass Kitna to Davis (Tackle: Anderson, J.) 45
Timeout becout of boundse of injury - Davis (Dragons)
1 - 10 RF-19 Rush Hicks right side (Tackle: Shelling) 8
2 - 2 RF-11 Rush Hicks left side (Tackle: Merritt) 1
3 - 1 RF-10 Rush Hicks left side (Tackle: Houston) -2
4 - 3 RF-12 Penalty:Delay of game -5
4 - 8 RF-17 34-Yard Field Goal Angoy (38-24)
Kickoff Beckley 64
Return Bailey (Tackle: Washington) 25
1 - 10 RF-31 QB Sack Ibernon an Rubley
2 - 28 RF-13 Pass to Foster (Tackle: Naporski) 12
3 - 16 RF-25 Pass Rubley to Foster - Incomplete
4 - 16 RF-25 Punt Richardson 44
Return Davis (Tackle: Rhodes) 8
1 - 10 BD-39 Rush Hicks right side (Tackle: Stanley) 1
2 - 9 BD-40 Rush Hicks left side (Tackle: Shelling) 20
1 - 10 RF-40 Rush Hicks right side (Tackle: Stanley) 6
2 - 4 RF-34 Rush Hicks through the middle (Tackle: Brook) 4
1 - 10 RF-30 Rush Hicks left side (Tackle: Williams) 2
2 - 8 RF-28 Rush Wilburn right side (Tackle: Fieldings) 4
Timeout Rhein Fire
3 - 4 RF-24 Rush Kitna through the middle (Tackle: Sheling) 7
1 - 10 RF-17 Rush Hicks left side (Tackle: Brook) -2
Fumble Hicks - covered by Fieldings
Timeout Rhein Fire
1 - 10 RF-19 Rush Rubley left side 2
Lateral to Powers (Tackle: Wright) 23
1 - 10 RF-44 Pass Rubley to Dritlein - Incomplete
2 - 10 RF-44 Pass Rubley to Dritlein (Tackle: Brooks) 11
1 - 10 BD-45 Rush Rubley left side (Tackle: Wright) 20
1 - 10 BD-25 Pass Rubley
Interception Wright
1 - 10 BD-18 Kitna down with his knee -4
2 - 14 BD-14 Penalty: Delay of game Dragons -5
2 - 19 BD- 9 Kitna down with his knee -2
3 - 21 BD- 7 Penalty: Delay of game Dragons -5
4 - 24 BD- 4 Punt Beckley - out of bounds 37
1 - 10 BD-41 Shotgun Pass Rubley - Incomplete

Dragons vs Fire

World Bowl 1997 Photos

World Bowl 1997 Preview

The teams
Barcelona Dragons vs. Rhein Fire

At stake
World League Championship for the World Bowl trophy

Site
Estadi Olimpic de Montjuic, Barcelona

Date
Sunday, June 22, 1997

Game time
7 p.m. CET (local)
6 p.m. BST
1 p.m. EDT
1 a.m. PDT

Capacity
53,000

Television
FOX (USA), Sky Sports (UK), DSF (Germany), Supersport (Holland, Belgium), Sportmania, Canal Plus, TV3, TVE (Spain), Star TV (Asia, Middle East), FOX Sports America (Central/South America)

Money
$3,000 to each member of the winning team
$1,500 to each member of the losing team

Tickets
Tickets to World Bowl '97 can be obtained by calling 934233714 (343 4233714 outside of Spain)

Ticket prices
Prices range from 1,700 to 2,100 pesetas

World League headquarters for World Bowl '97
Hotel Barcelona Plaza
Plaza Espana, 6-8
08014 Barcelona
Tel 34-3-426-2600
Fax 34-3-426-0400

BARCELONA QUICK FACTS RHEIN
Jack Bicknell, 28-22 in WL HEAD COACH Galen Hall, 22-18 in WL
Leads 4-2 (Streak: L1) SERIES Trails 2-4 (Streak: W1)
W 27-12 (a) in Week 1
L 23-38 (h) in Week 8 		THIS YEAR L 12-27 (h) in Week 1
W 38-23 (a) in Week 8
Green, yellow, scarlet COLOURS Burgundy, white, black
SPORTMANIA/Live (7 p.m.)
FOX/Live (1 p.m. EDT/10 a.m. PDT)
SKY SPORTS/Live (5:30 p.m.)
SUPERSPORT/Live (6 p.m.) 		TV COVERAGE DSF/Live (7 p.m.)

Matchup: Barcelona Dragons, making their first World Bowl appearance since losing in the WL's first championship game in 1991, take on the Rhein Fire, the only current WL team that has not yet played in a World Bowl.. Dragons are the first team to qualify for World Bowl with a 5-5 record and have recorded their fourth straight 5-5 season..Fire are the first team to qualify for World Bowl after losing the season opener.. Fire are the first visiting team in World Bowl to have a better record than the host team since the split-season was introduced in 1995.. Barcelona coming off a 46-18 victory against Scotland last week that broke a four-game losing streak and maintained the team's record of never having a losing season in franchise history.. Dragons' 46 points against Claymores last week was the highest score in franchise history.. Fire are riding a three-game winning streak after last week's 10-7 victory in London, the first three-game winning streak in franchise history.. Fire rushing attack that gained 1,555 yards this season faces a Barcelona defense that has given up 552 rushing yards in the last three games.. Game is truly a 'World' Bowl, with players from seven nations outside the United States taking part. The players are from Germany, Spain, Italy, Finland, France, Japan and Norway (Fire kicker Atle Larsen).. Game features the WL's two leading offenses; the WL's top two quarterbacks in passing yards, completions and touchdowns; seven of the 10 leading rushers in the WL; the top three in receiving yards; five of the top six in receptions; and four of the top five touchdown makers.. Game features kicking matchup between former soccer stars, one a goalscorer and the other a goalkeeper. Former German international striker Manfred Burgsmller (Rhein) faces former F.C. Barcelona goalkeeper Jesus Angoy (Barcelona), who is looking to add a World Bowl ring to the European Cup winner's medal he won in 1992.

This Season: Dragons' route to the World Bowl began at the Fire in Week 1, when they won 27-12 behind the passing of Jon Kitna, who threw for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Fire failed to score a touchdown in 6 visits to the Barcelona red zone, coming away with 4 field goals.. In Week 8, Derrick Clark tied a WL record by rushing for 3 touchdowns to help the Fire to a 38-23 win. The Fire had the second-best rushing day in league history, gaining 272 yards on the ground, and quarterback T.J. Rubley threw a pair of touchdown passes to Bill Schroeder.. Fire became the first WL team to have two 100-yard rushers in the same game... Fire rushed for 446 yards in two games the Dragons this season.... Fire dominated time of possession 68:58 to 51:02 in 1997 series against Dragons.... Fire failed to score a touchdown on 6 visits to red zone against Barcelona in Week 1 but scored 4 touchdowns on 4 visits to the red zone in Week 8.

Coaches: World Bowl '97 features a matchup between the losing head coaches in the first two World Bowls..... Rhein's Galen Hall qualified for World Bowl '92 with the Orlando Thunder, who were tied for the league's best record at 8-2. Orlando lost 21-17 to the Sacramento Surge in Montreal..... Hall is the only head coach to guide two different teams to the World Bowl and is the only head coach to have the league's best won-lost record on two occasions.... Bicknell and Hall are the two winningest head coaches in WL history, having combined for 50 regular season victories (Bicknell 28, Hall 22) and 2 postseason wins.. The World Bowl's winning head coach will become the only current WL head coach with 2 postseason wins on his record.

Barcelona Dragons: Quarterback Jon Kitna (Seattle Seahawks) is coming off a record-setting performance against Scotland. He completed 22 of 36 passes for 345 yards with a WL single-game record tying 5 touchdown passes and 1 interception. Kitna finished the season with 22 touchdown passes, one shy of the WL single-season record of 23 by Sacramento's David Archer in 1992.. Kitna completed 18 of 26 passes for 243 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions against the Fire in Week 1, and rushed 6 times for 43 yards. In Week 8 he was 19 of 38 for 328 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.... Kitna has thrown 16 touchdown passes and 6 interceptions in Dragons victories this season and 6 touchdown passes and 9 interceptions in Dragons losses. Dragons are 4-1 when Kitna throws more touchdown passes than interceptions.... Wide receiver Tyree Davis caught 4 passes for 41 yards last week, including a 14-yard touchdown, and returned 3 punts for 118 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown. Davis's touchdown reception was the 12th of his WL career, tying ex-Sacramento Surge receiver Eddie Brown for second all-time. With 1,593 career receiving yards Davis finished the season ranked second all-time behind former teammate Demetrius Davis (1,755). Davis had 2 catches for 49 yards against the Fire in Week 1 and 4 for 76, including a 12-yard touchdown, in Week 8, giving him 18 receptions for 314 yards and 1 touchdown lifetime against Rhein.... Wide receiver Sheddrick Wilson (Houston Oilers) caught 5 passes for 94 yards against Scotland last week, including a 16-yard catch for his league-leading ninth touchdown of the season, setting a new team record for touchdowns in a season (previously running back Lydell Carr, 8 touchdowns in 1991)... Wilson had 6 catches for 107 yards, including touchdowns of 17 yards and 40 yards, against Rhein in Week 1 and caught 4 passes for 49 in return game. .. Wide receiver Alfonzo Browning caught 4 passes for 49 yards at the Fire this year and had 5 catches for 132 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown, in the Week 8 contest, giving him 15 catches for 322 yards and 2 touchdowns in four career games against the Fire. He had 3 receptions for 43 yards last week.. Running back Terry Wilburn rushed 9 times for 44 yards against Rhein in Week 1 and gained 66 yards on 13 carries in Week 8, giving him 33 career carries for 138 yards against the Fire. He gained 24 yards on 8 carries last week and caught 3 passes for 28 yards.... .. Tight end Bryce Burnett has 20 catches for 146 yards in four games against Rhein after catching 4 passes for 31 yards in Week 1 and 2 for 23 in Week 8. Last week he caught 2 passes for 42 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown .. Running back Michael Hicks (Chicago Bears) gained 48 yards on 9 carries, including a 16-yard touchdown, against the Fire in the season opener, but carried only twice for minus 1 yard in Week 8. He rushed 13 times for 29 yards last week and caught 1 pass for 16 yards.. Mexican wide receiver Marco Martos caught 4 passes for 81 yards, including touchdowns of 42 and 8 yards last week, becoming the second national player in WL history to have 2 touchdown receptions in a game and the first to have 3 touchdown catches in a season.. Veteran linebacker Eric Naposki should see his first postseason action for the Dragons after being injured late in the regular season in 1991 and 1992 and missing the playoffs. Naposki had 6 tackles against the Fire in Barcelona this year.... Safety Carlos Brooks had his league-leading sixth interception of the season last week. That total includes two this season against the the Fire.... Linebacker Juan Long had 10 tackles in the season opener at Rhein and added 9 more in Week 8 contest. He rounded out the regular season last week with 9 tackles and this sixth sack of the season.... Linebacker Vince Landrum made 5 tackles plus 2 special teams tackles against the Fire in Week 8.... Cornerbacks Michael Wright and Butler By'not'e each posted their first interception of the season last week.. Former F.C. Barcelona goalkeeper Jesus Angoy made 5 of 5 PATs and kicked a 21-yard field goal last week to finish his debut season in pro football with 41 points (26/29 PATs, 5/9 FGs). He was 3 of 4 PATs on his pro football debut against the Fire in Week 1. He was 2 of 3 on PATs and made a 35-yard field goal in Week 8.Dragons feature the first Italians to play in the World Bowl, defensive lineman Luca Bellora and wide receiver Maurizio Barbotti, who caught his first pass in pro football for a 14-yard gain last week.. Dragons also feature a Frenchman, defensive back Gregoire Malo, and a Finn, wide receiver Sami Alalampi.

Rhein Fire: Head coach Galen Hall says of his World Bowl-bound team: "At the beginning of the season I thought this would be a good team, even though we had a lot of doubters coming out of training camp. I thought we had the nucleus of a good offensive unit with T.J. at quarterback and a healthy running game with Clark and Carter returning. The offensive line has come together well and the defense gets better with every game. This league gets better every year and this is definitely the best team I have had since coming to Europe. It is right up there with the Orlando team I had in 1992.".. With 1,555 rushing yards this season, the Fire overtook the previous WL single-season record of 1,373, set by the San Antonio Riders in 1992.. The Fire are also the first WL team to have two men rush for 500 yards in the same season (Ontiwaun Carter 587, Derrick Clark 510).. Fire offensive line allowed only one sack this season to better the WL single-season low of 10 by London in 1991 and Hall's Orlando Thunder in 1992.. Quarterback T.J. Rubley (Denver Broncos) completed 19 of 43 passes for 184 yards with 0 touchdowns and 1 interception in Week 1 clash with Barcelona and was 14 of 26 for 210 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception in Week 8. Last week he completed 3 of 12 yards for 31 yards with 0 touchdowns and 1 interception. Rubley has not thrown a touchdown pass since Week 8 against Barcelona..... Running back Derrick Clark has rushed for 8 touchdowns in the last four games. With 9 rushing touchdowns this season, Clark tied the WL single-season record set by London's Jeff Alexander in 1991. With 12 career rushing touchdowns he ranks second all-time. Last week, he gained 53 yards on 11 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown, to rank fourth in the league with 510 yards. He rushed 7 times for 39 yards against the Dragons in Week 1 and carried 21 times for 119 yards, including touchdown runs of 2,6 and 16 yards, in Week 8. He tied the WL record for most touchdowns in a single game and became only the fourth player (first since 1991) to rush for three touchdowns in a game. Clark has a career record against Barcelona of 44 career carries for 209 yards and 4 touchdowns .. Running back Ontiwaun Carter gained 22 yards on 8 carries to rank third in the league with a club-record 587 yards. He rushed 14 times for 121 yards in Week 8 against the Dragons, having gained 44 yards on 8 attempts in Week 1.. Running back Ricky Powers was held to 7 yards on 9 carries by the Dragons in Week 1, but caught 2 passes for 27 yards. He rushed 5 times for 31 yards in Week 8. Last week he gained 53 yards on 10 carries .. Wide receiver Bill Schroeder (Green Bay Packers) had 4 catches for 69 yards last week. He had 7 catches for 86 yards on his Fire debut against Barcelona in Week 1 and caught 5 passes for 131 yards, including touchdown receptions of 14 and 73 yards, in Barcelona.. Wide receiver Sean Foster caught 3 passes for 39 yards against Barcelona in Week 1 and had 2 catches for 15 yards in the return game, giving him a career record against the Dragons of 11 receptions for 127 yards. He was held to 1 catch for 11 yards last week.. Backup quarterback Josh LaRocca completed 3 of 8 passes for 49 yards, including a 0-yard completion to himself after his pass was deflected, last week. He threw 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions and rushed 4 times for 10 yards.. Tight end A.J. Ofodile (Baltimore Ravens) caught 3 passes for 27 yards in Barcelona this year.... Wide receiver David Rhodes had 3 receptions for 41 yards in Barcelona in Week 8.... Wide receiver Michael Dritlein (Kansas City Chiefs) caught 2 passes for 11 yards against the Dragons in Week 1 .. Defensive end Dunstan Anderson began the season with 2 sacks against Barcelona. His 5 sacks this season all came in the first three games.. Defensive end James Wilson had a sack in each game against the Dragons this year.... Safety Matt Gay had his second interception of the season last week. His first was in Barcelona.. Cornerback Michael Swift had his only interception of the season in Barcelona .. Safety John Anderson made 6 tackles, defended a pass and forced a fumble in Barcelona this year. He had his only interception of the season last week.... Linebacker Anthony Fieldings led the team with 12 tackles last week. He had 6 tackles in Barcelona this year.... Linebacker David Merritt finished the regular season with 6 tackles and an interception against London, although he fumbled on the return.. Safety Chris Shelling had a team-high 8 tackles against the Dragons in Week 1.. German soccer star Manfred Burgsmuller ranks second among WL kickers with 44 points after making his only PAT attempt in London last week. Burgsmuller was 3 of 3 on FGs against Barcelona this season to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honours and was 5 of 5 on PATS in the Week 8 game.. Kicker Atle Larsen hit a 38-yard FG against Barcelona in Week 1 and connected from 43 yards in Week 8. He made his only FG attempt, from 44 yards, last week.. German defensive lineman Vladimir Ilic faces the team for which he played in 1995 and 1996.. Fire linebacker Takahiro 'Tank' Ikenoue becomes the first Japanese player to take part in a pro football championship game.

Battle of the coaches: Bicknell vs. Hall
Barcelona's Jack Bicknell (pictured on right) holds a 4-3 lead over Galen Hall (pictured on left) in World League games as head coaches. With the teams splitting this season's series, Bicknell has a 4-2 lifetime record against the Fire, but Hall had a victory over Bicknell with the Orlando Thunder in 1992. Bicknell's Dragons were winners against the Thunder in 1991, when Hall was offensive coordinator of the Orlando team.

BATTLE OF THE COACHES
Jack Bicknell (Barcelona Dragons) Galen Hall (Rhein Fire)
Born: February 20, 1938 Born: August 14, 1940
Family: Married to Lois. Has three children Family: Married to Elaine. Has five children
COACHING BACKGROUND
In his 36th year of coaching. Achieved national fame in the U.S. as head coach of Boston College from 1981-90, including a 10-2 campaign in 1984 that culminated in victory in the Cotton Bowl and the Heisman Trophy for quarterback Doug Flutie. Previously head coach at Maine.In his 27th year of coaching, including a 41-18-1 record as head coach of the University of Florida from 1984-89. His 1984 Gators were named national champions by the Sporting News and Hall was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press. Previously spent 18 years as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, during which time the Sooners won two national championships and 10 Big Eight Conference titles.
WORLD LEAGUE CAREER
The only head coach to have led the same team in all five seasons of the World League. Holds the WL all-time record for most wins by a head coach and is the only coach to have qualified for postseason play three times. In five years in the WL he has never had a losing season In his fourth year as a WL head coach, having been the head man at the Orlando Thunder in 1992 before joining the Fire in 1995. Is a five-year WL veteran, having served as offensive coordinator for the Thunder in 1991. Only the second WL head coach (after Bicknell) to reach 20 career victories.
1991 SEASON
Barcelona Dragons 8-2, 2nd in European Division. Lost in World Bowl '91 (21-0 vs London Monarchs at Wembley) Orlando Thunder (offensive coordinator) 5-5, 2nd in North American East Division
1992 SEASON
Barcelona Dragons 5-5 (Won European Division). Lost to Sacramento Surge in semi-final playoff Orlando Thunder 8-2, Won North American - East Division. Lost in World Bowl '92 (21-17 vs Sacramento Surge in Montreal)
1995 SEASON
Barcelona Dragons 5-5, 3rd in WL Rhein Fire 4-6, 5th in WL
1996 SEASON
Barcelona Dragons 5-5, 4th in WL Rhein Fire 3-7, 6th in WL
1997 SEASON
Barcelona Dragons, 5-5, 2nd in WL Won first half with 4-1 record Rhein Fire 7-3, 1st in WL
HALL ON WORLD BOWL BICKNELL ON WORLD BOWL
"We know Barcelona is an excellent team. They beat us in Dusseldorf and scored 23 points against us in Barcelona so they can put points on the board better than anyone in this league. We have a tough game ahead of us." "World Bowl should be a good wide-open football game and the key for us is to stop the Fire running game."