Surge Rallies Past Thunder, 21-17, on Archer Pass to Win World Bowl

MONTREAL — Eddie Brown caught a three-yard touchdown pass from David Archer with 5:44 to play, giving the Sacramento Surge a 21-17 victory over the Orlando Thunder in the second World Bowl on Saturday night.

The Surge trailed by 17-6 entering the fourth quarter, but closed to 17-14 when Archer threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Paul Green and passed to Mark Stock for a two-point conversion.

After the Surge’s Cary Blanchard missed a 31-yard field goal attempt, linebacker Michael Jones intercepted a pass by quarterback Scott Mitchell and returned it 12 yards to the Orlando 34, setting up the winning drive.

Orlando took a 7-0 lead during the first quarter on a Mitchell’s 10-yard pass to Chris Ford. Blanchard’s 32-yard field goal at 4:16 of the second quarter made the score 7-3, but Orlando capitalized on a fumbled punt by Brown inside the Surge 10. Mitchell then threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Willie Davis.

Tracy Bennett kicked a 20-yard field goal with 54 seconds to play in the half to make the score 17-3, but Blanchard kicked a 24-yarder with one second remaining after Archer threw a pass to Brown for 35 yards.