Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 24, 1991 TAG: 9103240213
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: FRANKFURT, GERMANY LENGTH: Medium
Before 23,619 Saturday, London scored a 96-yard touchdown on Stan Gelbaugh's pass to Jon Horton during a 17-point third quarter, and the Monarchs beat the Frankfurt Galaxy 24-11.
The crowd, a mixture of Germans and Americans, watched the teams settle down from a mistake-filled opening quarter into a level of play approximating that of U.S. minor-college football.
The first game of the 10-team transcontinental league featured fireworks and Americana ranging from cheerleaders to a rock-'n'-roll halftime show.
WLAF President Mike Lynn landed by helicopter on the field to present the game ball - which will be taken to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio - and greeted the crowd in German and English.
The league's first points came on a safety by a second-string nose tackle, Chris Williams of Frankfurt, who brought down London running back Judd Garrett in the end zone.
The first offensive points came on a 35-yard field goal by Frankfurt's Stephan Maslo, one of the team's three German players. The WLAF's first touchdown was a 28-yard run by London's David Smith on a draw play.
Despite a sloppy first quarter in which neither team made a first down and penalty flags predominated, the teams combined for more than 500 yards of total offense and only three turnovers.
The Monarchs took control in the second half. Phil Alexander, a Briton, kicked a 25-yard field goal to make it 10-5, then Horton caught the bomb from Gelbaugh.
London extended its lead to 24-5 on an 8-yard run by flanker Dana Brinson.
Frankfurt scored its touchdown on a 6-yard pass from Mike Perez to Todd Young.
by CNB