Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-09-17
Passes Bring
j. NJ Victory
CuIIiean-Rifenbure
Combination Clicks
By BOB MURPHY


ports on Dick Rifenburg are true.
For weeks the word has been
around that Herbert o. Crisler.
the Michigan football coach. soon
would unveil the greatest end
prospect seen in Ann Arhor Stree
the days of the immortal Benny
Oosterbaan.
The unwilling took place this
afternoon with Rifenburg scoring
all of Michigan's points as the
Wolverines won hard earned
battle from the Iowa SealIawks,
1871, before $4,000 fans.
Rifenburg, just turned IL. IS a
young giant standing 6 feet 2
inches and weighing 100 pounds.
He halls from Saginaw High
School and came to Michigan with
brilliant record in both football
and basketball.
1t remains TO be seen IL he can
come anywhere near the never To-
be-feFgetten= greatness OF Ooster-
baan. But ii must be reported he
got off to swell start for
freshman making his first appear
ance in the big stadium.
SCORES IN 4 MINUTES
Four minutes after the OPEN
ing of the second period the big,
speedy end cut behind the Iowa
defense and Bill Culligan. a prod
uct of Detroit's Cooley High, shot
an Hnerring pass down the middle.
Rifenburg grabbed it from the
air and ran away from the pursu-
ing Seahawks with grace and
ease. The effort. counting pass
and run, was good for AZ yards.
Joe Ponsetto missed the try for
extra point.
The battling Seahawks came
back after six minutes of play in
the second quarter to send Bob
Smith on a 26-yard dash down the
] sidelines for a score.
Another Detroit boy, Jimmy
McEvoy, also of Cooley High,
kicked the extra point and the
Sailors led until the third play
VI
Once again the Culligan-Rifen-
burg combination clicked.
CULLIGAN PASSES
From his own 42-yard line, Gull
ligan faded back and shot a pass
over Don Waldron's head. And
once again the boy from Saginaw
uac fhoro 20 r,,oEa the Datnh arI
run away from all would-be
tacklers.
Joe Ponsetto, F1int's contribu.
ton to this years Michigan team,
missed again. But Michigan was
winning. II to z. and despite three
more scares from the Seahawks,
which found Don Lund intercept.
ing two passes and knocking down
another deep in Michigan terri
tory, the damage was done.
\ The game was played under a
hot sun. and despite ragged play
ing at several intervals. proved to
be one of the most thrilling OPEN
ing games in years.
Crisler's team had all the best
OF the Seahawks so far as
statistics are concerned. But there
were many tense moments in trat
final quarter when Don Walcron
and Bob Smith were banging at
the gates.
BETTER ON STATISTICS
Michigan made IL first downs to
5 for the Sailors, outrushed them
Isl yards to SO and completed
four out of II passes to three out
of IL for Coach Jack Meagher's
team.
The brilliant Bob Smith cut
kicked Michigan's Bob Wiese with
an average of Alb yards to
Wiese's 36.7. Michigan also had
the not-so-desired leadership in
fumbles. The Wolverines spilled
the pigskin four times. Iowa be-
came separated from it only once.
Besides catching the two touch
down passes, Dick Rifenburg also
let one slide off his fingers in the
end zone in the second period.
But that one was forgotten to-
night as Michigan men discussed
his future and made boastful pre-
dictions of the ball games he will
decide in the years to come.
But the big boy from Saginaw
and his pass pitcher. Culligan.
were not the only brilliant per-
formers on the field.
KAPTER A THORN
The Seahawks showed a left
guard in Alex Kapter, formerly
OF Northwestern, who was one
whale of ball player. He was a
bundle of woe for Michigan all
afternoon. as was Center George
Strohmeyer and Vic Schleich, the
tackle.
Bob Wiese. the Michigan cap
tam, was wheeling and spinning
through the Iowa line when yard
age was needed and Bob Nuss-
banner. the hard running back
from last years squad, and Gene
Derricotte, freshman from De-
rance, o., put on several runs
that had the crowd on its feet.
c.,,, SkAhAWkS MICHIGAN
ahlilp z. Hilkens
Kapter G. s,rsi..
Strohmeeyr Iintoi
nOtnts g. Burg
HERMAN psnrs,
McCullouEn = Q rcnss,,c
Smith RI Rsrrieo,,s
Waldron L N Nu.sh.u,,<x
Merits WE.
Referee-Miks Lsyden fNosTs D,ne,. TIN
PRIV Knisht tpsftr,outhl.. yisld