Box Score
World Bowl '92
Sunday 6 June, 1992
Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada
Final Score: Sacremento Surge 21 - 17 Orlando Thunder

NFL Journeyman quarterback Dave Archer came to the World League in 1992 looking to revitalise his career. After bouncing around five NFL teams, Archer landed in Sacremento.

Orlando had a young QB named Scott Mitchell under center and it looked as if the Thunder had this Bowl game tied up early on.

On their first drive, the Thunder led by Mitchell hit receiver Chris Ford for a 10 yard score to cap a 12 play, 98 yard drive for an early 7-0 lead. The lead was subsequently cut to 4 when Surge kicker Cary Blanchard hit a 32 yard field goal early in the second period.

The Thunder's next drive stalled preventing them from extended their lead and they were forced to punt. Ray Criswell's punt was fumbled by WR Eddie Brown allowing the Floridians to recover at the Sacremento 9 yard line. Two plays later, Mitchell took aim and fired for Willie Davis in the back left corner of the endzone for an 8 yard hookup.

With barely a minute left in the half, Sacremento were desparate to cut the deficit before the break, Archer forced a ball which was picked off by DB Malcolm Frank in the middle of the field and returned to the Surge 9 yard line. Unable to find the endzone, the Thunder settled for a 20 yard Tracy Bennett field goal and a 17-3 lead.

All of a sudden, Archer found his form hitting receivers for 12, 13, 12 and 35 yards to setup Cary Blanchard's 24 yard field goal as time expired on the first half with the score 17-6 to Orlando.

It took until the final quarter before Archer return to the same form as his final drive of the first half. Sacremento launched a 10 play, 85 yard drive which was capped by Archer's 12 yard pass to tight end Paul Green in the back of the endzone. The 2 point conversion attempt from Archer to Mark Stock was good pulling the Surge to within three.

Mitchell, by this stage was having trouble with the Surge pass rush. "They blitzed and we didn't stop it," Mitchell said. "They did a lot of that in the second half. That field goal at the end of the first half was the turning point in the game.

Missed opportunities for both teams followed as a promising Thunder drive was ended as Mitchell fumbles after being hit in the backfield. Sacremento missed a field goal on their resulting drive.

Orlando had the upper hand, a long, time-consuming drive would end the game, however, Surge linebacker Mike Jones had other ideas as he intercepted Mitchell under heavy pressure from a Sacremento blitz.

The Surge had the ball at the Thunder 34 yard line. Archer lofted a 31 yard pass to running back Mike Pringle before hitting receiver Eddie Brown for a 5 yard score 2 plays later. It turned out to be the winning score.

Thunder coach Galen Hall commented after the game "We self-destructed. We didn't have to score on that drive that ended with us being intercepted. We just needed a 7-minute drive and the game would have been over, but we couldn't get it done."

Sacremento linebacker Pete Najarian summed up the game from a Surge point of view "If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best - tonight we are the best".

Archer was named MVP on the back of leading his side to a comeback victory in Montreal's Olympic Stadium.

SCORES
TEAM 1 2 3 4   TOTAL
Sacramento 0 6 0 15 -- 21
Orlando 7 10 0 0 -- 17

SCORING SUMMARY
TEAM QUARTER ELAPSED TIME SCORING PLAY DRIVE SCORE
Orl 1 11:27 TD Ford 10 yds pass Mitchell (Bennett Kick) 12-98 0-7
Sac 2 5:16 FG Blanchard 32 14-56 3-7
Orl 2 8:12 TD Davis 8 pass from Mitchell (Bennett Kick) 2-9 3-14
Orl 2 14:06 FG Bennettt 20 4-7 3-17
Sac 2 14:59 FG Blanchard 24 6-72 6-17
Sac 4 3:33 TD Green 12 pass from Archer (Stock pass from Archer) 10-85 14-17
Sac 4 9:16 TD Brown 2 pass from Archer (Blanchard Kick) 4-34 21-17
TEAM STATISTICS
CATEGORY SACREMENTO ORLANDO
First Downs 24 15
Rushes - Yards 28-128 11-35
Passing - Yards 274 168
Comp-Att-Int 22-34-2 8-41-1
Return Yards 123 126
Punts 3-44 6-44
Sacked - Yards Lost 2-12 2-19
Fumbles Lost 2-2 4-2
Penalty - Yards 7-70 3-25
Time of Possession 35:48 24:12

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
TYPE TEAM DATA
Passing Sacramento Archer 22-33-286-2 TD-1 INT; Brown 0-1 1 INT.
Orlando Mitchell 18-41-187-2 TD-1 INT.
Receiving Sacramento Brown 8-78-1 TD; Burse 4-57; Parker 3-46; Stock 3-52; Pringle 2-37; Green 2-16.
Orlando Johnson 7-79; Davis 4-43 -1 TD; Ford 4-28-1 TD, G. Bell 2-25; Stowers 1-12.
Rushing Sacramento Pringle 17-84; Dubose 5-22; Archer 3-20; Burse 3-2
Orlando Clack 8-20; Mitchell 2-7; Howard Johnson 1-8