James Sean Corcoran showed why they call him King here tonight with flashy quarterbacking that led his hosting Bell over the Chicago Fire, 37-31, in a World Football League game.

Corcoran's most dramatic play was an 89-yard completion to wide receiver Willie Franklin on the Bells's last possession. Philadelphia faced third and nine at its four yard line.

Scrambling Into his end zone, Corcoran found Franklin open just over the middle. It was a foot race with Chicago defender Ralph Anderson who finally forced him out on the Fire seven.

Two plays later, John Land scored his only touchdown, giving the Bell a 37-24 lend.

The Fire rallied under quarterback Bubba Wyche, who hit five straight passes for 67 yards, and scored the game's last points on Cyril Pinder's one-yard plunge with one second remaining.

Neither team scored during the first period. The Bell assumed a 15-0 second quarter lead on Claude Watts' 48-yard run plus a 10-yard pass from Corcoran to Ron Holllday.

Chicago cut the lead by eight points on Wyche's two-yard sneak behind center Guy Murdock. And the Fire stopped Watts at the one-yard line to end the half, trailing 15-7.

Allen Watson's 40-yard field goal and Wyche's 28-yard TD pass to Lonnie Crittendon gave Chicago a 17-15 lead after three periods. But the fourth quarter opened with Corcoran tossing a nine-yard TD pass to Izzo and the Bell led, 22-17.

Chuck Bailey's tackle plus Anderson's subsequent recovery of Land's fumble got the ball back for Chicago still early in the final period.

A pass interference call at the Bell two-yard line, Wyche trying to hit Terry Phillips, put Chicago in perfect position. Pinder got the first yard, then Wyche scored for a 24-22 Fire lead.

But Watts took a 31-yard screen pass from Corcoran, giving the Bell a 30-24 lead. One possession later, Corcoran found Franklin with the pass that set up Watts' second TD.

Chicago lost its ninth straight game, holds a 7-11 season record and probably will not qualify for WFL playoffs.