Showboats 27 Federals 7
World Bowl XIV kicked off in Portland, Oregon, the first World Bowl not in the South or a "sunny" western destination. National Conference Champion Washington got the ball first and punted, then forced American Conference Champion Memphis to go three and out. The Federals went three and out on their second drive, then we had some action. The Showboats went on an 11 play 68 yard drive, finishing it off with a 36 yard FG by James Ewing for a 3-0 Memphis lead. The first quarter would end in the middle of the ensuing Washington drive.
The Federals answered that scoring drive with a 10 play 75 yard drive of their own, ending with an 8 yard TD run by Cory Martin for a 7-3 Washington lead. Memphis answered that blow like they have done many times before, as David Austin got behind the defense for a 75 yard catch and run TD on the very next offensive play. James Nash ran it in for 2 points and the 11-7 Showboats lead. The next time Memphis got the ball, they took their time scoring, going 80 yards in 11 plays for the TD. That score was a 1 yard plunge by Donut Mogul Tim Horton. This 2 point try failed so the score was 17-7 Memphis, and that held until halftime.
Memphis received the second half kickoff and salted the game away with 2 time consuming drives. This drive covered 56 yards in a whopping 17 plays, but the Showboats could only muster 3 points to take a 20-7 lead. Washington is certainly capable of coming back from 13 points, but their first drive of the second half lasted all of 2:10 as they went three and out. Memphis got the ball back and the 3rd quarter ended in the middle of the Showboats drive.
The first Memphis drive of this half took 8:47 off the clock and their second drive extended into the 4th quarter, going 75 yards in 11 plays. Tim Horton had his second short TD run of the game to extend the Showboats lead to 27-7. Those 2 long drives took the wind out of the Federal's sails, as the rest of the game was a punting contest with Memphis winning by that 27-7 margin.
World Bowl MVP voting was split, but Memphis QB David Allen takes home the hardware and a brand new 1988 Corvette.
