World Bowl ' 96 World Bowl ' 96 ( also referred to as World Bowl IV ) was the fourth championship game of the World League of American Football ( WLAF ) . It took place at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh , Scotland on Sunday , June 23 , 1996 . The 7 – 3 Scottish Claymores defeated the 7 – 3 Frankfurt Galaxy ( the defending champions ) 32 – 27 and , led by head coach Jim Criner , completed the league ' s first ever worst to first turnaround . Claymores wide receiver Yo Murphy was voted MVP for his 163 receiving yards and three touchdown s . 38 , 982 fans were in attendance that day , the highest in Claymores history and the largest crowd ever assembled for an American football game in Scotland . Background . The Claymores won the regular season series against the Galaxy , 20 – 0 in Frankfurt and 20 – 17 in Edinburgh . Game summary . The game got off to a fast start as Claymore safety George Coghill , on the opening kickoff , stripped the ball from Mario Bailey ' s arms . After the ball came out , running back Markus Thomas returned the ball 25 yards for a touchdown , allowing former Scotland rugby union player Gavin Hastings to kick the successful point after touchdown . However , the Galaxy would respond to the Claymores challenge , by having an 11 - play , 80 - yard drive that ended with Jay Kearney running 16 yards on a reverse play for a touchdown . In the second quarter , Galaxy quarterback Steve Pelluer would develop a 6 - play , 30 - yard drive that concluded with a two - yard touchdown pass to Mario Bailey . For the first time in the game , the Galaxy led the Claymores , but Scotland refused to enter halftime trailing . Claymore quarterback Jim Ballard would lead two successful drives , late in the half . First , a two - play , 39 - yard would set up a six - yard pass to eventual MVP Yo Murphy . The point after touchdown failed . Then , a three - play , 15 - yard drive would set the stage for a 16 - yard pass to Murphy , but the two - point try failed , due to the Galaxy ' s pass rush . Still , the Claymores regained their lead , being ahead 19 – 14 at halftime . In the third quarter , the Claymores increased their lead by adding Paul McCallum ' s 46 - yard field goal to their score . However , the Galaxy would respond with a four - play , 74 - yard drive that ended with a 32 - yard pass to Mario Bailey , but failed on the two - point conversion . The Claymores would respond with a 71 - yard touchdown pass from Ballard to Murphy . The point after touchdown failed . In the fourth quarter , the Claymores would get four points on a 50 - yard field goal by McCallum . With the Galaxy down 32 – 20 , they needed points and they needed them fast . They would manage a seven - play , 63 - yard drive that ended with a five - yard pass from Steve Pelluer to Mike Bellamy . After the Galaxy managed to get the ball back , they had less than a minute to get a touchdown and defend their title . Some quick passes helped Frankfurt get past midfield , but when the Galaxy reached a fourth and short situation , the mood throughout Murrayfield Stadium was tension . When the ball was snapped , the hand - off to Ingo Seibert was fumbled . Steve Pelluer managed to recover the ball and pick up the first down , but then , a flag was thrown . The referees stated that the fourth down rule was in effect . Since another player recovered the ball , the play was blown dead . It was that play and that rule that preserved the Claymores lead , giving them their 1996 World Bowl title .