2003
January
26, 2003
A record 18 former
NFLEL players are on the Super Bowl rosters of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders, including game-winning quarterback
Brad Johnson of the Buccaneers, a former London Monarch. It caps a season in which a record 257 ex-NFLEL players have appeared
on NFL rosters and a record eight have been selected for Pro Bowl.
April 5, 2003
NFLEL
kicks off its eleventh season.
June
14, 2003
Frankfurt Galaxy
beats Rhein Fire 35-16 to win World Bowl XI at Glasgow's Hampden Park, becoming the first franchise to win three World Bowls.
October 28, 2003
NFLEL announces that it has suspended operations of the Barcelona
Dragons due to falling attendances.
November
3, 2003
The German city
of Cologne is named as the site of a new NFLEL franchise. Former Berlin Thunder head coach Peter Vaas is names as the team's
head coach.
December 19, 2003
The NFLEL's newest team is officially named as the Cologne Centurions.
Lewis
leads Galaxy to record win
June 14, 2003
Frankfurt Galaxy 35
Rhein Fire 16
Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland
Jonas Lewis rushed for a World Bowl record 126 yards.
photo:
photo-stock.co.uk RUNNING
back Jonas Lewis rushed for a World Bowl record 126 yards and a touchdown as the Frankfurt Galaxy became the first team in
NFL Europe League history to win three World Bowls as they defeated their Deutschland Derby rivals in Glasgow, Scotland.
Lewis was named MVP of World Bowl XI as the Galaxy added to the World Bowl
titles they won in 1995 and 1999 in emphatic fashion. Fellow running back Robert Gillespie added 88 rushing yards and also
scored a touchdown for victorious Frankfurt.
Rhein was able
to move the football, gaining 418 yards on offense, but they failed to take advantage of several scoring opportunities, settling
for field goals instead of touchdowns before finally finding the end zone late in the fourth period when the game was already
out of reach.
Frankfurt took the opening kickoff of the contest
and quickly moved into scoring range as quarterback James Brown hit wide receiver Robert Baker for 14 yards and Lewis gained
22 yards on a scamper up the middle.
The drive stalled in
Fire territory when Brown threw two incompletions and then came up short on a third down scramble. But the Galaxy took an
early lead when Jon Hilbert kicked a 53-yard field goal - worth four points in NFL Europe.
The Galaxy stretched their lead to 11-0 in the first period after forcing the Fire to punt on their
opening drive. Lewis carried five times for 22 yards on the 79-yard scoring drive and capped the march with a 1-yard touchdown
run.
Brown also moved Frankfurt downfield with completions
of 11 and 17 yards to wide receiver Marc Lester. However, the key play was a pass interference call on defensive back Lemual
Ligon, who tackled Brian McDonald to the ground as a third down pass into the end zone fell incomplete. The penalty cost the
Fire 29 yards and one play later Lewis skipped untouched into the end zone and Ralf Kleinmann tacked on the extra point.
Rhein responded with Frank Moreau carrying the ball five times for 24 yards
and Nick Rolovich hitting wide receiver Todd Elstrom for a 32-yard gain.
The
drive stalled at the Galaxy 21-yard line when All-NFL Europe League defensive tackle Luis Almanzar sacked Rolovich. Todd France
kicked a 39-yard field goal with 56 seconds remaining in the first quarter to reduce the Frankfurt lead to 11-3.
The Fire gifted the Galaxy their next points when Josh McKibben's fourth
down snap went over punter Jay Taylor's head, giving Frankfurt possession at Rhein's 15-yard line.
Three plays later, Jacksonville Jaguars allocated quarterback Quinn Gray lofted a 20-yard touchdown
pass to Lester and the Galaxy had an 18-3 lead with 9:53 to play in the second quarter.
Rhein fought back with Moreau running for gains of 13 and 8 yards, and Chris Greisen hitting tight
end Chad Mustard on completions of 14 and 11 yards, as well as a 10-yarder to wideout Kendall Newson.
The drive was halted on third and goal at the Galaxy 3-yard line when Greisen was sacked for a 10-yard
loss by defensive end Joey Evans. German kicker Ingo Anderbrügge split the uprights on a 31-yard field goal attempt to
reduce the arrears to 18-6 with just under four minutes remaining in the first half.
Robert Gillespie scored on a 29-yard run.
photo:
photo-stock.co.uk Frankfurt's response was
emphatic as Lewis ripped off a jinking 42-yard run before Gillespie, of the Washington Redskins, capped a three-play scoring
drive with a 29-yard sprint off left tackle into the end zone for a 25-6 Galaxy lead.
Rhein managed to claw three points back as Anderbrügge chipped a 27-yard field goal as time
expired at the end of the first half. Greisen moved the Fire into scoring range with completions of 11 and 10 yards to running
back Autry Denson, 10 yards to wideout Emmett Johnson and 7 yards to Lavell Boyd.
The Fire made a promising start to the second half as they marched 79 yards to the Galaxy 1-yard line on Rolovich
completions to Elstrom (8 yards), tight end Dwayne Blakley (23 yards), Newson (6 and 18 yards) and Boyd (7 yards).
But on fourth and goal from the 1-yard line, the scoring opportunity was
wasted as Rolovich fumbled the snap from center and German defensive end Daniel Benetka recovered the loose ball for Frankfurt.
Starting at their own 1-yard line, the Galaxy marched 99 yards in 10 plays
and extended the lead to 32-9 when Adam Tate dived into the end zone from a yard out with 3:13 remaining in the third period.
Gillespie ripped off runs of 17 and 31 yards on the drive, while Brown
completed passes of 16 and 6 yards to Baltimore Ravens allocated wideout Lester.
The Fire had another chance to score a touchdown early in the fourth quarter when they moved to Frankfurt's
3-yard line. But Rolovich's second down pass into the end zone was picked off by Galaxy cornerback Chris Pointer.
Kleinmann put an exclamation point on Frankfurt's victory when he booted
a 34-yard field goal with 4:37 remaining. Rhein scored a consolation touchdown with 1:55 left on the clock when Greisen hit
Blakley from 5 yards out.
2003 Results & Standings
| Teams | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | Final | Attendance | Day
/ Date | Time | U.S. TV |
|---|
| | LOC | EDT | PDT | |
|---|
| WEEK 1 |
|---|
Amsterdam Admirals
@ Rhein Fire | 3
0 | 7
3 | 0
6 | 7
6 | | 17
15 | 28,206 | Saturday
April 5 | 7:00 PM | 12:00 PM | 9:00
AM | Fox Sports Net |
F.C. Barcelona Dragons
@ Frankfurt Galaxy | 0
6 | 7
3 | 0
3 | 6
3 | | 13
15 | 23,313 | Saturday
April 5 | 7:00
PM | 12:00 PM | 9:00 AM | DirectTV 704 |
Berlin Thunder
@ Scottish
Claymores | 10
14 | 21
14 | 0
20 | 0
14 | | 31
62 | 14,894 | Sunday
April 6 | 3:00 PM | 10:00 AM | 7:00 AM | DirectTV 704 |
| WEEK 2 |
|---|
F.C. Barcelona Dragons
@ Amsterdam Admirals | 3
0 | 0
0 | 0
7 | 7
0 | | 10
7 | 11,386 | Saturday
April 12 | 7:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Fox
Sports Net |
Frankfurt Galaxy
@ Scottish Claymores | 7
7 | 0
0 | 3
0 | 7
6 | | 17
13 | 11,104 | Sunday
April 13 | 3:00 PM | 10:00 AM | 7:00
AM | DirectTV 704 |
Rhein Fire
@ Berlin Thunder | 7
3 | 7
0 | 7
0 | 0
7 | | 21
10 | 16,312 | Sunday
April 13 | 4:00 PM | 10:00 AM | 7:00
AM | DirectTV 705 |
| WEEK 3 |
|---|
Amsterdam Admirals
@ F.C. Barcelona Dragons | 0
7 | 10
7 | 0
7 | 7
14 | | 17
35 | 4,716 | Saturday
April 19 | 5:30 PM | 11:30 AM | 8:30 AM | DirectTV 704 |
Berlin
Thunder
@ Frankfurt Galaxy | 0
35 | 14
0 | 7
3 | 0
3 | | 21
41 | 22,758 | Saturday
April 19 | 7:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 10:00 AM | DirectTV 705 |
Scottish
Claymores
@ Rhein Fire | 0
7 | 3
13 | 0
0 | 14
14 | | 17
34 | 43,985 | Saturday
April 19 | 7:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Fox Sports Net |
| WEEK 4 |
|---|
Frankfurt Galaxy
@ Amsterdam Admirals | 6
0 | 0
7 | 3
0 | 7
13 | | 16
20 | 10,684 | Saturday
April 26 | 5:00 PM | 11:00 AM | 8:00 AM | Fox
Sports Net |
Rhein Fire
@ F.C. Barcelona Dragons | 3
7 | 0
0 | 0
0 | 0
4 | | 3
11 | 6,182 | Saturday
April 26 | 5:00 PM | 11:00 AM | 8:00
AM | DirectTV 704 |
Scottish Claymores
@ Berlin Thunder | 14
7 | 6
10 | 7
0 | 7
0 | | 34
17 | 10,413 | Sunday
April 27 | 4:00 PM | 10:00 AM | 8:00
AM | DirectTV 704 |
| WEEK 5 |
|---|
Frankfurt Galaxy
@
Rhein Fire | 7
3 | 0
11 | 0
0 | 0
0 | | 7
14 | 42,324 | Saturday
May 3 | 7:00
PM | 1:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Fox Sports Net |
Amsterdam Admirals
@
Berlin Thunder | 7
6 | 3
14 | 0
14 | 20
0 | | 30
34 | 8,934 | Sunday
May 4 | 4:00 PM | 10:00 AM | 8:00 AM | DirectTV 705 |
F.C.
Barcelona Dragons
@ Scottish Claymores | 7
0 | 7
0 | 3
0 | 0
10 | | 17
10 | 8,783 | Sunday
May 4 | 3:00 PM | 10:00 AM | 7:00 AM | DirectTV 704 |
| WEEK 6 |
|---|
Berlin Thunder
@ F.C. Barcelona Dragons | 7
0 | 14
0 | 0
0 | 3
14 | | 24
14 | 7,597 | Saturday
May 10 | 5:30 PM | 11:30 AM | 8:30 AM | Fox
Sports Net |
Rhein Fire
@ Amsterdam Admirals | 14
14 | 7
7 | 10
0 | 3
6 | | 34
27 | 11,672 | Saturday
May 10 | 7:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 10:00
AM | DirectTV 704 |
Scottish Claymores
@ Frankfurt Galaxy | 14
0 | 7
6 | 0
7 | 6
14 | 0
6 | 27
33 | 22,324 | Saturday
May 10 | 7:00 PM | 1:00
PM | 10:00 AM | DirectTV 705 |
| WEEK 7 |
|---|
Amsterdam
Admirals
@ Frankfurt Galaxy | 7
3 | 10
7 | 0
0 | 10
14 | | 27
24 | 23,129 | Saturday
May 17 | 7:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 10:00 AM | DirectTV 704 |
F.C.
Barcelona Dragons
@ Berlin Thunder | 6
4 | 7
10 | 7
3 | 3
3 | | 23
20 | 11,766 | Saturday
May 17 | 7:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Fox Sports Net |
Rhein
Fire
@ Scottish Claymores | 0
9 | 0
7 | 0
10 | 0
7 | | 0
33 | 8,279 | Sunday
May 18 | 3:00 PM | 10:00 AM | 7:00 AM | FOX |
| WEEK 8 |
|---|
Frankfurt Galaxy
@ F.C. Barcelona Dragons | 6
0 | 14
7 | 3
6 | 24
0 | | 47
13 | 7,597 | Saturday
May 24 | 5:30 PM | 11:30 AM | 8:30 AM | DirectTV
704 |
Scottish Claymores
@ Amsterdam Admirals | 7
0 | 17
10 | 0
0 | 7
10 | | 31
20 | 11,259 | Saturday
May 24 | 7:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 10:00
AM | Fox Sports Net |
Berlin Thunder
@ Rhein Fire | 4
7 | 10
7 | 0
6 | 7
8 | | 21
28 | 27,895 | Sunday
May 25 | 4:00 PM | 10:00 AM | 7:00
AM | FOX |
| WEEK 9 |
|---|
Berlin Thunder
@ Amsterdam
Admirals | 7
20 | 7
14 | 21
14 | 8
3 | | 43
51 | 12,207 | Saturday
May 31 | 7:00
PM | 1:00 PM | 10:00 AM | DirectTV 704 |
Scottish Claymores
@
F.C. Barcelona Dragons | 14
0 | 21
0 | 7
0 | 3
7 | | 45
7 | 8,247 | Saturday
May 31 | 5:30 PM | 11:30 AM | 8:30 AM | Fox Sports Net |
Rhein
Fire
@ Frankfurt Galaxy | 0
0 | 0
21 | 0
7 | 7
10 | | 7
38 | 25,539 | Sunday
June 1 | 4:00 PM | 10:00 AM | 7:00 AM | FOX |
| WEEK 10 |
|---|
F.C. Barcelona Dragons
@ Rhein Fire | 0
3 | 0
23 | 0
0 | 7
7 | | 7
33 | 28,678 | Saturday
June 7 | 7:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 10:00 AM | DirectTV
704 |
Frankfurt Galaxy
@ Berlin Thunder | 0
3 | 0
17 | 6
0 | 8
7 | | 14
27 | 13,768 | Saturday
June 7 | 7:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 10:00
AM | Fox Sports Net |
Amsterdam Admirals
@ Scottish Claymores | 7
7 | 0
7 | 7
7 | 0
10 | | 14
31 | 10,497 | Sunday
June 8 | 3:00
PM | 10:00 AM | 7:00 AM | DirectTV 704 |
| WORLD BOWL 2003 at Hampden Park (Glasgow, Scotland) |
|---|
Rhein Fire
Frankfurt Galaxy | 3
11 | 6
14 | 0
7 | 7
3 | | 16
35 | 28,138 | Saturday
June 14 | 5:00
PM | 12:00 PM | 9:00 AM | FOX |
http://www.hworth.net/nflel/scores2003.html
photos copyright Wayne Paulo
