World Bowl IV World Bowl ' 96 ( or World Bowl IV ) , the championship game of American football ' s WLAF , took place at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh , Scotland on 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 3 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 swept the regular season series against the Galaxy ( 20 - 0 in Frankfurt & 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 , Markus Thomas used his running back speed to return the ball 25 yards for a touchdown , allowing Scottish rugby legend Gavin Hastings to kick the successful PAT . 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 . The Galaxy also flexed their defensive muscle when CB Bernard Tobias made 2 of his game high 3 interceptions in the first quarter . In the second quarter , Galaxy QB Steve Pelluer would develop a 6 - play , 30 - yard drive that concluded with a 2 - yard TD pass to Mario Bailey . For the first time in the game , the Galaxy led the Claymores , but Scotland ' s finest refused to enter halftime trailing . Claymore QB Jim Ballard would lead two successful drives , late in the half . First , a 2 - play , 39 - yard would set up a 6 - yard pass to eventual MVP Yo Murphy ( PAT failed ) . Then , a 3 - play , 15 - yard drive would set the stage for a 16 - yard pass to Murphy , but the 2 - 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 4 - play , 74 - yard drive that ended with a 32 - yard pass to Mario Bailey , but they failed on the 2 - point conversion . The Claymores would respond big with a 71 - yard TD pass from Jim Ballard to Yo Murphy ( PAT failed ) . In the fourth quarter , the Claymores would get four points on a 50 - yard field goal by Paul McCallum . With the Galaxy down 32 - 20 , they needed points and they needed them fast . They would manage a 7 - play , 63 - yard drive that ended with a 5 - 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 pass midfield , but when the Galaxy reached a 4th & 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 ( see 4th Down rule below ) . 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 .