Evening star., 1948-12-05
Gays 87.Yard
Return Of Kick
Sets Up Tally
Notre Dame Victory
Streak Ended at Il
As 100. .57l Watch
By Bob Myers
Asseeieted Press Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4.-Notrs
Danes mighty Irish were held to-
day. to a 14-l4 tie by Southern
California's Trojans. and 10 minutes
after the game real earthquake
shook huge Memorial Coliseum.
Mother Natures shuddering all
but matched the rumbling of events
in this vast concrete bowl as 100,-
ST. people saw the unbeaten Notre
Danes lucky to escape with a two
touchdown deadlock in a Commute
battle. The Irish gained tie in the
final 30 seconds of this Goth re.
newal of the Irish-Troy series.
The stadium had just emptied
itself Of the bowling mob, all on
the verge of hysteria after seeing
an apparent winning touchdown
and a tying touchdown scored in
the final moments of the contest.
High on the rim of the stadium,
the press box seemed to waltz
dizzily back and forth and the
chalk white stripes on the field
below seemingly to move in crazy,
reverse review, and perhaps they
did.
And the scoreboard showed:
Notre Dame IA, U. S. C. IA.
Terminated was Notre Danes
great unbeaten and united streak
which encompassed 81 games.
Undefeated in % Battles.
Saved, however, was the Irish's
record of no defeats in % games,
but only after struggle that found
Frank Leahy's green -jerseyed giants
forced to scramble for a tie.
Twice in the last quarter the
under-rated, thrice-beaten Trojans
bent the Natro Dame armor for
touchdowns, overcoming a 7-point
lead that Notre Dame grabbed in
the second period as the huge
crowd roared in Joy or anguish.
Then, in the final minute of the
game, 170-pound Bill Gay, a speed
master from Chicago, took a Trojan
kickoff and raced it back 81 yards
before he was hauled down on the
Trojan 13-yard line.
Reserve quarterback Bobby Will
liams, filling in for the injured
Frank Tripucka, sneaked up toward
the goal forshve yards. Time was
running out. He passed to Gay in
the end zone. It was incomplete.
He passed again to Gay, and inter-
ference was called on a Trojan
defensive man, Gene Beck.
Notre Dame got up to the one
yard line. The Trojans fought
furiously. Fullback Frank Panelli
managed to get two feet.
Sitko Scores Tying Touchdown.
Then squat Emil Sitko, who broke
the Trojan back with a 76-yard
gallop in this game last year, went
over for the tying touchdown.
Steve Oracko calmly kicked the
point that gave the Irish the tie.
The Troys were both grieved and
joyful. They had been figured to
lose by 20 points-more If Master
Leahy SO elected.
But they played inspired, alert
football all afternoon. They saw
the Irish tumble four times in the
first half, and never were able to
cash in, although once they got to
within two feet of the promised
land.
Notre Dame finally got around to
scoring in the second period. Tri-
pucka, with the ball on the Trojan
As, shot a pass to his giant right
end, Leon Hart.
Hart, all 225 pounds of him,
trudged, ran, jerked and tore his
way IS yards to score. At least
half the Trojan team took shot
at him, some, it seemed, a second
crack. But he kept going, and
Oracko made it TO at half time for
the Irish.
The game rocked on through the
third quarter. Halfback Don Doll
of the Trojans returned the half
time kickoff So yards but it went
for nothing.
Late in the third, however, Half
back Jack Kirby intercepted Will
liams pass and ran it back II yards
to the Irish a.. Dean Dill was
spilled for five yards loss, but made
seven on q run. Then he passed
to Kirby for % yards down the
{See NOTRE DAME, Page B-3D