Evening star., 1937-11-22
REDSKINS BUOYED
FOR GRUEL|NG lob
Victory Over Rams Boosts
Morale for Games With
Packers and Giants.
BY BILL DISMER. .Jr..
Stan Correspondent OF The Star.

- NOV. 22.-"Well, l guess we've
/ got to win 1t the hard way"
Expressed by one OF the
Redskin veterans, 1t was
the sentiment of the entire squad
today, homeward-b bound after an alb
sence of two weeks and ready for
their biggest game Of the year next
Sunday at Griffith Stadium.
The "it" referred to was the East
ern championship of the National
Football League and the hard way"
meant that to win it, it would be
necessary to beat the over-strong
Greenbay Packers next Sunday and
the New York Giants a week later.
Although the Skins beat the Rams
at Cleveland, as expected, 1877, yes
terday. they had not expected the
Giants to beat the Packers. Indeed,
most of the Skins who sloshed of
the snow-covered gridiron of the
Cleveland team firmly believed they
were then in first place-that their
victory assured them of the leader
ship in light of expected events in
New York
Now that the Giants have demon
strated their ability to take it, and
come through with colors flying, the
Skins are determined that they, too
shall beat the Packers and keep within
half game of their front-running
rivals. If their ambitions are full
filled and the likelihood of the Giants
beating the Brooklyn Dodgers next
Sunday is carried out, the Eastern
championship would rest squarely on
the last scheduled game Of the season,
between the Redskins and Giants at
New York December 5.
Looked Good Winning.
RUT the Skins did it the hard way
yesterday in Cleveland running
up enough yardage for five touch
downs and scoring only two, yet they
are as satisfied over that victory over
the Rams as If it had been by a 3O-7
score. For they're coming home in a
contending role, with every member OF
the team-including the allegedly
injured Charley Malone and jim
Barber-in fine physical condition and
set to play the game of their lives.
1t is in far different mood from
that with which the Skins left Pitts
burgh a week ago detected. not so
much over the loss to the Pirates
which prevented them from assuming
the leadership of the Eastern division,
as from an obvious lack OF spirit
which belied their contention that
they were as good as the next team.
Although it doesn't show in the
score against the leagues biggest loser.
the Washingtons resembled a big
league pro team yesterday, despite
elements which might have made
any major combination resemble a
bunch Of bushers. A bitter cold
numbed fingers and a driving snow
made vision difficult. With Don Irwin
washington fans haven't yet seen
Irwin at his best) again lending
valuable assistance to Clin bride
groom today Battles and with the
Redskin line holding the Rams to
two first downs, the statistics all were
in favor of the invaders.
Baugh An-around Star.
so FAR did they outclass the Rams
that they were forced to punt
only four times during the entire
game-once in the second quarter
and three times in the last. And
don't let any one tell you that Baugh'.
greatest value-not in a publicity way
but as player-lies in his forward.
passing ability. Sammys hurting av.
erage may have dropped a few more
points when he completed only three
out of seven. but he more and more i.
proving to be as fine an all-arpunc
back as there IS on the team. Lik.
Battles, he can run and kick, ane
his second boot of the day yesterday
coming right after he was reinsertec
into the game in the fourth quar-.
ter-measured nearly 10 yards. Sammy
was some 8 yards behind the scrim.
mage line on the Washington %, ye
his bpot-a quick kick at that-wa!
1luCkGI
on Cleveland's 10.
1t looked sort Of black for the Skin
after that interception OF Baugh!
pass led to q touchdown and Snyder.
conversion gave the Rams q 7-6 leas
just as the half-time whistle blew
Instead of becoming excited in thei
dressing room during the rest period
the Skins viewed the whole situation
calmly, figured that there were 81
minutes left to play and listened
quietly as Coach Ray Flaherty movet
from one to the other. pointing ou
little mistakes and remedies.
Riley's Field Goal Inspires.
A ND Riley Smith booted furthe,
confidence into them soon afte
the resumption Of play when he kicket
another Of his copyrighted field goal
from the 20-yard line to send then
into 81 lead, which they never lost
From then on, the Redskins coasted
Both Of the Skins touchdowns wer,
the products of sustained drives, re
vealing the hitherto somewhat dor
mant power. With Battles and Irwil
alternating in carrying the ball, the!
marched 81 yards for their initis
touchdown soon after gaining the bal
for the first time. Their other six
pointer was the result Of 66 yards O.
rushes by Battles, Irwin and Smith
the last named going over for tn
score. That scoring play started ou
as q pass, but when Riley found th'
Skin line opening up one Of its numer
ous big holes Of the day, he racet
through right tackle to score.
Incidentally that Skin line-witl
Chuck Bond, Les OLSON, Ed Hawaii
and Barber especially standing out
played a whale Of a game in pryinl
the Rams forward wall apart and get
ting through to drop Ram ball car
riers before they got started.
Green Bays Packers are due to ar
rive in Washington today. not so fresl
after their New York defeat, and viii
work out during the week at the sta
dium. There is little hope now tina
they can repeat their Western cham
pionship, but the Herber-to-Hutsor