Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-08
WILDCATS APPEAR
i AS SURE CHAMPS
Rally After a Poor Start to
Smother Minnesota Eleven,
80 to ID.

, By the Associate6 Press.
- VANSTON, Ill, November I.
r. Its all over now except
IL the shouting for North
western.
The undefeated Wildcats of
Northwestern, the same team
that held Notre Dame to score
less tie, moved down Minnesota,
80 to IA, in a fourth period scoring
riot before a homecoming crowd
of $4,000 today, and as good as
won the 1881 championship of the
Western Conference.
Only Iowa and Indiana remain in the
path of the Wildcats for undisputed
championship honors. 1t appears over
whelmingly certain the HawkeyeS and
Hoosiers will be conquered by just as
many touchdowns as Northwestern
wishes to score
In the most dramatic game played in
the Big Ten this season, Northwestern,
trailing IA to 0 at one time, came back
like a real championship team, to score
five touchdowns and eliminate the
Gophers, the only other undefeated
crew remaining In the championship
race.
wildcats Get Pelt.
For the greater part of the first half
Northwestern, taken by stunning sur
prise by touchdown Minnesota scored
on the first startling four plays Of the
game, was outplayed and overwhelmed.
And before the wildcats could get their
bearing, Minnesota had crashed over
with another touchdown. But in the
end class, speed, power and superior
material plus courage, turned the game
into victory, after the Vikings from
the North had played their hearts out
in vain.
The first half ended with Minnesota
third period q drama was unfolded that
reminded the spectators Of RED"
Grange Pug" Rentner, Northwestern's
f1ashy halfback, grabbed the opening
kickoff and, running behind marvellous
interference. slaShed his way o5 yards
to touchdown. Ollie Olson, the great
Northwestern kicker, failed to drop-kick
to tie the score, but this omission failed
to cause ripple.
The second play Of the fourth period.
o dramatic and tricky forward passing
formation. resulted in another surprise
touchdown for Northwestern and
started the rout of the Gophers.
Running behind the line of scrim-
mage, across the gridiron, Olson tossed
a forward pass to Fencl, who heaved q
short lateral to Johnny Sullivan, COM
ing into the game as replacement for
Meenan at halfback. Sullivan clasped
At times he was within 6 inches Of
the side line. That gallop put North
western In the lead 20 to IA.
$685. n-a-. r-.z
After that, Minnesotas defense
faded. Olson intercepted a pass and
ran IS yards for a touchdown, and
them Rentner caught a punt on his
own R0-yard line and dashed 80 yards
for & touchdown that ended the scor-
ing slaughter.
Minnesota started the scoring in a
surprise attack, with Somers, quarter
back, returning the KICKOFF so yards
to Northwestern's 45-yard line Man
ders then shot away on a 22-yard run
to Northwesterr's 18-yard line and, on
the next two plays, broke through for
. touchdown, kicking the goal from
placement himself.
Olson's tumble near the end Of the
period paved the way for Minnesota
second touchdown. Gay. the big Co
pher tackle. recovered for Minnesota
on Northwestern's 25-yard line. Man
GERS picked up eight yards, and then
. tricky pass, Ubl to Hass. placed the
ball on Northwestern two-yard line
Somers advanced it a yard as the
period ended. and, on the first play of
the second, Manders slashed through
center for the touchdown, kicking the
extra point. Then the Northwestern
power began to function The Wild
cats marched from Minnesota's So
yard line, with Olson going over for
the score. and kicking the goal.
On two other occasions he attempted,
in desperation, to score needed points
from the field by dropkicks. but
failed. one missing narrowly and the
other one being blocked.
Then followed four dazzling. long
runs for touchdowns by the Wildcats
Z and Minnesota went the way of other
defeated teams, to leave Northwestern
; standing alone in the conference, I'M
defeated.
Line -TTn@ and Summary