Evening star., 1952-11-09
Statistics

times, and IS seconds after their
tying touchdown in the fourth
period they scored the winning
one for a glorious 27-to-21 victory
over Oklahoma.
The crowd included Fred Digby
and Bernie Greenwood of the Sugar
Bowl Committee, who sat in the
press box just one seat removed
from Jim Tatum, the Maryland
coach. After the game, Digby
said he and Tatum merely said
hello, and he had no intention Of
visiting the Oklahoma dressing
room.
Digby said his purpose here
was to see good football game,
and to attend dinner. in Chicago
tomorrow night.
Total of IA Fumbles.
There never was more than q
touchdown difference in this scor-
ling jamboree, which was marked
by more excitement and thrills
than football perfection. The
teams fumbled IA times and seven
were recovered by the opposition.
There also were two intercepted
passes and a blocked kick.
Oklahoma went for the spec
ltacular in its touchdowns. all by a
swift and deceptive running back.
Billy Vessels, while the Irish
scored three times from inside the
three-yard line and another time
on a pass.
Notre Dame. in the strange role
of a two touchdown underdog on
this chilly. overcast day, seemed
to hit harder and play more for
keeps after each Oklahoma touch
down, much as If the Irish were
angered at themselves for permit
ting Vessels to make them look
bad. if only for a moment.
The Irish took their slender six
point lead with more than 13 min
utes still remaining, and for the
better part of the fourth quarter
they were on the defensive. But
they turned back the Sooners on
the Notre Dame "a, 28 and 26 yard
lines. once on the recovery Of q
tumble.
Garry Players on Shoulders.
With only two seconds to play.
Oklahoma desperately went for
screen-pass play that netted
nothing. AS the officials signified
the end Of the game the pent-up
Notre Dame fans surged onto the
field and the players lifted Johnny
Lattner and Neil Worden to their
shoulders in a triumphant march
to the dressing room.
Lattner, playing before board
of experts here to make final de-
cisions on one of the big ALL
American teams. must have won
the hearts of the selection board.
The 19O-pounder-No. IA on
your television screen-did every
thing but score. He ripped off 90
yards, most of them in the clutch,
set up touchdown by taking an
intercepted pass to the Oklahoma
seven-yard line, and recovered
a tumble that set up another
touchdown and stopped a Sooner
drive that looked dangerous In the
last quarter. Lattner carried the
ball "a times.
Oklahoma, winner of its last
five games with an average Of
nearly SO points a game since its
tie with Colorado. more than lived
up to its role of the Nations top
rushing team. Vessels alone
romped for 195 yards-his tive
touchdown runs accounting for l04
-and Buck McPhail got 81 in .
whopping 313 total.
Sooners Passing Weak.
But when the Irish line go(
tough In its own territory, the
Sooners found themselves with
out the forward passing they
needed to cross up the Irish.
The Sooners completed only two
passes all day, one for q touch
down.
Eddie Crowder, the Sooner
quarterback and another split r
boss supposedly pushing Mary.
lands Jack Scarbath for ALL
American honors. leaned heavily
Fon the fleet Vessels for yardage.
Crowder ran his team well. bur
gained only three yards in three
tries and completed only one pass
in five.
Notre Dame was two deep in
quarterbacks and Coach Frank
Leahy used his sophomores with
remarkable vision. Ralph Gugli.
CONTINUED on Page ca. Col. 50