1991: Down by 17, Monarchs Rally Past Knights in WLAF Playoff Game

The World League of American Football Semifinal playoff game on June 2, 1991 featured the London Monarchs, representatives of the European Division and the league’s winningest team with a 9-1 record, and the New York/New Jersey Knights, 5-5 finishers in the North American East Division.

The Monarchs, under Head Coach Larry Kennan, featured an efficient offense that rarely turned the ball over and an aggressive defense. QB Stan Gelbaugh (pictured above) was the league’s top-rated passer with a 92.8 rating and also topped the developmental circuit in passing yards (2656) and touchdown throws (17, tied with Orlando’s Kerwin Bell). RB Judd Garrett topped the WLAF in pass receptions with 71 and WR Jon Horton gained a league-high 931 yards on his 43 catches.

New York/New Jersey was coached by Darrel “Mouse” Davis, the chief architect of the “run-and-shoot” offense, and had the league’s leading ground gainer in RB Eric Wilkerson. The Knights had lost both regular season contests against the Monarchs, but received a break in being able to host the Semifinal game rather than travel to London. Due to soccer matches scheduled at Wembley Stadium, the Monarchs were forced to go on the road despite having the better record.

There were 23,149 fans in attendance at Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands. The Knights ran into trouble early when center Pete Scott went out with a back injury, forcing changes on the offensive line, but they still managed to take an early lead when Kendall Trainor kicked a 33-yard field goal late in the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, New York/New Jersey added to the lead as QB Jeff Graham threw to WR Kip Lewis for a 13-yard touchdown. Trainor added the extra point to make it 10-0.

It was Graham connecting with Lewis again a few minutes later, this time for a 49-yard TD and, with Trainor’s point after, the Knights held an improbable 17-0 lead. The Monarchs began to mount their comeback as Gelbaugh threw to WR Andre Riley for a six-yard touchdown to finally get on the board and then to RB Judd Garrett for a 21-yard TD. Both were followed by Phil Alexander conversions. On the final play of the first half, Trainor kicked a 48-yard field goal and New York/New Jersey took a 20-14 edge into halftime.

Early in the third quarter, London scored again on a one-yard touchdown toss from Gelbaugh to TE Pat Davis and Alexander’s extra point gave the Monarchs their first lead of the day at 21-20. Still in the third quarter, Gelbaugh fired his fourth scoring pass, this time to WR Jon Horton, who leaped to pull it in and went the distance for a 68-yard TD. With the successful conversion by Alexander, the visitors were now in front by 28-20.

The Knights had been moving the ball well and finally added points on a six-yard touchdown run by Eric Wilkerson. The attempt for a two-point conversion failed but London’s lead was cut to 28-26.

Down by two points in the fourth quarter, the Knights advanced into London territory but turned the ball over on a first down play at the 24 when Graham fumbled the snap and LB Marlon Brown recovered for the Monarchs. On their next series, once again the home team advanced into London territory and again turned the ball over. Facing third-and-four at the visitors’ 25, the Knights went to the air and Graham’s throw was intercepted by CB Corris Ervin at the seven with 3:38 remaining to play.

The Monarchs, having twice dodged bullets on their end of the field, responded with a touchdown on a pass from Gelbaugh to Horton that covered 78 yards. Alexander converted and it was more than enough to clinch the result, but London scored one more TD on a three-yard carry by RB David Smith with 51 seconds left on the clock to win by a final score of 42-26.

The Monarchs had the edge in total yards (518 to 418), first downs (25 to 21), and time of possession (34:05 to 25:55). While the Knights moved the ball well through the air, they also turned the ball over five times, to four suffered by London, and the Monarchs recorded nine sacks, to three by New York/New Jersey. The Monarchs missed scoring opportunities on three failed field goal attempts by Alexander while Trainor made good on two of three for the home team. There were many penalties, with 11 flags thrown on London at a cost of 78 yards and eight tossed against the Knights for 69 yards.

Stan Gelbaugh completed 25 of 41 passes for 391 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions. Jon Horton, with the two long scoring catches, had 8 pass receptions for 225 yards. FB Jeff Alexander rushed for 123 yards on 21 carries.

For the Knights, Jeff Graham was successful on 19 of 35 throws for 399 yards and two TDs while also giving up three interceptions. Kip Lewis had a big performance in defeat with 9 pass receptions for 245 yards and the two early touchdowns. Eric Wilkerson led the club in rushing with 47 yards on 10 attempts.

The win over the Knights put London in the WLAF Championship game, the World Bowl, against the Barcelona Dragons. The Monarchs won a 21-0 shutout to achieve the league’s first title. New York/New Jersey came back with a better record at 6-4 in 1992, but failed to qualify for the postseason.

Highlighted Year: Scott Case, 1988

Cornerback, Atlanta Falcons

Age: 26

5^th season in pro football & with Falcons

College: Oklahoma

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 178

Prelude:

Case starred as a free safety at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M, which won a national junior college championship during his freshman year, and transferred to Oklahoma, where he was shifted to cornerback and intercepted eight passes as a senior in 1983. He was chosen by the Falcons in the second round of the ’84 NFL draft and moved into the starting lineup at strong safety in his second year, intercepting four passes and gaining credit for 95 tackles. Case moved to cornerback in 1986 with good results, displaying savvy and toughness if not great speed. After four seasons with the Falcons, he had intercepted nine passes and accumulated over 250 tackles.

1988 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 10 [1]

Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Green Bay 11/6, vs. Tampa Bay 11/27

Int. return yards – 47

Most int. return yards, game – 13 (on 2 int.) vs. Tampa Bay 11/27

Int. TDs – 0

Sacks – 1

Fumble recoveries – 0

Tackles – 65

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

1^st team All-NFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Falcons went 5-11 to finish fourth in the NFC West.

Aftermath:

Following a lesser season in 1989 due to nagging injuries, Case moved back to free safety in ’90 and continued to overachieve until diminishing skills, especially speed in pass coverage, cost him his starting job in 1994, his last year with Atlanta when he was used primarily as a nickel back. Case spent one last season with the Dallas Cowboys in ’95, ending his career with a Super Bowl appearance. Overall, he played in 178 games, starting 124 of them, and intercepted 30 passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Case also recovered seven fumbles and was credited with 7.5 sacks as well as over 900 tackles. 1988 remained the only season in which he received postseason honors.

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Highlighted Years features players who were first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Bobby Joe Conrad, 1963

Flanker, St. Louis Cardinals

Age: 28 (Nov. 17)

6^th season in pro football & with Cardinals

College: Texas A & M

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 195

Prelude:

The versatile Conrad played at quarterback, halfback, and fullback in addition to end in college and was part of the 1956 Texas A & M team that won the Southwest Conference title. He also starred in the 1958 College All-Star Game upset of the Detroit Lions, kicking four field goals and intercepting a pass. Conrad was chosen by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the ’58 NFL draft but was traded to the Cards prior to the season and was used in the defensive backfield as a rookie, intercepting four passes, as well as for returning punts and placekicking. He was shifted to offense in 1959 and backed up at halfback for two seasons, rushing for a career-high 328 yards in ’59, before being moved to flanker in 1961, where he broke out with 30 catches for 499 yards (16.6 avg.) and two touchdowns. Conrad had a bigger year in 1962, hauling in 62 pass receptions for 954 yards (15.4) avg. and four TDs as part of a productive tandem with split end Sonny Randle.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 73 [1] 

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 112 yds.) vs. Green Bay 10/20

Yards – 967 [6]

Most yards, game – 122 (on 6 catches) vs. Philadelphia 12/8

Average gain – 13.2

TDs – 10 [4, tied with Gail Cogdill & Frank Clarke]

100-yard receiving games – 2

Rushing

Attempts – 1

Yards – 0

TDs – 0

Punt Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 1

Average per return – 1.0

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 10 [6, tied with four others]

Points – 60 [15, tied with four others]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, UPI, NY Daily News

2^nd team All-NFL: NEA

Cardinals went 9-5 to finish third in the NFL Eastern Conference.

Aftermath:

Conrad followed up with 61 catches for 780 yards (12.8 avg.) and six touchdowns in 1964 and achieved Pro Bowl recognition. Consistent if not especially fast or flashy, he remained a capable possession receiver for the Cards through 1968, a total of 11 seasons, before finishing up with the Dallas Cowboys in 1969. Overall, he caught 422 passes for 5902 yards (14.0 avg.) and 38 TDs, with 418 of those catches for 5828 yards and all of the TDs coming with the Cardinals. Conrad also returned 33 kickoffs for a 24.6-yard average and 51 punts for an average of 9.1 yards and two TDs. As a placekicker he booted 14 field goals out of 33 attempts and made good on 95 of 99 extra points which, combined with his 42 touchdowns, accounted for a total of 389 points. Conrad received first-team All-NFL recognition once, second-team honors after one other season, and was selected to one Pro Bowl.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Chuck Clanton, 1985

Safety, Birmingham Stallions

Age: 22

2^nd season in pro football & with Stallions

College: Auburn

Height: 5’11” Weight: 193

Prelude:

Clanton displayed talent in Auburn’s defensive backfield but also encountered disciplinary problems. He was chosen by the Stallions in the 1984 USFL territorial draft and had an outstanding rookie year, impressing at free safety with his speed and intercepting 10 passes that he returned for a league-leading 249 yards and three touchdowns.

1985 Season Summary

Appeared in all 18 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 16 [1]

Int. return yards – 275 [1]

Int. TDs – 1 [1, tied with many others]

Sacks – 0

Fumble recoveries – 2

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 2 G

Interceptions – 0

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

USFL Defensive Player of the Year: League, College & Pro Football Newsweekly

1^st team All-USFL: League, Sporting News, College & Pro Football Newsweekly

Stallions went 13-5 to finish first in the USFL Eastern Conference. Won USFL Quarterfinal playoff over Houston Gamblers (22-20). Lost USFL Semifinal playoff to Baltimore Stars (28-14).

Aftermath:

Following the demise of the USFL, Clanton joined the Green Bay Packers, who had chosen him in the second round of the 1984 NFL supplemental draft, but due to a failure to come to terms on a contract, it was late in the ’85 season and he appeared in just three games. While there were hopes that he would provide depth in the defensive backfield, Clanton was waived during the 1986 preseason and failed to catch on elsewhere. Overall, he intercepted 26 passes that he returned for 524 yards and four touchdowns over the course of two USFL seasons, but that didn't translate into success in the NFL.

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Highlighted Years features players who were first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

2006: Galaxy Run Over Admirals for NFL Europa Title

World Bowl XIV, the championship game of NFL Europa (the re-named NFL Europe) on May 27, 2006, was billed as a showdown between the formidable ground attack of the Frankfurt Galaxy and the pass-oriented offense of the Amsterdam Admirals.

The Admirals, coached by Bart Andrus for the sixth season, were the defending champs of the developmental league and had swept the season series with Frankfurt, but were also without QB Gibran Hamdan, who had a passer rating of 113.4 until suffering a broken ankle with three games to play. The effect of the loss of Hamdan did not bode well; the Admirals were 6-1, averaging 30 points per game, with Hamdan behind center but 1-2, scoring just 17 points per contest, in his absence.

The Galaxy, also 7-3 under Head Coach Mike Jones, had set an NFL Europa record with 1750 rushing yards and featured the circuit’s leading ground gainer in RB Roger “Rabbit” Robinson, who gained 1087 yards of that total.

There were 36,286 fans in attendance at Dusseldorf’s LTU Arena, and they saw a first half that was dominated by the two defenses. Frankfurt scored first with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter when DT Jerome Nichols sacked Amsterdam QB Jared Allen in the end zone for a safety. In the second quarter, the Admirals put together a drive of 55 yards in seven plays that ended with RB Larry Croom running for a 12-yard touchdown and, with Ryan Killeen adding the extra point, Amsterdam took a 7-2 lead into halftime.

On Frankfurt’s first series of the third quarter, RB Butchie Wallace (pictured above), who had carried just once in the first thirty minutes, ran the ball five times, the last for a four-yard touchdown to cap an eight-play, 66-yard possession that set the tone for the second half. David Kimball successfully converted and, shortly thereafter, safety Brandon Haw intercepted an Allen pass and returned it 27 yards to set up a 29-yard Kimball field goal that extended the Galaxy’s lead to 12-7.

Early in the fourth quarter, Frankfurt scored again following a long drive that covered 62 yards in 14 plays and ran 8:42 off the clock. The series featured 10 rushes for 51 yards by Wallace and concluded with another Kimball field goal, this time from 37 yards, to make it a 15-7 contest.

The Galaxy put the game away thanks to a 63-yard run by Wallace with 1:46 left to play that set up a 12-yard touchdown carry by FB J.R. Niklos, who ran the ball just twice during the contest but did a noteworthy job of blocking. Kimball kicked the point after and Frankfurt won by a final score of 22-7.

The Galaxy gained 269 yards on 42 running plays while completing just seven passes for 72 yards. Amsterdam managed only 86 yards through the air and accumulated 109 yards on the ground, giving Frankfurt a big overall yardage lead of 341 to 195. First downs were more evenly divided, with the Galaxy holding a 16 to 15 edge. Frankfurt also accounted for six sacks, to one by the Admirals, and Amsterdam also suffered the game’s only turnover.

Butchie Wallace, who was cut during training camp and didn’t rejoin the Galaxy until the fifth week, rushed for 143 yards on 18 carries and was chosen as the game’s MVP. Roger Robinson overcame a slow first half performance to gain 96 yards on 19 attempts. As for the passing of Frankfurt’s two quarterbacks, Jeff Otis was five of 12 for 32 yards and Bryson Spinner made good on two of seven throws for 43 yards. WR Aaron Hosack led the club in pass receiving with three catches for 47 yards.

For the Admirals, Jared Allen was successful on 13 of 26 passes for 126 yards with no TDs and one interception. RB Larry Croom gained 82 yards on 14 carries that included a TD and also caught five passes for another 40 yards. WR Skyler Fulton accumulated 41 yards on his four receptions.

“Without a question, we are a running team and we did what we do best,” summed up Frankfurt’s Coach Jones.

“In the second half, they just ran it at us, play after play,” said Amsterdam DE Earl Cochrane.

The World Bowl victory marked the fourth title for Frankfurt, a record for the league. The Galaxy returned to the title game in 2007, but lost to the Hamburg Sea Devils. Amsterdam dropped to 4-6 in what was NFL Europa’s final season.

The 2006 season was the only one for Butchie Wallace, who had been a productive but injury-plagued player in college at Marshall. Undrafted by the NFL, his performance in the World Bowl drew interest and he signed with the Atlanta Falcons but was sidelined by a torn Achilles tendon and released in 2007.

Highlighted Year: Grant Guthrie, 1974

Placekicker, Jacksonville Sharks/Birmingham Americans

Age: 26

3^rd season in pro football, 1^st with WFL

College: Florida State

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 225

Prelude:

Guthrie set or tied seven school records at Florida State and scored a total of 156 points. He was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 1970 NFL draft and was successful on 10 of 19 field goal attempts, including one from 52 yards that was a club record at the time, and 24 of 25 PATs as a rookie. But after connecting on just three of ten field goal tries in ’71, Guthrie failed to last beyond six games. He unsuccessfully attempted to catch on with the Jets in 1972 and joined the Sharks of the new WFL in ’74. When the franchise folded after 14 games, he moved on to Birmingham.

1974 Season Summary

Appeared in 14 games with Jacksonville, NA with Birmingham

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kicking

Field goals – 18 [1] (Sharks: 16, Americans: 2)

Most field goals, game – 4 vs. Southern California 7/24

Field goal attempts – NA (Sharks: 21, Americans: NA)

Field goal percentage – NA (Sharks: 76.2, Americans: NA)

Longest field goal – 51 yards vs. Birmingham 8/21

Scoring

Field Goals – 18

Points – 54 (Sharks: 48, Americans: 6)

Postseason: 2 G

Field goals – 0

Field goal attempts – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-WFL: League, Sporting News

Sharks went 4-10, failing to last the season, to finish fourth in the WFL Eastern Division.

Americans went 15-5 to finish second in the WFL Central Division and qualified for the postseason. Won Second Round playoff over The Hawaiians (22-19) & WFL Championship, aka World Bowl, over Florida Blazers (22-21).  

Aftermath:

Guthrie was signed by the Los Angeles Rams in 1975 but didn’t make it to the regular season. In his stints in the NFL and WFL, he kicked a total of 31 field goals and 34 extra points (all with the Bills as the WFL’s equivalent, the action point, could not be kicked) for a total of 125 points. Guthrie was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Chet Mutryn, 1947

Halfback, Buffalo Bills

Age: 26

2^nd season in pro football & with Bisons/Bills

College: Xavier (OH)

Height: 5’9”   Weight: 180

Prelude:

Mutryn, who played basketball and baseball as well as football in college, was a two-time Little All-American. Proficient on defense and as a kicker in addition to starring at tailback, he set school records with 12 touchdowns and 96 points scored in 1942. He was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 20^th round of the ’43 NFL draft but, following service in the US Navy during World War II, he signed with the Cleveland Browns of the new AAFC in 1946. Mutryn was dealt to the Buffalo Bisons prior to the season where he was reunited with Clem Crowe, his coach at Xavier who was now an assistant with Buffalo. In his first AAFC season, Mutryn rushed for 289 yards, averaging 5.1 yards-per-carry, and caught seven passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns. His role increased with the re-named Bills in 1947.

1947 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 140 [7]

Yards – 868 [4]

Yards per attempt – 6.2 [2]

TDs – 9 [2, tied with Mickey Colmer]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 10

Yards – 176

Yards per catch – 17.6

TDs – 2 [16, tied with fourteen others]

Interceptions

Interceptions – 1

Return yards – 11

TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 21 [2, tied with Monk Gafford]

Yards – 691 [1]

Average per return – 32.9 [1]

TDs – 1 [1, tied with five others]

Longest return – 87 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 13 [4, tied with Billy Hillenbrand]

Yards – 187 [4]

Average per return – 14.4

TDs – 0

All-Purpose yards – 1933 [2]

Kicking

PATs – 1 [11, tied with five others]

PAT attempts – 2 [11, tied with Chet Adams & Frankie Albert]

Scoring

PATs – 1

TDs – 12 [2]  

Points – 73 [3]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-AAFC: League, NY Daily News

Bills went 8-4-2 to finish second in the AAFC Eastern Division.

Aftermath:

Mutryn followed up with strong all-around seasons in 1948 and ’49. He rushed for 823 yards and a league-leading 10 TDs in ’48 while catching 39 passes for 794 yards (20.4 avg.) and again led the AAFC by averaging 26.3 yards returning kickoffs. He topped the circuit with 2288 all-purpose yards and 96 points on his 16 touchdowns. Mutryn again led the league in all-purpose yards with 1330 in 1949, which included 696 rushing yards and 333 on pass receptions. With the demise of the AAFC, he joined the Baltimore Colts, who transferred to the NFL, and gained 1187 total yards, primarily with 355 rushing yards and 379 on 36 catches in 1950, after which he retired. Overall, Mutryn gained 3031 yards on 583 rushing attempts (5.2 avg.), 1850 on 121 pass receptions, averaged 26.1 yards on 73 kickoff returns, and 13.1 yards returning 41 punts. He accumulated 7320 all-purpose yards and 42 touchdowns. Of those totals, 2676 rushing yards on 475 attempts, 1471 yards on 85 pass receptions, a 27.7-yard kickoff return average and 14.1 punt return average resulting in 6133 total yards and 38 TDs came in the AAFC with Buffalo. He received first-team All-AAFC honors three times.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970