Oklahoma Thunder Wins World Bowl II
By Des McGinn
Special to The Times

Pro football returned to Shreveport Saturday night as the Oklahoma Thunder butted helmets with the Austin Gamebreakers in the second championship game in the revived World Football League.

Befitting a second championship game in a newly formed, but, “old” league, there were lots of “other league-ish” plays including an 80-yard touchdown interception return off a pass bounced off a receiver's foot, consecutive major penalties after the touchdown resulting in Oklahoma having to kick off from their eight, and more penalties than a bad preseason game.

Through it all, the Oklahoma Thunder maintained their perfect 16-0 season and beat the Austin Gamebreakers 29-6 for the World Bowl II title.

With Oklahoma having a precarious 15-6 lead with just over nine minutes left in the game, Austin was at the Thunder 17 and looking to make the game tighter. Quarterback, Deron Ellis drilled a pass at the foot of one of his receivers at the eight. The hard pass bounced of the receiver’s foot and looked to be an incomplete pass.

But, “Immaculate Reception”-like, the ball, instead, bounced forward and into the chest of a surprised Joey Crawford at the twenty. The linebacker then raced 80 yards down the left side line for a touchdown and a 22-6 lead with 8:59 left in the game.

“It was just a deflection and I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time,” said Crawford from Briscoe, OK. “I was even luckier that it was just offensive linemen chasing me the whole way,” he added.

The unusual nature of the play continued beyond the deflected pass and touchdown return. Oklahoma thought the touchdown might be called back when they saw a flag 30 yards up the sideline after the run back. Fortunately, it was an illegal participation penalty for sideline crowding by teammates cheering Crawford on for the touchdown.

Before the point after kick, a second penalty for unsportsmanlike like conduct was called, both being imposed on the ensuing kickoff from the Thunder eight yard line.

“We started slowly and had numerous penalties in part due to the two week delay caused by Hurricane Gustav,” said Thunder and World Football League owner, James Ashford. “Still I’m proud of the team for getting themselves together and showing why they are 16 and 0 and league champions,” he added.

Ashford also mentioned that in a few weeks Oklahoma will be the top seed among sixteen minor league football teams in a national tournament for the minor league title.

Unlike the first iteration of the World Football League which featured the Shreveport Steamers, which failed because it tried to go head to head with the NFL, the new World Football League is a minor league much like those in baseball, hockey and basketball, giving talented football players a chance to continue playing and possibly the attention of the NFL.

Playing in Independence Stadium the undefeated and top seeded Thunder took little time in taking the lead taking the opening kickoff down to the three before Lamont Hill kicked a 32 yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

Austin starting at their 34, continued to have problems with the center-quarterback exchange, especially on a deep snap. On first and fifteen, the center direct snapped to Carlton Booe, in motion, but not expecting the ball. The fumble was recovered by 98 at the Austin 24.

Oklahoma had a chance to take an 10-0 lead, but, a wide open William Ponder dropped the pass in the end zone. Thunder kicker, Cort Moffitt, barely made a 43-yard field goal, but, an illegal formation penalty pushed the ball back five yards and from 48 yards, Moffitt was woefully short.

With both teams coming off a two week lay off, the rust was showing as both teams had numerous passes dropped and combined for 15 penalties for a sloppy, 3-0 half time lead for the Thunder.

While Oklahoma came out sharper in the third, scoring in a 35-yard field goal by Cort Moffit, Austin was still not in the game. On their next possession, Gamebreakers’ quarterback, Deron Ellis, was intercepted on his first pass at the half, giving the Thunder the ball at the Austin 16.

Two plays later, Oklahoma made it 12-0 when quarterback, Rico Watkins scrambled to the right and walked into the end zone untouched.

Austin responded with a touchdown, making it a 12-6 game, on a long drive, starting at their 25, and capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Ellis to Dante Hunter.

Oklahoma responded with a 25-yard Moffit field goal for a 15-6 lead, but Austin with Ellis finally connecting with his receivers who were holding on to the ball, drove his team to the Thunder 1.

The undefeated Thunder, as much so for their defense as their offense, showed that defensive prowess, by stopping the Gamebreakers on four straight running plays including a smothering tackle by two Oklahoma defenders on fourth and goal from the one on a toss sweep to Carlton Booe who looked like he had an angle to the left corner.

“We have a history of stopping teams once they get inside of our five,” said defensive coordinator/owner, Daniel Cornielison. “We almost prefer for the opposing offense to get inside our five as it dares them to go for it on fourth down and we always stop them,” he added. Oklahoma led the league in fewest points allowed and total defense.

While Oklahoma saved a touchdown, from the one their offense could do little on the possession and had to punt giving Austin excellent field position at the Thunder 49.

Then came the “gamebreaker”, although it was by Oklahoma. With Austin driving from the Thunder 27, Ellis drilled a pass at the feet of one his receivers at the Oklahoma eight, but, “Franco Harris-like” it bounced off the receiver into the chest of a stunned Joey Crawford at the 20. Crawford then raced down the left sideline for an 80-yard touchdown return, giving the Thunder a comfortable lead at 22-6 with 8:59 left in the game.

“Crawford is the best player I’ve seen,” said head coach/owner, Bruce Madden. “I’m very proud of how the team responded in the second half,” he added. “Everything was a little off in the beginning because of the story postponement, but they showed everyone why we are the best team in the league and champs.”

Last Edited on 18-Oct-2008 11:27 PM