Evening star., 1954-01-18
Statistics

tory over the Western squad be-
fore 44,214 fans yesterday at the
Coliseum. While some of his own
stars had important roles in the
triumph, 1t was big Chuck Bed
narik and a bevy of hard-hitting
forwards who turned the tide
Browns way, giving him his first
triumph in eight tries against his
arch rival, Coach Buddy Parker
of the Detroit Lions.
Benarik, former Penn ALL
American center now playing
for the Philadelphia Eagles, was
the East's key man. In addition
to playing a bang-up defensive
game. big Chuck latched onto
an enemy pass and rumbled "a
yards for what proved to be the
winning touchdown in the third
period. He was all over the
field. even making tackles while
fiat on his back and he richly
deserved the honor awarded him.
Gene Brito q Standout.
Two Clevelanders completed
the winners scoring. Lou Groza.
Browns old reliable, kicked field
goals Of IL and Is yards, and
Ray Renfro raced Is yards for
the game-clinching touchdown
late in the final period.
Defense was the key to victory
yesterday. however. and the
East was superior. Big Arnie
Weinmeister of the New York
Giants. who is retiring after
this season. End Gene Brito of
the Washington Redskins and
Tackle Ernie Stautner Of the
Pittsburgh Steelers were stand
outs in this department. The
unSung Brito, who had one of
his best seasons in 1858. broke
up Western plays time and
again when they tried to round
his flank. Gene was performing
before a hometown audience,
as he played his college football
at Loyola of Los Angeles.
Brown gave the line full
credit for the victory.
This was the best East team
I ever had" said the Cleveland
coach, for whom it was the
fourth Pro Bowl game. II think
the East line had more deter
mination. That may have been
the difference"
Brown Lauds Bednarik.
Brown discounted a suggestion
that the division of the players
money, $700 for the winners and
$500 for the losers, may have
had something to do with it.
I'VE apparently wanted to
win it a little more than they
did," he continued. Our boys
just played a little harder
especially up front"
Brown called Bednarik a
"whopping ball player" He also
paid tribute to Weinmeister and
the Redskins Don Doll. who re-
ceived the trophy between the
halves for being named the out
standing player Of the 1858 game.
Doll was with the Lions then.
West Misses Big Chance.
The turning point of yester-
days game may have come early
in the first quarter when the East
halted a Western drive inches
short of a touchdown. Quarter
back Otto Graham subsequently
was trapped in the end zone
trying to run the ball after the
East took over. giving the West
it's first two points. But that dis
play of strength apparently made
the East tough for the rest of
the afternoon.
Don Kindt of the Chicago
Bears, who tackled Graham. got
credit for the safety.
Statistically, the West had the
edge, rolling up 18 first downs to
10. gaining IA yards on the
ground to SO and 161 through
the air to the East's 140. But
Parker's charges did most of
their romping where it was least
harmful. When the chips were
down, the East was tough.
ParkeE was criticized by some
for not making more use of
Quarterback Y. A. Title of the
San Francisco Forty Miners.
Title didn't get into the game
until late in the third period,
then proceeded to direct a 63-
yard touchdown march. The ad-
vance was highlighted by Hugh
McElhenny's 36-yard, leapfrog
run and eliminated in Joe
Perry's 16-yard scoring dash.
Crowd Calls for Title.
Parker explained that it was
difficult to utilize the services Of
three quarterbacks and that
Norm Van Brocklin of the Los
Angeles Rams and Bobby Layne
Of his own Lions knew his system
haffar The crouyd began chant.