World Bowl XIV

World Bowl XIV was NFL Europe's 2006 championship game. It was played at the LTU Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany on Saturday, May 27, 2006.

The game was between the 7-3 Frankfurt Galaxy and the defending World Bowl Champion Amsterdam Admirals (also 7-3). 36,286 people were in attendance, as the Galaxy stripped the Admirals of their title in a 22-7 victory. Frankfurt RB Butchie Wallace was named MVP of World Bowl XIV, by running 18 times for 143 yards (with his longest rush being 63 yards) and 1 touchdown.

This was the very first World Bowl that wasn't played in June, as the league wanted to avoid a clash with the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Also, it marked the third-straight year that a team would fall in a World Bowl after winning the title in the previous year.

Background

The Admirals swept the regular season series against the Galaxy (38-20 in Amsterdam & 17-12 in Frankfurt).

Game summary

In a low-scoring first half, the Galaxy struck first with 1:55 left in the first quarter. Frankfurt DT Jerome Nichols sacked Admirals QB Jared Allen in the end zone for a safety. However, in the second quarter, the Admirals would respond with a 7-play, 55-yard drive that ended with Amsterdam RB Larry Croom running 12 yards for a touchdown. It gave the Admirals a 7-2 halftime lead. However, these seven points would be all that the Admirals would score. In the third quarter, Frankfurt QB Jeff Otis led his team on an 8-play, 66-yard drive that ended with RB Butchie Wallance running 4 yards for a touchdown. On their next possession, Frankfurt Kicker David Kimball kicking a 29-yard field goal, which would give the Galaxy a 12-7 lead going into the final quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Amsterdam Admirals couldn't get any points onto the board, as Frankfurt's defense closed any hope of a comeback. Meanwhile, the Galaxy offense, led by Otis, widened their lead with a 14-play, 62-yard drive that was capped off with a 37-yard field goal by Kimball. On their next possession, Frankfurt delivered the final nail for the Admirals coffin as Galaxy RB J.R. Niklos capped off a 3-play, 74-yard drive with a 12-yard dash to the end zone for a touchdown. With their victory, the Galaxy captured their fourth World Bowl title in franchise history.

Scoring summary

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Frankfurt
R1=2
R2=0
R3=10
R4=10
RT=22
Home=Amsterdam
H1=0
H2=7
H3=0
H4=0
HT=7
*Frankfurt - Safety Nichols sacks Allen 1:55 1st
*Amsterdam - TD Croom 12 yd run 7:32 2nd
*Frankfurt - TD Wallance 4 yd run 4:22 3rd
*Frankfurt - FG Kimball 29 yd 0:29 3rd
*Frankfurt - FG Kimball 37 yd 4:37 4th
*Frankfurt - TD Niklos 12 yd run 1:06 4th

External links

* [http://www.nfleurope.com/worldbowl/news/story/9465259 "Frankfurt's fourth" on NFL Europe.com]
* [http://www.pfcritics.com/news101/GalaxyDefeatAdmiralsinWorl.php Galaxy Defeat Admirals in World Bowl]
* [http://www.nfleuropa.nl/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=19&g2_itemId=18694 World Bowl XIV Pictures]
* [http://images.nfl.com/images/nfleurope/stats/2006/05272006_fra_ams_stats.pdf Official game stats]