The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1947-12-24
Unspeciacular
VS.. Spectacular
In Cotton Bowl
BY RALPH
AP Newsfeatures

AP Newsfeatures
STATE COLLEGE, Pa, II
will be unspectacular against
spectacular when Penn State
NETS Southern Methodist in the
| Cotton Bowl New Years day.
A precision like ground attack
that amassed 2,7l3 yards in SIT
rushes for an average of better
than 3O1 yards per game will be
pitted against the wide open Of
fensive of SMU and its brilliant
triple threat back, Doak Walker.
Speaking of Walker, State
Coach Bob Higgins says, "the guy
does everything.
"He does his best running when
he's trapped behind the line on a
pass attempt. And of coures, let's
not forget his punt returns and
kickoff returns.
Hes a great opportunist," His-
gins explains, land he has the UNI
canny ability of firing his team
mates with the same spirit. He
dosen't overlook an opening, he
makes the best of every situation,
and he runs like the wind the
snoment he sees a little daylight"
You can't single out any indi-
vidual back on the Nittany Lion
squad the equal of Walker but
Coach Bob Higgins has at least 10
pretty fair runners. So deep is
the State talent that Is different
backs scored touchdowns during
the season.
Larry joe" Higgins insists, "is
one of the fastest backs in the
country" He thinks highly of
Francis Rogel as bucker, Joe Co.
lone as a kicker and Elwood
Petchel as a spot" player.
Jeff Durkota, 2~3-year-old half
back from Colver, Pa, set a new
modern Penn State scoring record
as he ran for 10 touchdowns. Dur
kota is a fast, shifty running SEN
ior and with the power expected
Of a 205 FOUNDER.
There you have a great array of
talent and actually Penn States
best all-round back has not yet
been mentioned. He's Johnny
Churkran who was sidelined by
injuries and sat out most of the
season. Chuckran is ready now
and he easily could be the star of
the Cotton Bowl classic.
And then of course there is
Charley Drazenovick, a fierce
blocking back and top flight play
caller.
Higgins real pride is his de-
Tense. They call the State line the
Seven Mountains"
Washington State, Bucknell,
Fordham, Syracuse, West Virginia
Colgate, Temple. Navy and Pitts
burgh could average only II yards
per game through the Nittany
Lions forward wall-a new col
legiate defense record. of 22.3 in
ches per rushing attempt. Ala
bama's Crimson Tide set the old
mark in 1945.
Three opponents - Syracuse,
Colgate and Pitt-lost more yard
age than they gained in running
plays. Washington State picked up
81 yards, while Bucknell, Ford
ham, West Virginia and Temple
each were held to 40 yards. Only
Navy went over 100--the Middies
rolled for 100 yards.
The bulwarks of this seeming
ly immovable object are 40
pound Steve Suhey, All-America
guard; 228-pound Co-captain John
Nolan, tackle, and 183-pound CO.
captain John Potsklan at end.
The line averages 203 pounds and
is fast and mobile.
Higgins says without hesitation
that Suhey is the best college
guard in America. And he's keen
on center John Wolosky who he
claims is the most moderated
pivot man in the east.
9TH be tough going all the way
against SMU," Higgins said, after
returning from Dallas where he
saw the Mustangs tied by Texas
Christian.
'"They threw the book at Texas
Christian and that Doak Walker
is every bit as good as his clip
pings" the Lion mentor COM
| mented.