Detroit evening times., 1945-10-16
Lions Rebound, u pset Eagles, % to "a
.22,58O See
Grid Thriller
BY LEO MACDoNELL

The professional football world
rocked today from an explosive
upset.
Gus Dorais' surprising Lions
caused the atomic disturbance
when they turned back the heavily
favored Eagles, 2S-24 in a thrill
freighted gridiron spectacle at
Briggs Stadium yesterday
A crowd Of %, $50, held down by
threatening rain, saw the Lions
triumph sensationally in their
first home game Of the season, an
achievement that might be re-
garded as a bit super since Phila-
delphia had bagged all preseason
exhibition contests before whip
ping the Cardinals in its first
league tilt.
This notable string of successes
had made the easternerS outstand-
ing favorites for National League
honors, as well as favoriteS over
the hght-regarded Lions.
SECOND FOR LIONS
The win boosted 10 two De-
troit's league triumphs against one
defeat. Dorais' charges had previ-
ously won over the Cardinals and
were beaten by the Packers.
The Lions fashioned their VIC
tory with four touchdowns. one in
each quarter of the game. They
were scored by Jack MatheSon,
Bob Westfall and John Greene.
.Callihan, a 230-pound quarterback
who kicks with his left foot,
booted four points after touch
downs. He also crossed the Phila-
delphia goal line on the only rush
ing play.
MatheSon'S touchdown came
when the alert end gathered in
Philadelphia tumble and dashed IS
yards TO cross the Philadelphia
line. Greene and Westfall shared
passes hurled by Chuck Fenebock
TO fabricate their markers.
SPECTACULAR PLAY
WeStfall's catch was spectac-
ular achievement behind the line,
coming after Chuck'S tremendous
heave from midfield. The former
Michigan star came out of swarm
of Eagles TO make the catch.
Chuck had been chased fully 20
yards or more toward his own goal
line before righting himself and
getting the toss away.
Roy Zimmerman, who halls from
San Jose (CalO State, and Steve
Van Buren, from Louisiana State,
were the outstanding stars for
Philadelphia on offense Besidest
turning in a 47-yard place kick
that electrified the crowd, Zim-
norman tossed one touchdown
pass and kicked three points after
touchdown.
Van Buren,, rugged 200
FOUNDER. totaled SO yards in 10
attempts.
SLIPPERY EAGLE
Van Buren's broken field run of
'68 yards for a touchdown which
tied the score at TT in the open
ing quarter. was the most spec
tacular, if not the most polished
performance of the day. Five
times Van Buren, was down on his
trip from his own 32-yard line to
the Detroit goal, and each time
he managed to scramble to his
feet and be on his way again.
In the second quarter. thinner
man intercepted in midfield, from
where the Eagles moved the ball
to Detroit's 30-yard line. The
Lions held and z I'm m erm n
dropped back for his field goal.
This gave the Eagles a lead Of
10 to 7.
But. the half ended with the
Lions leading, 14-10, as a result
Of Matheson's touchdown. 1t was
Trebotich who rushed in and
caused the tumble which paced
the way for the score.
LIONS HIT BACK
A pass, Zimmerman to Ferrante,
set up the picture for Van Buren's
iaunt around end for a touchdown
in the third stanza, giving the
visitors a 17-14 margin.
But the Lions, employing passes,
struck back. Fennebock hurled to
Matheson TO put the ball on Phila-
delphia's 31-yard stripe. A pass
to Greene moved il TO the TO-
Then came the Westfall catch.
The third ended with the Lions
on the long end of the score,
y TO II.
At the start of the fourth, a
pass. Cotton Price TO Andy FarkaS,
from the 33-yard line, put the
ball on the Eagles 9. Two line
plays nettcd 6 and Price pitched
the ball prettily over the center
of the line TO Greene, who scored.
The Lions led, 2S-17.
A little later, Zimmerman passed