Evening star., 1946-11-24
Fast I|Iini Down
Northwestern,
Top Big Nine
Dufelmeier Is Spark
Of Attock Bringing
Victory by 700
n. a.l
By Jerry Lisku
Asseeiaisd Press spsr.s Writer


EVANSTON, H., Nov. 23.-I Illinois
today virtually war -whooped into the
Rose Bowl game New Year Day al
1t ripped Oh its first Western Con.
ference title scalp since 1928 with 9
closing 200 victory over crippled
Northwestern before 1900 at Dyche
Stadium.
Shifting Pasadena Roses all thu
way, the Ilini relentlessly hammered
down the Big Nine championship
with q two-touchdown strike in the
second period, including q 53-yard
|gallop by Ex-Army Bombardier Art
Dufelmeier and a last quarter payof
smash by Reserve Fullback Bert Pig
gott from l yard out.
Bowl Spot Almost Assured.
Although less convincing than sec.
ond-place Michigan's 58-to-6 rout OF
Ohio State, Illinois triumph os-
tensibly will force the Big Nine
faculty representatives to extend a
Rose Bowl invitation next week to
Coach Ray Eliot,s dogged crew.
It's possible. but not probable that
the Big Mine fathers will bypass the
Illini, who previously voted against
bowl participation, but in view OF
Illinois earlier 13-to-9 win over
Michigan, there's only an outside
chance the Wolverines will get the
bid.
Illinois, whose only other defeat
in nine games this season, was 26-
to-6 trimming by Notre Dame, I'm
ished atop the Big Nine standings
with six victories and one defeat
"a 14-to-7 setback by defending
champion Indiana. Michigan wound
up second with five wins, a defeat
and q 14-to-14 tie with Northwestern
which today could advance no far
ther than Illinois 29-yard line.
The Illini, who last week downed
Ohio State, Is to 2, earlier defeated
Michigan, 13 to 8. which may be the
deciding factor in the Big Nine
faculty selection. The Big Nine
Pacific Coast pact does not auto
matically place the individual
champion Of either into the Pasa-
dena classic, leaving the decision to
a league poll.
The Illini previously voted against
bowl participation, but is reported
anxious to reverse its earlier stand.
Illinois got its first touchdown
early in the second period on a O.
yard pass from Halfback Julie Ry-
kovich. to another former Notre
Dame star, EndsBin Huber.
Toy With ClawIess Wildcats.
After that came Dufelmeier's bril-
liant run, in which the 180-pound
halfback, who was rescued from the
Nazis Weighing only I07 pounds
lodged nearly the entire North
western team.
Bert Piggott, No. 2 fullback, sin
gle-handedly accounted for Illinois
third touchdown in the fourth Pc
riod, battering over from the after
hammering from the Wildcat 90 In
five plays. Reserve Halfback Roger
Drew completed two of his three
extra-point attempts.
Coach Ray Eliot's Illini toyed with
the clawless Wildcats, who played
without five injured regulars. ILL.,
nois rolled up $40 yards by rushing
Huber, husky ex-Notre Dame
wingman, had played only few
minutes previously this season. His
snatch Of Rykovich's pass early ir
the second period followed a 33-
yard dash by Buddy Young tc
Northwestern's 10.
Dufelmeier Outstanding.
Dufelmeier, q second-string half
back, was outstanding on the field
His 53-yard touchdown run came or
an end skirt. In which he cut sharply
back and lodged almost the entire
Northwestern team, with a decep-
tive change Of pace.
Later in the second period he
loped 80 yards to midfleld. Dufel-
meier finished with 123 yards in II
attempts, almost matching North
westerns net rushing yardage of 119
It was all Piggott, reserve full
back, as the Illini pushed across
their third touchdown early in the