GAME RECAP (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE)

(LOS ANGELES) - The Los Angeles Rams grabbed second place in the Western division of the NFL by trimming the Green Bay Packers, 38-17, before 46,838 fans here Sunday afternoon. Bob Waterfield, sharpshooting Ram quarterback, fired three touchdown passes of 13, 45 and 28 yards, placekicked five extra points to run his perfect season conversion string to 37 straight, and chipped in a 28-yard field goal for good measure. Green Bay's aerial game, both offensive and defensive, helped in the Ram victory. The Packers tried 21 passes but completed only seven for 128 yards while four were intercepted. Los Angeles completed 10 of 17 for 175 yards and only one was intercepted. The Rams were at their best and they limited big Ted Fritsch to 23 yards net in 11 tries. However, the fullback from Stevens Point collected 11 points to bring his season total to 100 in 11 games, best in the league. The Packers roared into a 7-0 lead when Charley Brock, who played one of his best defensive games of the season, recovered a fumble on the Ram 11. Three plays later Fritsch bulled over from the five and then added the extra point. The Rams put on a hot 56-yard drive but Larry Craig stole the ball from Waterfield to close it on the Packer 30. Minutes later Jack Wilson returned Roy McKay's punt 69 yards to set up the tying touchdown brought about by Waterfield's 13-yard toss to Wilson. But Green Bay bounced back into the lead as Fritsch got off a field goal kick from the 40-yard line - his ninth of the season. The Packers threatened throughout the second quarter but Waterfield intercepted a Comp pass to stop one of the more serious threats. Los Angeles pulled into a 14-10 halftime lead when Tom Harmon went over from the five after Waterfield pitched 44 yards to Jim Benton, highlighting an 80-yard march. The Rams stretched their lead to 21-10 earl in the third period as Waterfield pegged 15 yards to sub end Howard Hickey who scooted 30 for another score. The second Packer touchdown in the third period ended a 70-yard drive. Walt Schlinkman returned the kickoff 23 yards to the 30 and Bruce Smith broke away for 11 and Tony Canadeo made 10 at the ends. The Rams stiffened so Canadeo dropped back and heaved a 21-yarder to Clyde Goodnight who got behind Tom Farmer and dashed 30 yards down the sidelines to score. Fritsch then booted his 100th point of the season. Los Angeles held a slim 21-17 margin as the fourth quarter opened and Green Bay was very much in the game until center Riley Matheson choked off two rallies by intercepting Packer passes. After Waterfield's field goal boosted the Rams' lead to 24-17, the Packers roared back with Canadeo hitting Goodnight for 24 yards and Nolan Luhn for nine, taking the ball to the Rams' 24 on third down. Matheson bobbed up to steal Canadeo's pass on the Ram 29 and run back 12 yards. Waterfield's 29-yard punt out of bounds on the Packers' 12 set the stage for Bouley to block McKay's kick, but the Packers, after the touchdown by Bob Hoffman, kept coming back. Bob Nussbaumer returned the kickoff 44 yards to midfield but on third down Matheson intercepted Herman Rohrig's toss on the 37. A moment later, Waterfield again tossed to Hickey for the final touchdown. Cliff Aberson completed two long passes to Luhn as the game ended with Green Bay on the Rams' 19. Comp, with 39 yards in four carries, led Packer carriers while Canadeo was the leading passer, completing four of nine for 92 yards.

GREEN BAY   -  7  3  7  0 - 17

LOS ANGELES -  7  7  7 17 - 38

SCORING

1ST - GB - Ted Fritsch, 5-yard run (Fritsch kick) GREEN BAY 7-0

1ST - LA - Jack Wilson, 13-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Waterfield kick) TIED 7-7

2ND - GB - Fritsch, 40-yard field goal GREEN BAY 10-7

2ND - LA - Tommy Harmon, 5-yard run (Waterfield kick) LOS ANGELES 14-10

3RD - LA - Red Hickey, 45-yard pass from Waterfield (Waterfield kick) LOS ANGELES 21-10

3RD - GB - Clyde Goodnight, 51-yard pass from Tony Canadeo (Fritsch kick) LA 21-17

4TH - LA - Waterfield, 28-yard field goal LOS ANGELES 24-17

4TH - LA - Bob Hoffman, 2-yard run (Waterfield kick) LOS ANGELES 31-17

4TH - LA - Hickey, 28-yard pass from Waterfield (Waterfield kick) LOS ANGELES 38-17