Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-09
Redskins Tuned
For Torrid Till,
DeGrootS Says
Coach Ready to Settle
For Lone Point Over
Tough New Workers
BY LEWIS r. ATCHIsON,

With the New York Giants lend
ing helping hand, if that's the
word, the Redskins conclude Wash
ington's 1945 pro football season
here today, hopeful Of departing
from the premises wearing the
Eastern championship crown.
Another sell-out crowd of "a, 1888
fans, not counting friends of the
referee, will see the duel, which may
put the Tribe in the big game with
Cleveland a week hence for the Ma
tional Football League title.
The Redskins need only a tie to
nose out Philadelphia. Preseason
favorites, but upset victims of the
Giants last week, the Eagles end
their season on the home lot with
Boston Yankees supplying the op-
position. Another Philadelphia de-
feat would decide the race in WASH
ington's favor, regardless of the out
come of the game here.
Coach bud De Groot put the Tribe
through a brisk two-hour workout
yesterday in winding up prepara-
tons for the duel. Bad weather
limited the squad to two days out
doors this week, but DeGroot thinks
his men are ready.
Everybody, excepting Wilbur
Moore, is in good physical condition
probably the best we've been all
season. I think we're up for this
game and I think we can win. but
I'll settle for one point" Moore is
out with broken arm.
Redskins Tuned for Fray.
The lackadaisical attitude notice
able before the Philadelphia defeat
two weeks ago was not apparent in
the dressing room as the players
came in yesterday. Everybody from
Sammy Baugh to the assistant
waterboy wants to lock up Eastern
honors today and get the season
over next week. Defeat today will
force the Skins into a play-off with
the Eagles at Philadelphia next
week.
Washington defeated the Giants,
24-l4, earlier in the season, but
both clubs have had their faces
lifted since. The Giants most no.
table addition was Bill Paschal, an
old thorn in the Redskin side, while
Washington's chief gains have been
in the line where XII Aldrich, Fred
Davis and Glen Stralka, veterans of
the 1912 champion team, have re-
turned.
The Skins are primed to stop
Ernie Herber's passing and the foot
work Of George Franck as well as
Bill Paschal. Both are old hit
and-run offenders in cases involv-
ing the Indians and special lookouts
will be posted for them today.
Whether Baugh's passing will be
the centerpiece of the Redskin Of
tense is a closely guarded secret,
but both barrels are loaded and will
be used if Baugh's passing back
fires or the ground attack founders.
New York, after only a f1eeting
glance at Steve Bagarus in the first
game, is prepared to throw a road
block in his way, but the Giants
haven't seen the Tribes newest
speed merchant, Bob DeFruiter, and
they may be in for surprise.
Players Seeking Records.
Baugh will be shooting for the
league passing crown, Frank Atkins
has one last shot at Steve Van
Buren, in their race for ground
gaining laurels, Joe Aguirre can take
field-goal kicking honors for the
year if he gets one more than New
York's Ken Strong, and Bagarus Is
in line for the punt-return crown.
It all adds up to a busy day for
the home side.
New York, with nothing to lose,
nothing to gain, has no pressure on
it and for that reason might be
tougher than usual. Sam Fox. q
District boy who played football for
OHIO State before graduating to pro
ranks, and Jack Doolan. former
Georgetown speedster who was with
the Skins briefly this year-not long
enough for genuine trial I'M
doubleday will see action and the
Tribe will be looking for them.
owen intends. to use the same
lineup that brought grief to Phila-
delphia's title aspirations last week,
1t will be Paschal, Ward Cuff,
Junior Hovious and Joe Sulaitis in
the backfield, with Franck, Steve
Filipowicz and Bill Petrilas in alter
mating roles. The line will be
manned by Fox and Weiss at ends:
Cope and Ragazzo, tackles; Visnic
and Adams, guards, and the veneer
able Mel Helm, center.