Evening star., 1941-11-23
D. {. Pros Confident
Of Triumph or Tie
To Stay in Race
Boueh, Seymour Expected
To Upset New Workers
In Crucial Clash
Ey BILL DISMER. Jr.,
Star Staff Correspondent.

NEW YORK, Nov, 22.-Despite
realization of what precipitation and
mud can do, the Redskins rested
quietly in their ff-Broadway hotel
tonight, still confident of their abil-
ity to beat the Giants here tomorrow
and stay in the National Football
Leagues Eastern division title race.
1t wasn't raining or showing when
the Indians arrived shortly after
dinnertime, but the local weather
man has predicted either or both
for tomorrow to set an uncertain
stage for the 18th renewal of the
Redskin- Giant rivalry. On the eve
of the crucial game the Giants hold
11-6 margin in victories with two
ties in the 19 games played since
1882.
Some $4,000 fanS-oVer tenth OF
them RedSkln rooterS from WASH
ington-are expected to pack the
Polo Grounds to capacity for the
game which, if they are victorious,
will give the Giants the Eastern
championship for the sixth time IN
nine years.
While Head Coach Ray Flaherty
crept into a silent shell and fatty
refused to make any kind OF a
prophecy, the attitude of his players
in general was optimistic and best
exemplified by Assistant Coach Turk
Edwards, who said:
"If We can't beat the Giants we
don't deserve to win. But l think
we have the better team and will go
back to Washington still In the
race"
Redskins Starters Uncertain.
It was recalled, however, that
Flaherty said a week ago after the
Bear game that if his team played
in New York as it did in Chicago. it
would go on TO win the Eastern
championship and return to the
West for the playoff game on De-
cember IA.
If the Redskins don't win tomor-
row it will be the first time since
1885 that they have been out OF the
running for the sectional crown be-
fore the final game of the season.
In '35 the Skins-then in Boston
finished fourth, but every year since
they either have won or had a
chance to win the Eastern title in
the last game of the campaign.
They could tie tomorrow and still
conceivably have a chance to finish
on even terms with the Giants, but
loss would clinch Eastern honors for
the New Yorkers
Uncertain as tonight's skies which
gave no indication of whether the
morrow would be fair or foul, was
Flaherty's choice of starting team.
Unless it is raining at the kickoff
and he attempts to get jump with
Sammy Baugh's passes, Flaherty
probably will lead off with Frank
Filchock's team as he has in every
game since the September inaugural
with the Giants.
If he does, Andy Farkas will be
called upon to assume half the bur-
den of the Skins opening attack
with the Rockies Cecil Hare and
Lee Gentry completing the backfleld.
Bob Masterson and Ed Offers, an
other freshman, would be at the
ends. Bill Wilkin and Jim Barber
at the tackles, Glen Stralka and
Clyde Shugart at the guards and
Bob Titchenal at center.
Seymour Apt to Worry Giants.
In that event, the enry into the
game of Baugh and Bob Seymour,
the newly discovered running threat,
would be delayed a quarter-or un-
til Flaherty deemed the moment
propitious for their insertion.
Among some of the older Redskins
there was speculation that Seymour,
wearing Cliff Battles old number,
20, might make the Giants just as
sick of seeing that numeral as they
were in 1887 when the Clipper led
the Indians to that 49-14 massacre.
Wayne Millner, the only Ques-
tionable Redskin from a physical
standpoint, with the exception OF
Dick Todd and Wilbur Moore, ap-
peared sound on his feet again and
should be able to play his accustomed
time tomorrow. The Tribe can use
him too, for latest statistics reveal
him to be their leading pass receiver
to date with a total of 229 yards on
his 13 catches. Bob McChesney, the
other end who works with Baugh
has been handicapped by bad right
hand all season, but still is listed as
the teams second best receiver, hav-
ing carried 10 passes for a gain of
Ill yards. including a touchdown.
According to Giant followers,
Coach Steve Owen will open fire
with a backfield of Tuffv Leemans,
George Franck, Ward Cuff and Nello
Falaschi. That quartet puts on the
field the Giants leading ground
gamer, Leemans; their leading
scorer. pass receiver and most de-
pendable field goal kicker, Cuff, and
rookie who is just beginning to
show the stuff expected of him,
Franck.
Giants Reserves Strong.
For their second-period backfield,
the Giants will have Len Eshmont,
Andy Marefos, HOWE Yeager and
Dom Principe-all but the last
named being rockies. But Eshmont
and Marefos are second only to Lee
mans in ground gaining with 153
yards each and Yeager is second only
to Cuff in pass receiving.
Neither Giant backfields contains
Kay Eakin, the sophomore from Ar
kansas, as a regular component. but
Eakin is sure to see plenty of serv-
ice if only because of his kicking.
Although he averaged only Al yards
boot in 1910, he is averaging ex-
actly Is yards more per kick in nine
games this season. That mark gives
him 2-yard advantage over Baugh,
whose 49.6 figure is nothing to be
ashamed of. Eakin's longest kick
to date has been II yards, Baugh' S