Green Bay Packers (2-0) 57, Detroit Lions (1-1) 21
Sunday October 7th 1945 (at Milwaukee)
GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)
(MILWAUKEE) - A 175-pound bomb dressed in the blue and gold of the Green Bay Packers fell on the Detroit Lions at State Fair park here Sunday. The bomb, a calm, casual individual known as Don Hutson, personally led his teammates to a 57-21 victory over the Lions before 25,500 fans who saw offensive football power in all its brilliance as the Packers retained their share of the lead in the Western division race of the NFL. Aided by the sharpshooting of a bombardier, halfback Roy McKay, the greatest end in league history, personally accounted for 31 of the Packers' points, 29 of them in a hectic second quarter. The passing combination of Hutson and McKay set off a display of offensive football that was the greatest in the Packers' 27-year history. This irresistible force blew the Lions' hopes for their first victory over the Packers since 1940 sky high and dealt a lethal blow to their belief that they could rack up their seventh straight victory in league play. Hutson has had other great days - many of them - in 10 full seasons of play but he's never had one like Sunday. He made the Detroit defense - composed of veterans, mind you - look silly as he made tremendous catches and then raced 59, 46, 17 and six yards on the receiving end of passes from McKay. And let nothing be taken away from McKay, because his rifling was something to talk about, too.
START IN SECOND QUARTER
The Packers didn't catch fire until the second quarter, but when they did, even the State Fair park management thought it well to get out the mechanical sprinkler. In almost less time than it takes to tell about it, the Packers had scored six touchdowns, and five extra points to lead the Lions at halftime, 41-7. Detroit had scored first on the first play of the second quarter after threatening during the entire first period. But that's neither here nor there - the Packers went to work in that second period. First, Hutson and McKay worked together on a pass play that covered 59 yards. Then Irv Comp tossed an aerial to rookie Clyde Goodnight that carried 46 yards. Again it was the Hutson-McKay duo for 46 and shortly after for 17. Fullback Ted Fritsch came in fast and intercepted a Detroit pass and galloped 69 yards for the fifth touchdown. This was mayhem but the Packers still didn't quit. A few minutes later, Hutson snagged another McKay pass on a 6-yard play. Late in the third period, a different scoring combination clicked. Lou Brock unlimbered his throwing arm and tossed a seventh touchdown pas to Comp for 59 yards. The climax to a beautiful afternoon for the Bays came when Capt. Charley Brock, the best center in the league, wrote his name into the scoring column with a 31-yard runback of an intercepted pass. It was a fitting end to a perfect day.
PACKERS GET SAFETY
The Packers also got two other points on a safety, when Goodnight dumped Dave Ryan of Detroit in the end zone in the third period after the Lions' Bob Westfall has scored his team's second touchdown on a 7-yard break through the line. The other Detroit scores, if it makes any difference, came on an 8-yard dash in the second quarter and a pass play, Ryan to Bob Greene. It was good for 61 yards. Bill Callihan, the Lions' captain, booted the three points after touchdown. Perhaps the Lions wish they hadn't riled the Packers by scoring first. They did the same thing a year ago in the same park and immediately the Bays roared back to a 27-6 victory. Being an all-veteran outfit, they should have remembered - or maybe they forgot - that Hutson had come out of retirement. Forgetting, they'll have the satisfaction at least of thinking back in their old age and telling their grandchildren what Hutson and the Packers did to them. While the Packers' victory centered on Hutson, let it not be forgotten that passers McKay and Comp had ample time to throw the ball because of excellent protection. The line played superb ball from end to end and the other backs cut some fancy capers when they weren't blocking out potential tacklers. Also outstanding in the game were the booming kickoffs of Glen Sorenson and Fritsch and the punts of McKay. The Packer machine hit on all 33 Sunday, the exact number of men eligible to play.
MUST DEFEAT CLEVELAND
Let them play as well against Cleveland next Sunday and they'll rule the Western division alone. Things didn't look too bright in the first quarter, when the Bays had their backs to the wall on several occasions only to stiffen and hold. Detroit moved to the 19 but Lou Brock averted the impending trouble with his interception of Cotton Price's pass. Shortly after, Chuck Fenenbock, a Detroit standout, moved McKay's punt from the Packer 46 to the 19. Three plays gained two but Pete Tinsley deflected Nelson's field goal attempt from the 25. After an exchange of punts, the Packers ran into trouble again and were forced to kick from their 18, McKay's kick traveling only to the 35 against the heavy wind. It bounced back to the 29. Andy Farkas gained two and a Fenenbock pass to Masterson was good to the 11. Fenenbock passed wild and then moved between left tackle and end to the 8 as the first quarter ended. On the first play of the second period, Fenenbock faked a pass to a man in motion to the left and then wheeled over left tackle to the goal. As the clock showed five seconds of the period gone, Callihan kicked the point after to give Detroit a 7-0 lead. Then the bomb and a variety of other catastrophes fashioned by the Packers fell on the Lions. They probably still are wondering where it all came from. Their seven-game winning streak went under and so did they share of the Western half lead.
CRAIG CARRIES BALL
The Lions kicked off. Larry Craig got one of his few chances to tote the ball when he returned Nelson's boot nine yards to the Green Bay 41. On first down, McKay dropped back, Hutson flashed ahead and made Art Van Tone, a seasoned Detroit veteran, look silly when he caught the ball on the 40 and ambled the remaining distance to the goal. But that was only the beginning. The Lions received the kickoff, gained nine yards on three plays and punted out of bounds on their own 46. Meanwhile, Comp had replaced McKay and Goodnight went in for Hutson. On first down again, Comp moved back, Goodnight raced to his right and up the alley. The pass was right in his hands as he crossed the seven-yard marker. For a moment, the rookie from Tulsa juggled the ball but then glued to it and walked over unmolested. Things began to look good for Green Bay but they looked even better yet a short while later. Starting from their 20, the Lions picked up a first down on the 30. Three plays with Westfall and Callihan carrying brought the ball to the 39 1/2. Westfall failed on a fourth down to pick up the necessary yardage. The Packers took over. The first play didn't look too good as Matheson threw Comp for a 12-yard loss on the Packer 49. The stage then was set for the next two plays as McKay and Hutson entered.
COMBINATION WORKS AGAIN
On first down, Hutson made a brilliant fingertip catch of McKay's pass on the Detroit 46. On the next play, the same combination worked. Hutson raced behind two Detroit defenders, Fenenbock and Keene, to take McKay's pass going away on the 9. The score was 21-7 as Hutson kicked his third straight point after. The Packers kicked off, Sorenson's attempt going over the end zone. The Lions moved to the 34 for a first down, aided by a 5-yard penalty. Price tried a pass and went back for another but Ben Starrett was waiting. He grabbed the ball out of the air on the Detroit 44 and ran it back to the 17, for a 27-yard dash before he was brought down. Detroit knew what was coming then and so did the crowd. Again it was McKay to Hutson. The former Texas halfback who is coming into his own rapidly following a season when he was beset by an injury lobbed a perfect pass to Don, who took it on the 2 while Sneddon of the Lions kept careful watch. Sneddon was so bewildered he just sank to his knees and pounded the fair park turf. Only two-thirds of the second period had gone by when Hutson's point after touchdown was blocked to make the count 27-7. The Lions figured they still had a chance. Price ran the kickoff back to his 26. Starrett, who has one of his best days, knocked down his first pass attempt but the second to Matheson clicked to the Detroit 43 for a first down. A roughness penalty gave the Lions the ball on the Bay 38 1/2. Two Price passes were incomplete and then the remainder of the roof fell in, or so it seemed anyway. Fritsch came over to protect on a pass. The ball was juggled by Dave Diehl, Lion end, and it bounced in the air. Fritsch grabbed it and lit out for the goal 69 yards away and he made the distance with the aid of some great downfield blocking by his mates. Hutson added the point and it was 34-7, and still two and a half minutes to go in the second quarter.
ANOTHER TOUCHDOWN PASS
Price took Sorenson's kickoff in the end zone and moved to the 12. The Lions couldn't gain and Fenenbock tried a quick kick that backfired. The ball was downed on the Detroit 19. On first down, Hutson and McKay teamed again. Hutson took the pass on the 10 and fell but managed to get to the 8, where the Lions were penalized to the 6 on what the referees signaled as holding. It may sound monotonous, but the pair just couldn't be stopped. This time it was Keene who watched bewildered as Hutson took McKay's pass in the end zone. He racked up his 29th point of the period with a perfect kick, aided as usual by the able holding of halfback Joe Laws, who has been in on similar plays almost a hundred times. The quarter, one of the greatest in Packer history, ended a play later, with Detroit trailing, 41-7. The Lions, it must be said, still tried. Taking the second half kickoff, they put together two first downs, aided by Fenenbock a 31-yard sprint from his 30 to the Packer 39. After six yards in two plays they lost to their own 48 for illegal use of the hands. Fenenbock then tossed a pass to Van Tone, who raced to the 24, where he fumbled. Don Perkins scooped up the ball and returned it to midfield but the Packers were penalized for clipping to the 31, retaining possession.
DETROIT FINALLY TALLIES
The Packers were forced to punt after a stout defense pushed them back to 24. Fenenbock ran the kick from his 35 to the 47. Price failed on a pass and lost two yards on a line buck. Rookie Ryan then uncorked a pass to Greene, who was stopped on the 7 by Carl Mulleneaux, the play carrying 48 yards. Westfall pushed it over from there and Callihan converted to make it 41-14. Two other receivers came in the Packer picture at this point. Mulleneaux's catch of McKay's pass was nullified by a Packer penalty to their 12-yard line. Then McKay passed to Alex Urban, who caught the ball on the Detroit 49 and ran to the 33, where Ryan dropped him. The gain was good for 55 yards. Here the Bays were stymied and had to punt on fourth down, McKay placing one out on the 6. It set the stage for the safety when Ryan fumbled on first down and Goodnight dopped him in the end zone for another two Packer points. Score 43-14. Perkins and McKay combined to pick up yardage after the kickoff to the 25 but the Lions held and took over there. Three plays later, Lou Brock intercepted Ryan's pass on the midfield stripe and still another scoring combine went to work. Brock faded back and passed to Comp, who caught the ball on the 17 and ran over and away from Nelson of Detroit. Hutson's kick was good as usual. The quarter ended with Detroit on the Packer 40. But there the attack failed. After a bit of see-sawing, a Perkins run put the ball on the 26 1/2 from midfield. Detroit held and Perkins kicked out of bounds on the Lion 6. On first down, Detroit's Ryan tried a pass, lobbing the ball into the air. Perkins just missed it as it sailed overhead but Charley Brock didn't. He hugged it light and zoomed right up the middle from the 31 to score standing up. The score after Hutson's point was 57-14.
LIONS MAKE COMEBACK
As if that wasn't enough for the day, things still kept happening. With the Lions on the 44, Ryan tried a pas which Comp promptly intercepted on his 49 and lugged back to the Detroit 29. A roughing penalty on Detroit put it on the 14 and Ben Starrett, now at fullback, bit off two yards to the 12. Then Fenenbock intercepted Lou Brock's pass on the 5 and lugged it back to the 11. Three ground plays gained to the 22 for a first down. Ryan passed to DeShane, who caught it on the 30 and dashed to the 39. Comp knocked down Ryan's pass and his second was futile. But his third in a row wasn't. Greene went downfield fast, snatched Ryan's pass on the Green Bay 44 and moved away from four Packers to a touchdown. Callihan kicked good and the game ended a kickoff and running play later.
DETROIT - 0 7 7 7 - 21
GREEN BAY - 0 41 9 7 - 57
SCORING
2ND - DET - Chuck Fenenbock, 8-yard run (Bill Callihan kick) DETROIT 7-0
2ND - GB - Don Hutson, 59-yard pass from Roy McKay (Hutson kick) TIED 7-7
2ND - GB - Clyde Goodnight, 46-yard pass from Irv Comp (Hutson kick) GREEN BAY 14-7
2ND - GB - Hutson, 46-yard pass from McKay (Hutson kick) GREEN BAY 21-7
2ND - GB - Hutson, 17-yard pass from McKay (Hutson kick failed) GREEN BAY 27-7
2ND - GB - Ted Fritsch, 69-yard interception return (Hutson kick) GREEN BAY 34-7
2ND - GB - Hutson, 6-yard pass from McKay (Hutson kick) GREEN BAY 41-7
3RD - DET - Bob Westfall, 7-yard run (Callihan kick) GREEN BAY 41-14
3RD - GB - Safety, Dave Ryan tackled by Goodnight in the end zone GREEN BAY 43-14
3RD - GB - Comp, 50-yard pass from Lou Brock (Hutson kick) GREEN BAY 50-14
4TH - GB - Charley Brock, 31-yard interception return (Hutson kick) GREEN BAY 57-14
4TH - DET - Bob Greene, 61-yard pass from Ryan (Callihan kick) GREEN BAY 57-21
Most Points, Each Quarter
1st: *35 vs. Cleveland Browns, Nov. 12, 1967
2nd: *41 vs. Detroit, Oct. 7, 1945
3rd: 23 vs. Detroit, Oct. 6, 1985
4th: 28 at Chicago Bears, Nov. 6, 1955
at Minnesota, Nov. 21, 1965
at New York Giants, Oct. 22, 1967
* NFL Record
Most Points in a Game
57 vs. Detroit, Oct. 7, 1945 (57-21)
56 vs. Atlanta, Oct. 23, 1966 (56-3)
55 vs. Chicago Cardinals, Nov. 1, 1942 (55-24)
55 vs. Cleveland Browns, Nov. 12, 1967 (55-7)
55 vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 2, 1983 (55-14)
MUST DO BETTER, IS COMMENT OF PILOTS LAMBEAU, KIESLING
OCT 7 (Green Bay) - Despite the fact that their Packers had just thumped the luckless Detroit Lions by a top heavy 57-21 count, both Head Coach E.L. (Curly) Lambeau and Line Coach Walter Kiesling of the Bays were "disappointed" when they were encountered in the lobby of the Schroeder hotel Sunday night. Kiesling, who was the more vocal of the two, said he was not disappointed with the score, but in the Packer line which "didn't play good ball against the Lions. They didn't stop the Lions' running game and they didn't give our runners blocking." "No tam can win on passes along," Lambea pointed out, adding, however, that "McKay's passing was wonderful - there's no question about it. Although we won by a decisive score, we made a lot of mistakes we have to correct. In this pro game, you don't know what's going to happen next - and you can't keep making mistakes and stay a title contender," Lambeau declared. "We'll have to correct those mistakes before long or we won't stay in the running." Commenting on the touchdown exhibition staged by veteran Don Huston, Lambeau said, "Hutson hasn't lost a thing." He asserted that the perennial star probably could have broken the NFL's single-game scoring record had he been left in the game. "Remember. he did it all in a very few minutes," Lambeau said...LIONS RATHER UNHAPPY: In none too happy a mood, as would be expected, was Coach Gus Dorais, who saw his Lions lose by a lopsided score after they had taken an early lead and looked as though they might be on their way to their win over the Packers since the first game of the 1940 season, when they topped the Bays by 23-14. "I never saw such an exhibition of touchdown passes in my life," the Lions mentor said regretfully. "He's the same as he always was - incomparable." Then, hopefully, "I wonder when he's going to quit. He's marvelous."...HUTSON IS TOPIC: Anyone of the thousands of fans who packed State Fair park's stadium will agree that Dorais was not exaggerating. Several times they gave the slender Alabaman tremendous ovations and his touchdown exploits were the chief topic of conversation in all areas of the stands. And their plaudits were well deserved, for the mercury-footed end set a new National league record by scoring 29 points in the second quarter of Sunday's game on four touchdowns, all on passes, and five extra points. With those four touchdowns Huston also broke his personal record of three by passes in a single game, and tied Joe Carter's National league record of four in one game, set against Cincinnati Nov. 6, 1984. Besides setting these two new marks, the Packer veteran added to the 19 others he held. The four touchdowns boosted his lifetime total to 99, 96 of them by passes, and hiked his career scoring record to 763 points, better than double his closest rival in that department, Jack Manders, who scored 368 points in eight seasons with the Chicago Bears...NEVERS HOLD RECORD: Although he didn't break the league's single-game scoring mark of 40 points, held by Ernie Nevers who scored that many against the Chicago Bears Nov. 28, 1939, Don did shatted his own standard, 24, set against the Chicago Cardinals Nov. 1, 1942, when he scored three touchdowns and booted six extra points. Sunday, after his 29-point exhibition in the second quarter, he added two extra points in the second half to boost his aggregate to 31, nine points off Nevers' record, which he could conceivably have broken had he played longer. It was the eighth time that the wingman, now in his 11th season with the Bays, has scored as many as three touchdowns in a single game. Most victimized in this manner have been the Cleveland Rams, against whom he scored three times on four different occasions - Oct. 17, 1937; Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, 1938; and Nov. 8, 1942. The other times were against Washington, Nov. 30, 1941; and the Chicago Cardinals twice, Nov. 1, 1942, and Nov. 14, 1943. In connection with the fleet end, it was announced Sunday that he will be tendered a "day" when the Packers meet the Boston Yanks in State Fair park Oct. 21, by Charles (Buckets) Goldenberg and a group of Milwaukee admirers. A presentation will be made between halves of the game..One of the finest plays of the afternoon was fullback Ted Fritsch's interception of a twice-deflected pass and his subsequent 59-yard dash to score. On this play, Fritsch's unusual speed for his bulk, 212 pounds, was exhibited, and for one of the few times during the game, his interference was adequate. It formed in front of him near midfield and except for one futile pursuer, halfback Chuck Fenenbock, the Packer fullback was all alone when he reached the Lions' 26...All the Packers' six touchdowns in the second period were scored on just nine plays. The first two required only one play, the fhird, two, the fourth, one, the fifth (Fritsch's interception), one, and the sixth, three. This was, without a doubt, the heaviest offensive display in so short a time in the history of the league, although no records are available...By scoring a total of 78 points, the Packers and Lions came within one point of tying the record of 79 points by two teams in a single game, half of which is owned by the Packers. On Nov. 1, 1942, the Packers walloped the Chicago Cardinals, 55-24, in the highest total scoring game on record...Again adding color to the game was the Packer Lumberjack band, which performed under the direction of Wilner Burke between halves and at various times during the contest. The band gave a concert for veterans of World War I and II at Wood, Wis., before catching the 9:15 train back to Green Bay. The Lumberjacks were well received by the vets, it was reported, who particularly enjoyed the baron twirling of little Carol Jean Collard, seven-year old drum majorette.
BUCKETS GOLDENBERG TO REJOIN BAY TEAM
OCT 9 (Green Bay) - Charles (Buckets) Goldenberg, veteran right guard of the Packers, could stand the strain of retirement no longer and he will play his 13th year with the Bays during the current campaign, according to an announcement by Coach Curly Lambeau today. The report of Goldenberg's return to the squad came amid intensive preparations for Sunday's all-important league contest at City stadium between the Packers and the Cleveland Rams. Now 34, Buckets played with the Packers in the All-Star game in August and then announced that he was "through with football as a player". During the Packer-Bear game he admitted he would like to see action again but he withstood the impulse to rejoin the squad. But last Sunday's 57-21 triumph over the Detroit Lions proved a turning point and Goldenberg phoned the Packer coach that he could "stand idleness no longer."...CONSULTS WITH WIFE: Considered one of the best defensive right guards in the business, Goldenberg said he had never signed for a season without consulting his wife first and said: "If she agrees this time I'll be back...and I sort of think she might." The veteran said he believed he had worked out details so that his restaurant business in Milwaukee would be handled satisfactorily during his absence. Goldenberg's return to the Packers will give him a tie with Line Coach George Trafton of the Rams for the second longest record of service in the NFL. Trafton, who will be on the opposite side of the field Sunday, played 13 years with the Chicago Bears. The record for longest active service as a player is held for former Packer halfback, Johnny Blood. He played 15 years...FRUTIG SENT TO LIONS: There was one other player development in the Packers' camp. End Ed Frutig, who saw action with the Bays against Detroit, has been traded to the Lions for rights to guard Ken Currier, formerly of Wisconsin who is still in the armed forces. The deal was completed
Monday night by Lambeau and Coach Gus Dorais of the Lions. Currier, one of the best guards in Badger history, was picked by the Detroit team in the National league draft two years ago. The Packers had their customary day off Monday but swung into a five-day schedule of drills this morning. There was little left to be desired in their performance against the Lions, who just couldn't stand up under a terrific second quarter battering that amassed 41 points, 29 of them by Don Hutson, who will continue in action against Cleveland...PACKERS HAVE BALANCE: It became apparent in Sunday's game that the Packers this year have depth and balance, sparked by the Roy McKay to Hutson combination. While this lethal duo cannot be overlooked, it should not be forgotten that Clyde Goodnight took a pass from Irv Comp for one touchdown and Lou Brock tossed another to Comp. This means that the Packers can cross up the opposition. But they will have their hands full against the Rams and Coach Curly Lambeau and the team know it. The Cleveland eleven no doubt has been studying Packer plays under the tutelage of Trafton, who went there after finishing the 1944 season here. It's certain Trafton wants nothing more right now than a Cleveland victory...RAMS ARE REJUVENATED: The Rams' rejuvenation after numerous years of holding the also-ran status began last year, when Owner Dan Reeves gave General Manager Chile Walsh a blank check for rounding up talent. The club has signed more than a score of new players and was the most actice team in the player market during the offseason. And they came up with some dandies. They picked a plum in Bob Waterfield, fhe former UCLA All-American who has paid off by sparking the Rams to their two league victories over the Cardinals and Bears. Just for example, last Sunday against the Bears he scored the first touchdown running, passed for the second to veteran end Steve Pritko, kicked a field goal and added both points after touchdown...QUARTERBACK IN "T": Waterfield handles the ball as quarterback in the T-formation and he can pass, kick and run. That doesn't leave much he can't do. The Rams figure if they're ever going to beat Green Bay this is the year to do it. Their only victory was in 1939, when they won by a 27-24 count. They came close in 1940 in a 13-13 deadlock. The all-time record of the series shows the Packers with 412 points scored, victors in 13 games, losers in one and stymied in one. Cleveland has scored 190 points.
LIONS GET FRUTIG FROM GREEN BAY
OCT 9 (Detroit) - The Detroit Lions of the NFL Tuesday acquired Ed Frutig, former University of Michigan end, from the Green Bay Packers. The 26 year old Frutig, who played for the Packers in their 57-21 rout of the Lions Sunday, was released from the Navy last week after two years service as a flight instructor. Coach Gus Dorais of the Lions said he got Frutig in exchange for the rights to guard Ken Currier, formerly of Wisconsin, who is still in the armed forces. Currier was picked by the Lions in the league football draft two years ago. Dorais said Frutig will play against Philadelphia here Sunday.
PACKER CORPORATION OFFICERS ARE NAMED
OCT 9 (Green Bay) - Officers of the Green Bay Packers Inc., were reelected for one year terms and the same board of directors was retained at a meeting of the stockholders in the courthouse Monday evening. An executive committee of nine was also named at the annual meeting. L.H. Joannes was renamed president of the corporation for his 16th consecutive term. He had held the office since 1930. Other officers named include E.L. (Curly) Lambeau, Packer coach, vice-president; F.J. Jonet, secretary-treasurer, and George W. Calhoun, director of publicity...REPORTS ARE APPROVED: Joannes presided at the meeting during which reports of the secretary-treasurer were approved. The president pointed out that professional football is now on the upgrade and that it is rapidly taking its place in the interest of fans alongside professional baseball. The Packers president told the stockholders, "We are very fortunate in having a coach like Curly Lambeau to keep us in the front ranks of the professional league," adding that the team this year is drawing customers at the best rate in history. That it probably would continue to do so was indicated because of the team's showing in its championship defense to date. The financial report of the treasurer shoed the corporation to be in sound condition.
LAMBEAU WORKS UP SWEAT IN THINKING ABOUT SUNDAY'S GAME
OCT 10 (Green Bay) - Coach Curly Lambeau works up as much of a sweat preparing for a ball game as do members of the Packer squad and this week is no exception as the Bays toll through extra-long sessions. The reason is easy: next Sunday afternoon at City stadium the Packers will clash with the Cleveland Rams, currently deadlocked with Green Bay for the Western division lead. Lambeau, between calling his assistants, Don Hutson and Walt Kiesling, together for strategy meetings and sending the Packers through stiff practice, has no illusions about Sunday's contest. In fact, he has always been a staunch defender of the notion that any team in the league can rise up and smack the favorite into oblivion. But there won't be any favorite next Sunday because both the Packers and the Rams have shown considerable power this year. The Packers rose to offensive heights last Sunday and thumped the Detroit Lions, 57-21. At the same time, the Rams scored 17 points in a hurry and then settled down to shut out the Chicago Bears...HAVE DEFENSIVE POWER: In the Ram-Bear show, which was mostly Rams, the winner's line, anchored by Riley (Rattlesnake) Matheson, turned in a defensive performance that three times threw the Bear backs after Chicago had earned first downs inside the 10-yard stripe. Only two of the six clubs who have opposed Cleveland have been able to score. Neither
the Bears not the Chicago Cardinals counted in the league tilts. This is all material that Lambeau has in mind when he thinks about the Packers' chances against the Rams. "We'll have to do better than we've done in any other game this season to win," he commented before sending the boys into the first of their two sessions today. Another double workout is set for Thursday with principal attention being given to the running attack. Against the Bears, the Bays' running functioned well but the passing attack bogged down. The Packers won, however, 31-21. The next time out, the passing attack was at least as sharp, if not sharper, than at any other time in the team's history, but the running wasn't so good...MUST COUPLE ATTACKS: Lambeau put his finger on the problem which must be eliminated before drills end Saturday morning. "If we can couple our running and passing attacks, we'll be tough," he said. He's not worrying so much about the physical condition of the squad. By game time, everyone should be in good shape, providing nothing untoward happens in practice. As drills started today, a familiar number showed up for the first time since before the All-Star game. It was No. 43 worn by guard Buckets Goldenberg, who retired from retirement Monday. Meanwhile, Cleveland is rushing through the drills on its home field. Reports from there say that the Rams are confident that their new aerial wizard, Bob Waterfield, can match the efforts of his more experienced adversaries, Roy McKay, Irv Comp and Lou Brock. The former U.C.L.A. star who joined the Rams this year is displaying great passing talent...HURLS TOUCHDOWN PASSES: Moreover, he has continued the sensational punting which made him the best collegiate kicker in the land in 1944 and his masterful play calling has been a highlight in Cleveland's success to date. He has hurled touchdown passes in all but one of his team's six contests. The receivers, also boys to watch, were Jim Benton, Steve Pritko, Harvey Jones and Jim Gillette. Waterfield, a quarterback in the T-formation, does the same work as Sid Luckman of the Chicago Bears on attack. The system used by both teams is the same, as fans who saw the 1944 Cleveland game here, will recall. Besides passing, punting and directing the team, Waterfield has developed as a field goal and extra point kicker. Against the Bears he booted a 28-yard field goal and added two points after touchdown. Since missing one try for extra point in an exhibition against Pittsburgh, he has converted 12 times in as many attempts and has kicked two field goals. Besides all this, he is also an excellent defensive performer, especially on passes. For future reference, Waterfield wears No. 7. It will be a number to watch Sunday afternoon at City stadium. Among the increasing number of developments on the player front was the report from Milwaukee today that Lt. Eddie Jankowski, who played fullback with the Packers before entering the Navy, is out of the service "for all practical purposes" but that he would not receive his discharge until late this month. Jankowski said he had no definite plans about returning to professional football.
RECORDS - PACKERS AND LIONS SET, TIED AND CAME CLOSE TO SEVERAL HERE
OCT 10 (Milwaukee Journal) - Just to keep the records straight, which wasn't possible at the time because so many things happened, the Packers and Lions separately and jointly Sunday did much more of a job than any of the first stories of the 57-21 game told. The 41 points the Packers scored in the second quarter was called a league record, and probably is, although the books have no mention of the greatest number of points scored in one quarter. Aside from this, however, the clubs did all manner of other things, as follows:
- Equaled the league record for total touchdowns in one game - 11. The record was originally set by the Packers, who got eight and the Cardinals, who got three, in 1942.
- Came within one point of the league record for total points in one game with their 78. The record of 79 was set by the Packers and Cardinals in their 55 to 24 game three years ago.
- The Packers, with eight touchdowns, equaled the second best performance for touchdowns in one game by one team. The Giants scored eight against Philadelphia in 1933 and the Bears eight against the Giants in 1943. Philadelphia holds the record of 10 set against Cincinnati in 1934.
- The Packers, with 57 points, turned in the second best scoring performance in one game by one team. New York, with 56 points against Philadelphia, had held the mark. Philadelphia, in a 64-0 victory over Cincinnati in 1934, holds the record.
- And the Packers, in scoring 41 points on 10 plays in the second quarter, must have set a record, although the books do not list anything on this....TEN PLAYS, 41 POINTS: Incidentally, since that flaming second quarter will probably be referred to and talked about often, the exact sequence of Packer plays may be interesting. The Packers had the ball on only 10 plays, not counting kickoffs which they received, or points after touchdowns which they kicked - 10 plays and they equaled 41 points. On the first play they scored on a pass, McKay to Hutson. On the second, they scored again, Comp to Goodnight. On the third, Comp was thrown for an 11 yard loss on an attempted pass. On the fourth, Comp passed to Hutson for five yards. On the fifth, Comp passed to Hutson for a touchdown. On the sixth, McKay passed to Hutson for a touchdown. On the seventh play, Fritsch intercepted a pass and ran 69 yards. On the eighth, McKay passed to Hutson for eight yards. On the ninth, interference on a pass was called on the six yard line. And on the tenth, McKay passed to Hutson again for a touchdown. Those were the only plays the Packers had the ball - in the second quarter - nine plays, and they made them pay off for the record total.
PACKERS BOG DOWN IN PREPARING FOR RAMS
OCT 11 (Green Bay) - That old bugbear of football coaches, over-confidence, apparently has hit the Green Bay Packers and Coach Curly Lambeau was holding his head in his hands today and emphasizing, "We're definitely concerned about Sunday's game with Cleveland." The game will be played at City stadium before what may be another sellout crowd of 24,000 fans. Whether the Packers can shake the feeling that the Rams are just another ball club remains to be seen. For the present, however, they are taking things too casually for the coach's liking. He expressed himself in no uncertain terms about the way practice is going. "We had a very unsatisfactory practice Wednesday. They missed simple assignments." And then he said, "There's every evidence of over-confident on the ball club."...LOADED WITH MATERIAL: Just a glance at the Cleveland roster should convince the Packers that Sunday's tussle is going to be no schoolboys' picnic. A flock of veterans and several rookies, led by the brilliant Bob Waterfield, give Coach Adam Walsh the best material a Cleveland team has had in years, perhaps since they entered the league more than a decade ago. But if the roster isn't enough, the Cleveland record should be. They shut out the Bears, 17-0, marking the first time the Bruins sustained such a crushing blow since the 1939 season. In exhibition, the Rams rolled over the Steelers, 21-0; all but butted the Washington team out of the park by the same score, and handed the New York Giants a 38-23 pasting. They lost to Philadelphia, 17-7. On the basis of comparative scores, the Packer-Ram contest stacks up as an even Stephen. The Packers beat the Bears, 31-21; Pittsburgh, 38-12; and lost to Washington, 21-7, and Philadelphia, 28-21. If the Packers are casting themselves in the favorite's role now for a game that won't be played until Sunday, Cleveland will have a definite psychological edge...HAVE VICTORY SPARK: New men have given Cleveland a victory spark that has resulted in the double tie for first place in the Western division between them and the Bays. The knot will be snipped in Sunday's game. The Ram rookies could conceivably provide the difference. Such ex-college stars as Waterfield, tackle Gil Bouler of Boston college, backs Don Greenwood of Illinois, Howard Hickey of Arkansas, Fred Gehrke of Utah and Ralph Ruhstrom of Southern Methodist have given the Rams impetus in their drive. Green Bay fans will recall the names of the others who helped Cleveland in last year's game here, probably the best football exhibition played here in some time. The Bays won, 20-21, but the high polished Cleveland attack threatened to explode at any moment as it did in the first quarter, when veteran halfback Tom Colella dashed 75 yards for a touchdown that put the Rams ahead momentarily...ALL EXPERIENCED PLAYERS: Colella is back along with little Albie Reisz and Jim Gillette, currently runnerup in the National league's ground gaining race with a 7.1 yards per try. Gillette went to Cleveland after a brief period with the Packers. In the forward wall, the Rams have a flock of experienced players. Among them are Rattlesnake Matheson, Jim Benton, Steve Pritko, Eberle Schultz, Floyd Konetsky, Sonny Liles and Mike Scarry. These are what the Packers have to contend with. They represent experience, speed, power and a will to win that has carried them to five victories in six starts. The Bays continued heavy practice today and will ease off Friday and Saturday. Drills have been divided between polishing the offense, eliminating mistakes, and working on a defense to stop the potent T-formation used by Cleveland. The Rams will arrive here Saturday afternoon at 3:05 on the North Western road and will headquarter at the Hotel Northland. They will leave Sunday at 5:35 p.m.
HUTSON DAY TO BE HELD HERE OCTOBER 21
OCT 11 (Milwaukee Journal) - A "Don Hutson Day" will be held on the occasion of the Green Bay Packers' next visit here a week from Sunday. A committee has been named, including Joe Krueger, city treasurer, to handle donations. They should be sent to him...Scooter McLean of the Bears thinks the Boston Yankees, who will play the Packers here October 21, have a good chance to come through in the eastern division of the pro league. He has watched them in a couple of games and has been tremendously impressed...It was the consensus around the press headquarters in Chicago after Wednesday's World Series game, as talk shifted from baseball to football, that the Cleveland Rams will prove a little too tough for the Packers Sunday. There was respect for the Packers, of course, but there was just a little more for the Rams, who last Sunday quickly rolled up a 17-0 lead on the Bears, then coasted home...Best running back in the league this year, it was agreed at the same time, is Steve Van Buren of the Eagles.
SECOND SELLOUT CROWD OF YEAR TO SEE PACKER-RAM TILT SUNDAY
OCT 12 (Green Bay) - One thing was sure today about Sunday's contest at City stadium between the Packers and the Cleveland Rams. All tickets for the game, which will resolve a first-place tie between the teams in the Western division, have been sold and Ticket Director Ralph C. Smith issued a warning today that anyone without a ticket should remain away from the park. The windows won't even be opened. Assurance of another sellout, the sixth which the Packers have appeared before this season, was reached early today when the last of approximately 800 ducats left Thursday was snapped up by customers. All week long they have been beating a path to the American Legion building, realizing that Sunday's contest should be a classic. The double sellout for Green Bay games this season marks the first time in the history of the Packer team - now in its 27th year - that such an event has occurred. Smith pointed out that those who had bought season tickets for the three home games are fortunate. "Their worries about getting tickets were over before the season started, and they appreciate that now. Many others who failed to get season tickets are now without them for Sunday's game."...WORRIES ARE EASED: The stage has been set and all that remains is the action. Coach Curly Lambeau, still carrying a slight furrow in his brow, wished that he could be as sure about the outcome of the Packers' third league start as he is that the game is a sellout. He felt a little better today than he did Thursday but the lines of worry are still there. "The boys are beginning to appreciate that they'll have a battle on their hands against th Rams," he said. "They're beginning to come up for the game." Other than that, though, he had no comment to make. And he's kept a stricter than usual bar on visitors to practice sessions, indicating that there may be something in the offing. The Packers will complete a week of extra-length sessions Saturday morning, when they have a final brush-up on defense and offense. The last of four heavy drills was held this morning following a skull session of some duration. While secrecy is the rule, this much can be said - the coaching staff is leaving nothing undone to fully prepare the squad for whatever Bob Waterfield, the Rams' ace quarterback, and the other members of the team have to offer...BOB WATERFIELD IS STAR: That should be plenty. Waterfield, of course, will take the spotlight for the Rams. He can do everything and do it well. His field generalship is being compared with that of the other old master of the T-formation, Sid Luckman of the Chicago Bears. Just a rookie, Waterfield has gained the attention of all NFL scouts and is being boomed already as the most likely prospect to come along in some seasons. The Green Bay line will have to be at full efficiency on defense to stop the thrusts of Waterfield and a flock of other slippery backs such as Tom Colella, who scored two touchdowns in last year's thrilling meeting between the two teams, Albie Reisz, Jim Gillette, Don Greenwood, Fred Gehrke and Harvey Jones. Around the National circuit, the word has gone out that the winner of Sunday's contest here might well decide, far in advance of the end of the season, the pennant-winning team. That may be a little premature because each team will have seven more games to play and anything can happen in the length of time required to play them...HAVE SHOWN EQUAL POWER: However, both teams have shown about equal power in exhibition and league games to date, making the winner of the City stadium clash a definite favorite in the pennant chase, barring complications of a serious nature. There'll be more than 24,000 fans on hand to see who is going to win the favorite's role.
PLAN SET FOR 'DON HUTSON DAY' SET BY MILWAUKEE COMMITTEE
OCT 12 (Green Bay) - Plans for "Don Hutson Day" in Milwaukee Oct. 21 have been completed by a committee of Milwaukeeans who have designated Charles (Buckets) Goldenberg, Packers guard and long-time friend of Hutson, as general chairman. Those handling the celebration said it would include a presentation to be made to the famous Packer end between halves of the Green Bay-Boston game in State Fair park on Sunday afternoon. They feel that designation of a "day" for Hutson will, in some measure, show their appreciation for all the entertainment he has given them during 10 seasons of record-breaking performances. An organization called the "Hutson Day Club" has been formed in Milwaukee and all contribution for the gift to Hutson should be sent to Joseph J. Krueger, city treasurer of Milwaukee. Letters should be addressed to him at the Milwaukee City Hall. The "Hutson Day" affair will be the first public fete honoring football's most famous pass catcher. Milwaukee sportswriters and radiomen will handle details of the celebration. They include Russ Winnie, who has been broadcasting Packer games for a decade and a half, Oliver Kuechle and Charles Nevada of the Journal, and Stoney McGlynn of the Sentinel. Radio stations WTMJ, WEMP and WISN will participate also, Goldenberg said.
RAM-PACKER GAME A COMPLETE SELLOUT
OCT 12 (Green Bay) - The "sold out" sign was hung up by the Green Bay Packers here Friday morning as the last tickets for Sunday's game with the Cleveland Rams went over the counter. "We ask fans who have not obtained tickets not to come to Green Bay Sunday in the hope of picking any up at the gate," a club announcement said. "There will only be disappointment." The capacity turnout will be the seventh in a row for the Packers this season, starting with the 92,000 who watched the All-Star game in Chicago and continuing through 90,000 in an exhibition with the Eagles at Philadelphia, 24,000 in an exhibition at Hershey, Pa.; 35,000 in an exhibition with Washington at Washington; 24,000 in the Bear opener at Green Bay, and 23,500 against the Detroit Lions at State Fair park last Sunday. With first place in the western division of the league at stake - neither the Packers nor the Rams have been defeated in league play as yet - Green Bay has taken on all the excitement usually reserved only for the invasion of the Bears. And Curly Lambeau has started to fret and fume more than anybody else. The team's showing in practice this week has been far from satisfactory. Even the return of Buckets Goldenberg, who will start at right guard Sunday, has not calmed Lambeau down any. "Unless we can come up in the next day or two," Lambeau said Friday, "we're licked. You'd think we had the championship already won because we knocked off the Bears and Lions. And boy, oh boy, how tough those Rams are going to be?" The Rams, led by Bob Waterfield, former UCLA star and now quarterback in the T formation the Rams use, will arrive in town Saturday afternoon, perhaps in time to take a light workout. Lambeau had practice scheduled right through Saturday morning.
TACKLE SIGNED BY CLEVELAND
OCT 12 (Cleveland) - The Cleveland Rams of the NFL Thursday announced the signing of tackle Graham Armstrong, who played with them in 1941 before entering the Navy, and the sale of Gil Rieth, veteran guard, to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Armstrong, 6 foot 4 inch, 240 pounder, who starred at John Carroll university, Cleveland, from 1938 through 1940, was discharged recently. He will accompany the team to Green Bay, where the Rams meet the Packers Sunday.
PACKERS TO BATTLE CLEVELAND FOR WEST DIVISION LEAD
OCT 13 (Green Bay) - The best of five games in the NFL Sunday will be played at City stadium, where the Packers and Cleveland Rams meet in a duel to determine who will lead the league's Western division. Game time is 2 o'clock and the second sellout crowd of the season, over 24,000 fans, will be on hand. All the football fireworks possible probably will be exploded on the City stadium turf. Fans have sensed this. Interest in the contest has zoomed to proportions beyond that generated even by a clash with the Chicago Bears. Both teams have a great deal to gain by a victory. They are tied for the lead in the Western division with two wins each. The game is rated a toss-up. The Packers, victors over the Bears and Detroit, have marched off to an excellent defense of their league championship. The Rams, who also defeated the Bears, has a powerhouse outfit laden with veterans and freshmen, spearheaded by brilliant Bob Waterfield, who does everything and does it well...BETTER ON DEFENSE: Each team has scored frequently through the air and displayed sound running games. Cleveland has had a better defensive team. The Rams shut out the Chicago Cardinals, 21-0, and handed the Bears their first whitewash in six years, 17-0. Meanwhile, the Packers subdued the Bears, 31-21, and then chased Detroit out of the park, 57-21. Anything can happen in Sunday's clash, and probably will. The Packers will match the throwing of Waterfield and the catching of Steve Pritko, Jim Benton and an assortment of other ends and backs with its potent combination of Roy McKay or Irv Comp to Don Hutson, the matchless end, and teammates Clyde Goodnight, Nolan Luhn and possibly three or four others. On the ground, the Packers will send Ted Fritsch, Don Perkins, Lou Brock, Joe Laws, McKay and Comp against the Rams' strong forward wall. With Waterfield leading the way, Cleveland has Tom Colella, Don Greenwood, who started against the Bays in the All-Star game, Harvey Jones, Jim Gillette and Fred Gehrke to lug the ball off the fast-opening T-formation that the club is using again this year...LINES MAY BE DIFFERENCE: It is possible that the game may be decided, not on what the backs do, but rather how the forward walls of the teams come through. There again, the clubs are rated about equal. Such Green Bay veterans as Capt. Charley Brock, Baby Ray, Larry Craig, who moved to end on defense, Pete Tinsley and Bob Flowers will match strength with Riley (Rattlesnake) Matheson, Mike Scarry, Eberle Schultz, Sonny Liles, Floyd Konetsky and Gil Bouley, a rookie from Boston college. Coach Curly Lambeau, sending the team through its last practice before the game today, would say only, "We're ready for them." Then he named a probable starting lineup but added that three was always the possibility of a change before game time. The tentative lineup would have Goodnight and Luhn at ends, Ray and Paul Lipscomb at tackles, either Charley Tollefson or Glen Sorenson at left guard depending on whether the Packers kick or receive, Tinsley at the other guard and Flowers at the center. The backfield named included Craig, McKay, Laws and Fritsch...FOUR OTHER GAMES: Neither team can afford to lose Sunday's game and keep its imposing chances in the pennant race. While they battle here, league elevens will be trying to secure a better position in either the West or East divisions. Western division games pit the Cardinals against the Bears at Chicago and Philadelphia against Detroit at Detroit. The Eastern clashes include New York vs. the Boston Yanks at Yankee stadium and Washington at Pittsburgh. The Bears should hand the Cardinals their 30th straight defeat. Philadelphia is given the pregame edge over Detroit with just a shade of a possibility that the Lions may bounce back after their terrific lacing at the hands of Green Bay last Sunday. Boston-Brooklyn, this
year's combination team, is rated even with the Giants and Washington has the edge on Pittsburgh, principally because of Sammy Baugh. The Rams, who stayed in Chicago Friday night, were to arrive in Green Bay at 3:05 this afternoon on the North Western road. They will headquarter at the Hotel Northland. The Rams will leave at 5:35 Sunday afternoon on their return trip. Reportedly accompanying the team was film star Jane Russell, wife of Waterfield. Now on vacation from picture duties, the actress has been following the Cleveland team this season, her chief interest in the game being the football prowess of her All-American husband from U.C.L.A.
PACKERS FACE RAMS IN BIG GAME TODAY
OCT 14 (Green Bay) - The Packers tackle the biggest problem of their young football season here Sunday: The Cleveland problem. Undefeated in their first two starts, against the Bears and Lions, they face a team also undefeated in two starts. And high in their hopes to win the western division championship again, they face a team just as high. Cleveland in its first two league starts drubbed the Cardinals and Bears. It's a problem, indeed, this Cleveland problem, and what the Packers do to solve it will go a long way to decide the division championship. With the division lead at stake, another capacity crowd of 24,000, the seventh straight to see the Packers this season, will pile into City stadium. The "sold out" sign was hung out Friday. Sunday's sellout will bring the total attendance at Green Bay's seven games this year to 310,000. The gold plated Rams - gold plated because their owners have spent money with an extraordinarily lavish hand - promise to be the toughest foe the Packers have faced so far. The relatively easy victory over the Bears, 17-0, alone attests to this. They have a great line built around Mike Scarry of Waynesburg at center, Milan Lazetich of Michigan and Rile (Rattlesnake) Matheson of Texas Mines at guards, 260 pound Eberle Schultz of Oregon State and Gil Bouley of Cornell or Rudy Sikich of Minnesota at tackles, and the pass snatching Jim Benton of Arkansas and Steve Pritko of Villanova at ends. And behind this line they have a backfield that any coach in the league would be glad to have - the triple threat Bob Waterfield of UCLA at quarterback in the T formation which the team uses just as the Bears use it; Fred Gehrke of Utah at left half; Jim Gillette of Virginia at right half, and Ralph Ruthstrom of Southern Methodist at fullback. With everything they have, though, including a flaming spirit that this is to be their year, there is one thing they have not. They have no Don Hutson. Upon Hutson's shoulders again rest Green Bay's chief hopes. Without him, the Packers Sunday would certainly be underdogs. With him, they rate six point favorites. Hutson had one of the greatest days of his career against the Lions last Sunday, scoring four touchdowns in a flaming second quarter, and it is he the Rams must stop above all others. And in that lies further hope, for no team has been able to concentrate on Hutson without weakening itself elsewhere. Hutson is undoubtedly the big man, but he has help and a lot of help - backs like Fritsch, Perkins, McKay, Comp, Laws and Brock and a tough line in its own right, which in the last week has been strengthened by the addition of the veteran Buckets Goldenberg. Lambeau has fretted all week in a way he usually does only before the Bear game and Saturday there were indications that the Packers themselves had caught his mood. They were ready at their final workout Saturday morning. Cleveland arrived here late Saturday afternoon. The game will start at 2 o'clock.
PRO LEAGUE TEAMS PLAY FULL SCHEDULE
OCT 14 (Milwaukee Journal) - A full schedule in the National league will be played Sunday. In addition to the Cleveland-Green Bay game, Boston will play New York at Yankee stadium, the Bears will meet the Cardinals at Wrigley field, Washington will face Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh and Philadelphia will go to Detroit. The Bears, Redskins and Eagles are favorites. The Boston-New York game is a tossup.
GREEN BAY MAY BE RIPE FOR THE PLUCKING
OCT 14 (Milwaukee Sentinel-Stoney McGlynn) - 'Tis possible, 'tis that our Packer will do a Humpty-Dumpty off the title wall this afternoon up at Green Bay when they meet the other co-leader, the Cleveland Rams. They've been, my operatives report, somewhat too breezy and confident after their tremendous display of aerial fireworks last Sunday against the Lions. True, they looked great running up 41 points in one quarter of play. But, truer still, they looked like anything but football kings the other three periods. They were pushed around the first period and barely held their own the last half. Their aerial defense wasn't anything to write Aunt Emma about and their defense was even more on the shady, slipshod and sometimes putrid side...RAMS BOAST CLASS: It is also true the Lions are stronger than in recent years, but that still doesn't make 'em as strong, in any phase of offensive, as the Rams. The Packers will do some scoring, perhaps considerable of it, with Don Hutson, McKay, Comp, Goodnight, Luhn, Lou Brock and their co-workers on the beam, but the Bays have to stop Bob Waterfield, Jim Benton, Red Hickey, and others who can run and pass with the elite in their own right...DEFENSE IS PROBLEM: Stopping the Rams is something that will have to be accomplished. And the manner in which the Bears, the Lions, the Eagles in their pre-season game, and Washington scored on the Packers indicates that no matter the quality of the Bay attack the defense is not what it should be. To top it all off, George (Brute) Trafton, line coach of the 1944 title Packers, is now performing like duties with the Rams. He knows the Packers, knows their pass routes, their strong points and weaknesses. He is an aggressive sort of a gee and knows that only aggressive line play and constant hammering and rushing of the passer will keep the Packer score down. Just between us, I wouldn't be surprised to see as many fists flying as footballs if the boys warms up to their tasks...RIPE FOR PLUCKING: But the main thing, and Coach Curly Lambeau is as much concerned over it as anyone, is the Packers have not responded in practice this week. They are not prime. But they may be ripe for a plucking if they don't get right down to work and keep at their chores all afternoon. A squad of 30 plus eager Rams are eager to knock them off the Humpty-Dumpty wall, which, to be sure, would be a sad, sad fate for the pro King Colts of 1944 and some 25,000 avid followers who won't be able to enjoy their Martinis or even their breakfast coffee for a whole week should their favorites turn Humpty.
