Evening star., 1941-11-18
Breaks Also Overdue
To Strike in Favor
0fCapita| Team
Dame Fortune Certainly
Looked the Other Way
In Chicago Contest
BY BILL DISMER, Jr.

On the law of averages, if for
none of the other probable reasons.
the worm is overdue to turn in the
Redskins favor as they swing into
the homestretch of their schedule
with a do-or-die determination to
retain their Eastern championship.
Consider, If you please, three fac
tors which point to a Washington
victory over New York when the
Giants are tackled Sunday at the
Polo Gdounds:
/. The Redskins hadn't lost two
games in row-until last Sunday
since the 1886 season, and only
once in their nine-year history have
they ever dropped more than a
pair of successive games. That was
in 1885 when the poorest Indian
team of all, which won only 2 Of
its II league games, lost eight
straight.
2 Not since 1887 remember 40
i4?) have the Redskins won a game
at the Polo Grounds, and the bitter
memories of the '38, 80 and 40
setbacks are serving as much of
q spur to the Indians as their de-
sire for revenge against the Bears
did last week. (And if they play
like they did against the Bears
they'll whip the GiantsD
3. Breaks, which started with the
loss of three fine backs, were work
ing overtime against the Redskins
at Chicago, and if there is a JUS
tice whose first name is not Ed the
Indians are due to get some in
their favor from now on.
Luck All Against Skins.
This is no alibi, but it's possible to
point out six different points in last
Sundays game which-if luck had
gone the other way-the Redskins
would have made three more touch
downs, had two other scoring oppor-
tunities and the Bears would have
z points less.
On the kickoff following Chicago's
hrst touchdown, big Bob Seymour
naugurated what was to be his
finest showing in Redskin livery by
IlllO lllS
wedge and running to the Bears
27-yard line before he could. be
brought down. But Redskin was
detected clipping and his team pen
allied all the way back to Washing
tons Is. Break No. l.
At the outset of the second quar-
ter, Bob McChesney dropped a sure
touchdown-pass from Sammy Baugh
which was right in his mits. 1t
must be remembered that McChes-
ney's broken right thumb handicaps
him no end but nine times out of 10
McChesney will catch 'em, broken
thumb or broken hand. A few min
utes later, Wayne Millner was with
in a step of taking another pass of
Baughs in the end zones only to
slip on the only damp spot in that
area and have the ball slither of
his finger tips. Breaks and g.
Another penalty, the reason for
which even the Redskins can't ex-
plain, cost them a chance to. put
the ball on Chicago's 30-yard line
near the end of the third period
Baugh, rushed on a pass which was
designed to 60 either to the strong
left side or Rookie Lee Gentry, alone
on the right sideline, completed one
to the latter, only to hear the Off
cials say something about Redskins
being beyond the scrimmage line"
and call the ball back to midfield.
The offense wasn't called "offside,"
but beyond the scrimmage line"
whatever the difference is.
Break Goes for Tally.
An undeniable break allowed the
Bears to score their fourth touch
down, for the vicious charge of the
entire Redskin line made George
McAfee tumble, only to have its ef-
forts frustrated when G. W's Bob
Nowaskey recovered for 6 points.
when you tumble and still score
. touchdown. you're just d-n lucky"
the Redskins maintain.
With even a nod from Dame For
tune, Wayne Millner would have
scored early in the fourth quarter
after taking Baugh's pass. Wayne
found himself on the sideline with
two Bears close in pursuit, but he
kept fighting them off with his free
arm before Al Matuza finally pushed
him out on the 10. Half the time
Millner would have scored on the
play, but Sunday was not the day.
But if Lady Luck changes her af-
fections next Sunday, the Redskins
are willing to forgive her for last
Sundays neglect.