World Bowl The World Bowl was the annual American football championship game of the World League of American Football/NFL Europe. The World Bowl was played each year from 1991 to 2007 (except 1993 and 1994). The game was conceived as the final of the NFL-r ...

'95 (also referred to as World Bowl III) was the third championship game of the

World League of American Football NFL Europe League (simply called NFL Europe and known in its final season as NFL Europa League) was a professional American football league that functioned as the developmental minor league of the National Football League (NFL). Originally f ...

(WLAF), and the final game of the

1995 WLAF season The 1995 World League of American Football season was the third season of the professional American football league organized by the NFL. It was the league's first season with six teams based only in Europe. Returning from a 2-year hiatus after ...

. It was the first World Bowl to be played since

World Bowl '92 World Bowl '92 (also referred to as World Bowl II) was the second championship game of the World League of American Football (WLAF), played on Saturday, June 6, 1992 at Olympic Stadium (Montreal), Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 43,78 ...

, after which the league had suspended operations for two years. The match-up was between the 6–4

Frankfurt Galaxy Two American football franchises have been referred to as the Frankfurt Galaxy: * Frankfurt Galaxy (NFL Europe), active in NFL Europe between 1991 and 2007 * Frankfurt Galaxy (ELF) The Frankfurt Galaxy is an American football team in Frankfurt, ...

and the 9–1

Amsterdam Admirals The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, playing in the NFL Europe. History The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to ...

, at Olympisch Stadion in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

, Netherlands on Saturday, June 17, 1995. 23,847 fans witnessed the Galaxy pull off an upset en route to a 26–22 victory and their first ever World Bowl title. Quarterback

Paul Justin Paul Donald Justin (born May 19, 1968) is a former quarterback in the National Football League for the Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals and the St. Louis Rams. Prior to his time in the NFL, he was the starting quarterback for the Arizona R ...

earned

MVP In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...

honors by completing 18 of 36 attempts for 308 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

Background

The Admirals won the first meeting 14–12 in Amsterdam, while the Galaxy took the second meeting 28–13 in Frankfurt.

Game summary

After both sides failed to put up a single point in the first quarter, the Admirals drew first blood by blocking a 36-yard field goal attempt by Galaxy kicker

Daron Alcorn Daron Alcorn (born May 12, 1971) is a former American football placekicker who played eight seasons in the Arena Football League with the Portland Forest Dragons/Oklahoma Wranglers, San Jose SaberCats and Las Vegas Gladiators. He was drafted by ...

. Afterwards, Admirals' quarterback

Will Furrer William Mason Furrer (born February 5, 1968) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears, Phoenix Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers, St. Louis Rams, and Jacksonville Jaguars. High sc ...

put together a 12-play, 73-yard drive that was capped off with a five-yard pass to wide receiver Ernie Jones. However, the Galaxy managed to set up a good kick return to put themselves on Amsterdam's 46-yard line. On just the third play of the drive, Galaxy quarterback

connected with fellow wide receiver Bobby Olive on an 11-yard pass. Unfortunately, the extra point attempt was no good, as Amsterdam led Frankfurt 7–6 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Galaxy managed to take the lead for the first time of the game, with a 4-play, 26-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard pass to Olive. Afterward, the Galaxy increased their lead with a 4-play, 38-yard drive that ended with a 31-yard pass from Paul Justin to

Mike Bellamy Michael Sinclair Bellamy II (born June 28, 1966) is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1990] to 1991. He is currently the running backs coach for the Illinoi ...

. In the fourth quarter, Admirals running back T. C. Wright fumbled the ball, setting up a 3-play, 44-yard drive that helped increase Frankfurt's lead, with a 30-yard run by

Nathaniel Bolton Nathaniel Bolton (born July 1, 1968) is a former professional American and Canadian football player in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and World League of American Football (WLAF). During his career he played wide receiver for the Winnipeg Bl ...

(extra point attempt missed). Down 26–7, the Admirals needed points and they needed them fast. Furrer was able to put up a 9-play, 78-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run by T. C. Wright. Afterwards, the Admirals got a 13-play, 58-yard drive that ended with a nine-yard pass to Wright. Following the touchdown, Furrer connected with wide receiver

Sanjay Beach Sanjay Rajiv Beach (born February 21, 1966) is a former American professional football player who played wide receiver for four seasons for the New York Jets, the Green Bay Packers, and the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL ...

for the two-point conversion. Amsterdam recovered the onside kick and had 34 seconds to come up with a touchdown; however, key passes into the endzone fell incomplete, preserving Frankfurt's four-point lead and giving the Galaxy their first World Bowl title.

References

{{NFL on Fox World Bowl 1995 in American football June 1995 sports events in Europe