Evening star., 1943-12-27
Head Hurt Near Start
Shelves Sam Until
Third Quarter
BY GEORGE HUBER.
tStar Staff Correspondent)

~AAAS1oo, ILL., LtC. ZI.-WaSn-
1ngton's National Football League
title is gone and Chicago flies the
professional gridiron championship
flag. 1t was nailed to the post by
Sid Luckman, Chicago Bears quar-
terback, whose passing brought the
title back to the town from which
Washington Wrested it down in
Griffith Stadium last December.
1t wasn't all Luckman, although
he was Luckman unknown to
Washington football fans who saw
him back in November when he
wasn't SO good. He was good yes
terday with five touchdown passes.
a bit of timely running and smart
quarterbacklng. , He had the team
with him with which to do this
He mixed 'em up and led the
Chicago Bears to 4l-to-2l triumph
before a capacity crowd of
34,320 at Wrigley Field here.
But good as was Luckman yester-
day it was the manpower shortage
on Washington's side of the field
that helped Chicago to its triumph
over team that beat it 2l to 7
back in Washington a little over
month ago and ID to in last years
championship playoff Washington
didn't have the players at full
strength to stop the Bears, but it
was a shortage of one man-Sammy
Baugh-that hurt more than any,
thing else. Baugh was in the game
only for tieeting minutes. And when
he was in there it was a dazed
reeling Baugh who hardly knew
what he was doing, but who passed
AS only he can pass.
Hurt in Opening Minutes.
injured in the opening minutes
OF the game in the first plav in
which he took part, Sammy didn't
return until the third period
Slammed to the ground while irving
to tackle Luckman as Sid was
making a punt return. Baughs
head was hurt and he was helped
from the field. He sat dazed and
sobblng ON the bench for a wkile
and finally was taken into the
dressing room not knowing where
he was or what he was doing.
At half time he still was mumblirg
half incoherently, but with the third
quarter Az minutes old he wobbled
back into the fray. With his ears
still ringing all he did was COM
plete s Of II pass tries with one
for l24 yards and two
touchooWns. He completed seven of
these passes III row when Chicago |
knew he was going to pass but
couldn't do anything about his un-
canny accuracy.
Had Baugh been able 10 play the
whole time this story might be Off
fercnt. But Baugh was out and
Washingtons other backs could do
little. The Bears had George
Cafego's number and he completed .
only 3 of l3 attempts and had
three interruptions.
Running Attack Stopped Cold.
Washlngton'S running attack was
stopped practically cold. with the
Redskins limited to As yards along
the ground. Washington's line
nevertheless, played a good game
although Tackles Lou Rymkus and
Willie Wilkin were injured in the
first quarter ana taken out. Bob
Masterson at end did okay despite
his injuries, as did Ends Alex Pja-
secky and Joe Aguirre. Ray Hare
was hurt in the second quarter and
couldn't do much thereafter. and
Wilbur Moore, despite his flashes
Of excellence, couldn't 60 all the way
At tor speed on his bum leg. The
Redskins had taken too muca OF
pounding in their long season since
July to stand before the fresh, rested
and strong Bears.
With Baugh out and Moore inef-
fectiVe Washingtcn's pass defense
amounted to little. Lucknan COM
pletcd IA of "a aerials for 276 yards
and five touchdoWns-the five touch
downs breaking Baugh'S record Of
three in a championship game set
here in 1887. His receivers either
outran Washington secondarv to
take the passes or received screen
passes for which the Redskins have
been soft touches all season.
Nagurski Piles Up Yardage.
Helping Luckman was big Bronko
NaGurSki. He almost was the Ma
gurskl Of 1887, when he last played
fullbaCk, carrying the ball Il times
yesterday for 81 yards and touch
down, with much of his yarda2e
coming AT important times. CT draw
ing in Washington defensc6 to set
up Luckman's passing.
Washington did okay for one
period. holding the Bears and scor-
ing a touchdown as Andy Farkas
pushed over on the first play of the
second quarter. But the Bears al
ready had worn out the Redskins.
They followed Washington's touch
down with one Of their own on
pass from Luckman to Harry Clark.
and NagurSki came along to get his
marker as the Bears took a l4-7
halftime lead. Behind as they were.
the Redskins had to pass and pass.
and tried onlv seven running plays
in the second half-all in the third
period. incidentally the Bears
scored shortly after the second half
opened on 36-yard pass from
Luckman to Dante Magnani, and
followed with still another by the
same combination good for 66
yards. Baugh's 17-yard touchdown
ndNC To t'91'S9g plTcpI hi
period, and Chicago opened the
fourth with a Dayon pass from
Luckman to Jim B2nJcn, followed
10 minutes laJer with Luckmans
second touchdown aerial to Clark.
Baugh was in there pitching as the
game Waned, though, and completed
final 25-yarder to Joe Aguirre.
Mondorff, Former Terp,