World Bowl XXIV was played in front of 67,113 fans at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California, the second time they have hosted the big game. The last time this game was in Anaheim was World Bowl X when New Jersey beat Denver for their second title in 3 years. That was the last time New Jersey, or any other National Conference team won a World Bowl as the next 13 were won by Houston, Houston, Memphis, Memphis, Houston, Portland, Memphis, Portland, Denver, Portland, Houston, Houston, and Houston.
The Portland Storm were the American Conference representative and they came into the game with the #2 ranked offense and #1 ranked defense, and a perfect 3-0 World Bowl record. The New Jersey Generals represented the National Conference for a record 8th time, but were just 2-5 the previous 7. The Generals had the #1 offense for the 3rd straight season, but their defense has improved each year, going from 14th to 10th and to 6th this season.
World Bowl XXIV
New Jersey Generals 16 Portland Storm 13
Portland won the coin toss and elected to receive and the kickoff was a touchback. Fans across America had barely settled in front of the television when Emanuel Fugate found Richard Robinson for a 75 yard catch and run TD for an instant 7-0 lead. New Jersey ran 3 plays and made 3 first downs on their opening drive but on the 4th play, Don Ferguson was intercepted by Anthony Overstreet, keeping the score 7-0. Fugate led a conventional drive and the Storm looked headed for another TD until a false start on a 3rd and 2 set them back just enough that they were forced to kick a FG. Donald Atkins was good from 50 yards and the Storm had an early 10-0 lead. New Jersey then went three and out while Portland then drove a bit before also punting, pinning New Jersey inside the 10. Speaking of 10, the first quarter ended 10-0 Portland.
The second quarter started opposite of the first, as New Jersey punted, Portland went three and out, Don Ferguson threw INT #2 to Overstreet, then Fugate returned the favor when Fox Mulder picked him off. That was huge as Portland had a 3rd and 1 from the New Jersey 5 yard line and even an offense like the Generals would find it difficult to overcome a 17 point deficit in version 4.6. Mulder kept it 10-0 though and New Jersey took over at their 3 yard line. Don Ferguson then led the drive of the game, leading the Generals 97 yards for a TD, aided in part by 3 defensive penalties by Portland including a 15 yard facemask. David Koresh and Kurt Cobain had some good runs on the drive and Ferguson capped it off with an 8 yard TD pass to Forrest Gump, making the score 10-7. Portland drove to the edge of FG range before halftime but opted to go for a 4th and 2 rather than a 56/57 yard FG attempt and it failed. The rest of the half was uneventful and Portland took a 10-7 lead into the locker room.
New Jersey got the ball to start the 3rd quarter and Don Ferguson ended up throwing interception #3, this one to Raymond McDonald. QBs have struggled throughout this post season and today was no exception. Continuing that theme was Emanuel Fugate, who for the second time today, gave the ball right back to New Jersey after the Storm defense took it away. David Numbers intercepted this pass, though the Generals would be forced to punt. Two more punts and Portland takes over on their own 40, still leading 10-7, when David Numbers intercepted Fugate again. That led to an Al Borland FG, tying the game at 10 after 3 quarters.
On the second play of the 4th quarter, Donald Atkins broke the tie with a 41 yard FG for Portland. New Jersey was forced to punt but got the ball right back when Fugate threw his 4th INT, this one to Barry Larkin. One play got the Generals into the red zone before the drive stalled. Al Borland came on for a game tying 32 yard FG with just under 10 minutes to play. New Jersey forced a three and out, getting the ball back with a little over 8 minutes to go. Don Ferguson led a 9 play, 64 yard drive that took 6 minutes off the clock. Ferguson was 6/7 on the drive and Al Borland made a 33 yard FG with 2:05 left to give New Jersey their first lead of the game 16-13. Portland got the ball back with plenty of time left but Fugate only completed 1/4 passes for 1 yard, turning it over on downs. Kurt Cobain sealed the victory with a 13 yard run for a 1st down on 3rd and 11, allowing Ferguson to kneel down 3 times to kill the clock and break the streak.
Emanuel Fugate finished 14/31, 211 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT and 1 sack while WR Richard Robinson ended the day with 105 yards and a TD on 3 catches. Don Ferguson completed 25/40, 234 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT and 4 sacks while RB David Koresh had 142 combined yards, 84 rushing and 58 receiving. Koresh was named World Bowl MVP and drives away in a brand new 1998 Chevrolet Corvette.
