Evening star., 1941-10-05
Triumph imperative
II Tribe Is 10 STAY
In Title Running
Team Believed Bruced
For Tilt With Parker,
Other Brooklyn Aces
By BILL DISMER, Jr.


Confronted with the earliest crisis
ever have faced in a season, the
Redskins meet the second lot of
would-be aspirants to their Eastern
championship in as many league
games today when they play host
to Jock Sutherland's revamped, but
more dangerous. Brooklyn Dodgers.
Like last Sunday, game time is
2:30 o'clock and for the second sue
cessive week, the Redskins may take
the field as short lenders against an
invading team. But because the In
dians have not lost two games in
row since moving to Washington
four years ago, the prevailing odds
are not expected to be as high as
the rs against them in their opener,
There's no doubt about the game
being a crucial one for both teams.
A second straight defeat for the
Redskins would leave them more
than two games behind both the
Dodgers and Giants, while a setback
for Brooklyn would cause it to drop
out of its present lead tie with the
Giants, providing the latter whip
the Pittsburgh Steelers as expected.
AS to the title chances of today's
contenderS here. though, the Red
skins would be harmed more by
defeat. A tWo-game disadvantage in
the National Football Leagues IL
game schedule is almost prohibitive
and with the Giants and Dodgers
intersectional opposition rated easier
than the Redskins the Eastern Divi-
sion would develop into merely a
two-team race between New York
and Brooklyn.
Filchock Backfeld Starts.
Sutherland's team already has won
two games and a loss today still
would leave it in the thick of the
running. And, providing the Red
skins do scalp EN-, the hottest cam
paign in history for Eastern honors
would be on.
Despite their dismal start last
week, there are indications that the
Redskins are ready to swing into
the stride which last year enabled
them to compile the highest per-
centage of any Eastern champion on
record. As matter Of fact, If 1t
had not been for the butter fingers
of some of their most dependable
backs last Sunday the Tribe might
have that last game chalked up in
the victory column. Certainly,
neither Redskin line did anything to
refute Assistant Coach Turk Ed
wards prediction that they would
be the best in the league from mid
season on.
Head Coach Ray Flaherty declared
last night he would adhere to his
mid-week plan and start his usual
second and fourth-period teams
which did all the scoring last week.
That means that frankie F'ilchock,
Dick Todd, Wilbur Moore and Bob
Hoffman will compose the. backfield
while Bob Masterson and Rookie
Frank Clair will be at the ends, Jim
Barber and Bill Wilkin at tackles.
Glen Stralka and Clyde Shugart at
guards and George Smith, the
come back" boy. at center. Sammy
Baugh, Andy Farkas & Co. will take
the field at the start of the second
period.
Parker Has Help This Year.
Brooklyn's backfield. led by the
inimitable Ace Parker, is rated every
bit as good as the Giants, yet the
Skin forwards stopped Tuffy Lee
mans and his mates on all but one
or two occasions last week. Parker,
voted the leagues most valuable
player last year, still is the Dodgers
best runner. kicker and passer and
he can-and usually does-make any
opposing team look bad at times
From all reports, Parker is getting
some much-needed help from Pug
Manders and Merlyn Condit, hard
running backs. Manders, a brother
of the Bears Automatic Jack" was
with the Dodgers last year, but Con-
dit was obtained in an off-season
trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sutherland's strategy once again will
be in the hands of Quarterback Rho
ten Shelley, a smart little field gen.
eral from Furman whom Sutherland
called the most improved rookie in
the league last year.
Perry Schwartz and Bruiser XII
nard, all-league selections as end
and tackle, respectively. will be in
their accustomed positions in the
left side of the Dodger line while
II rookies-including All-America
End Eddie Rucinski from Indiana
and Dean McAdams, kicking back
from Washington-have bolstered
the team in every department. Jules
Koshlap, Georgetown's passing back
for three years, also is on the squad
as Is Andy Fronczek. a tackle from
the University of Richmond.
The recent light rains and infre-
quent sprinklings throughout the
week should make the stadium s
turf more like football field. while
the inf1eld and foul lines have been
resodded to remove all signs of base
ball.