Evening star., 1938-10-17
DELIVER IN CLUTCH
TO GRAB THRILLER
Farkas Redeems Self After
Pulling Boner-Detroit
Stages Great Show.
BY BILL DISMER, Jr,


The Lions had the show and the
band and the crowd. But the Redskins
had the football team. And that, in
a sentence, explains why Washington
today can boast Of the undisputed
leadership of the Eastern division Of
the National Football League, following
one of the most colorful games and
spectacles ever seen in professional
grid history.
Detroiters today may have reason to
believe that they have seen the great
est Of all side-shows ever staged in
connection with a National League
game, but Washingtonians may feel,
with assurance of one who saw and
admired with new respect, that they
still have the champion Of all football
teams.
Make no mistake: If the Redskins
continue to play as they did yesterday
when they earned-and we mean
earned-that Us victory over Detroit's
lionized Lions. no power in the world
can prevent the play-oft game from
being played in Washington on De-
cember II. If-and we emphasize this
again-the Redskins are not the VIC
tins of a wholesale plague. they are
lin" again as Eastern champions as
sure as November follows October.
Lions Second Best.
If the Lions aren't the second best
team in pro football today, they're
pretty close to it. The effectiveness
of their passing attack may be next
to nil, but they never would have to
throw a pass to remain a constant
scoring threat. And that the Redskins
repulsed their attack whenever it
seemed likely to overcome the result of
their own brilliant scoring thrust is a
tribute to ability. deternination and
courage
AS to the latter two attributes, the
Redskins had plenty of 'em yesterday.
For here was a game in which the
Redskins were scored on twice before
they could get beyond their own 35-
yard line and yet had the stuff. after
breaks twice had nullifled scoring
chances, to come back and win the
victory they needed to stay in first
place
1t seems the Redskins this season
are destined to be parties to games i'll
which sustained suspense and ever
shifting tides are major factors. Three
times preSiously-againSt Philadelphia,
Brooklyn and New York-had the
Redskins been forced to play for all
they we're worth up to the final minute
and that they have been victorious in
two such games and tied in another is
a tribute to their championship class
their ability to win the close ones.
When they've had to pass to gain
ground THEY'VE passed. When they've
mad to depend on ground gaining,
they've shaken loose runners. And
when only a field goal could save them
from defeat, they've come up with it.
Truly the Redskins seem to have what
it takes.
Farkas OFF Form.
Take yesterday. for example. OBJ
viously pressing" before homefolks,
Andy Farkas was sadly off form
through most of the game. In fact.
Andy was so affected by old sur
roundings in the early going that he
thought he still was playing college
rules and downed a kickoff on his
own 2-yard line, thinking. because he
saw the goal posts nearby, that he
was in the zone. He thought, Of course,
that he had doWned the ball for a
touchback, and when, realizing his
mistake, he got up to run, wave
of Lion tacklers pushed him back
over the goal line which, with the
impetus coming from the defending
team. turned what might have been
a touchback into a safety.
But when it came time for Andy to
live, up to recent deeds, he dld-and
scored the winning points. They
came in the third quarter after
Wee Willie Wilkins had risen to the
occasion as an able substitute for the
injured Turk Edwards and, thrown his
ponderous form in the way of Vernon
Huffmans punt to pave the way for
the Redskin touchdown. Five plays
later, with Bill Hartman's bullet-like
heave taken inches off the ground by
Farkas having set up score, Andy
went over for a touchdown. leaping
across from the lfoot line as If
projected from gun. Yes, Andy
came through when he had to.
1t remained for the closing minutes
of the game to furnish the chief thrills
which were a dime a dozen throughout.
Then with Bill Shepherd threatening
to break loose for touchdown on any
play the Redskins secondary came
through to support valiant, but fast
tiring line. And it was Ed Justice, who
had suffered stomach convulsions as
the result of particularly vicious
tackle, who guaranteed victory by
blocking a Monahan attempt at field
goal which would have turned triumph
into defeat.
Sammy Baugh apparently, can still
play football-taped shoulder or no
taped shoulder. He not only COM
pleted five of nine passes, but his
quick kick that put the Lions back
on their own 3 with less than two