Highlighted Year: Carl Birdsong, 1982

Punter, St. Louis Cardinals

Age: 23

2^nd season in pro football & with Cardinals

College: Southwestern Oklahoma State

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 192

Prelude:

After averaging 42.3 yards in two college seasons (he transferred from West Texas State to Southwestern Oklahoma State for academic purposes), Birdsong signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 1981. Failing to make it to the regular season, he was picked up by the Cardinals and averaged 41.8 yards on 69 punts, which included a NFL-high 75-yard kick.

1982 Season Summary

Appeared in all 9 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Punting

Punts – 54 [3]

Most punts, game – 10 at Washington 1/2

Yards – 2365 [3]

Average – 43.8 [3, 1^st in NFC]

Best average, game – 48.0 (on 6 punts) vs. Dallas 9/19

Punts blocked – 0

Longest punt – 65 yards

Postseason: 1 G (NFC First Round playoff at Green Bay)

Punts – 0

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFC: UPI

Cardinals went 5-4 in the strike-shortened season and were sixth seed in the NFC playoff tournament that replaced the usual postseason format. Lost First Round playoff to Green Bay Packers (41-16).

Aftermath:

Birdsong averaged 41.5 yards on 85 punts in 1983 and was selected to the Pro Bowl as well as receiving All-NFC honors from UPI and Pro Football Weekly. His performance dropped off in ’84 and he was released by the Cards after the 1985 season and went on to a career in pharmacology, having obtained his degree during his playing career. Overall, over five seasons Birdsong punted 360 times for a 41.4-yard average. He received first- or second-team All-NFC honors twice and was chosen to the Pro Bowl once.

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Highlighted Years features players who were first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1996: Ravens Defeat Raiders as NFL Returns to Baltimore

The National Football League returned to Baltimore on September 1, 1996 as the newly-relocated Ravens hosted the Oakland Raiders in the season-opening game for both teams. It was the first NFL regular season game played in Baltimore in 13 years, since the Colts vacated for Indianapolis.

The Ravens were in actuality the former Cleveland Browns franchise. As part of a deal between the NFL and Cleveland, the team renounced its history, name, and colors, to transfer to a future expansion franchise.  The club also made changes to the front office and had a new head coach in Ted Marchibroda, once coach of the Baltimore Colts, replacing Bill Belichick, under whom the team dropped to 7-9 in its final lackluster year in Cleveland (not helped by long-time owner Art Modell announcing midway through the season that the franchise would be moving in ’96). While much was new, there were still lingering problems from the previous year. There were concerns regarding the running game, and 32-year-old QB Vinny Testaverde was prone to inconsistency and throwing interceptions. The defense was in need of retooling, but there were high hopes for rookie LB Ray Lewis.

The Raiders, coached by Mike White, had returned to Oakland the previous season after a 13-year hiatus in Los Angeles. Getting off to an 8-2 start, they lost their last six games to finish at .500. An injury to QB Jeff Hostetler was a key factor in the collapse, and he was out again for the start of the ’96 season. Backup QB Billy Joe Hobert was taking his place.  WR Tim Brown was the most consistent receiver and it was hoped that rookie TE Rickey Dudley would have an impact.

There were 64,124 fans in attendance at Memorial Stadium on a pleasant and sunny day and several ex-Colts stars took part in the pre-game festivities, including Hall of Fame QB Johnny Unitas and DT Art Donovan. The teams traded punts to start the game before the Ravens drove 85 yards in eight plays. Vinny Testaverde completed three passes, including one to WR Derrick Alexander that covered 48 yards to get the ball into Oakland territory, and the veteran quarterback finished off the series by running up the middle for a nine-yard touchdown (pictured at top). Matt Stover added the extra point, and with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter the home team was ahead by 7-0.

The Raiders started off the second quarter by going 79 yards in nine plays. Billy Joe Hobert (pictured below) threw to WR James Jett for a 33-yard gain to the Baltimore 34 on the first play and Hobert converted a third-and-two situation with a pass to WR Daryl Hobbs for 15 yards to the 11. Three plays later, Tim Brown pulled in a toss from Hobert for a seven-yard TD and Cole Ford tied the score with the point after.

Oakland appeared to get a major break on the ensuing kickoff when RB Earnest Hunter fumbled and safety Dan Land recovered for the Raiders at the Baltimore 19. But on the next play, Hobert’s throw intended for Brown in the end zone was instead intercepted by Ray Lewis for a touchback.

A short possession in which Testaverde was sacked for a 19-yard loss resulted in a punt and, taking over with good field position at the Baltimore 47, the Raiders did not come up empty. After two short runs, Hobert connected with Jett for nine yards and then to Rickey Dudley for a 30-yard gain. RB Harvey Williams covered the last five yards for a touchdown and, with Ford’s PAT, the visitors were ahead by 14-7. That remained the score at the half as the teams exchanged punts for the remainder of the period.

The Raiders had the ball first in the third quarter but Hobert again was picked off, this time by CB Antonio Langham who returned it 28 yards to the Oakland 25. The Ravens were unable to move from there, and following a third-down sack, punted. But the visitors remained bottled up deep in their own territory and, after Jeff Gossett’s 43-yard punt that was returned for nine yards by WR Jermaine Lewis, Baltimore started its next series at the Oakland 45. Utilizing a no-huddle offense, Testaverde completed three passes, including one to WR Michael Jackson that picked up 21 yards, but the drive stalled inside the ten. Still, the Ravens got points on a 25-yard Stover field goal to narrow the score to 14-10.

The Raiders again had to punt following their next series and Baltimore responded by advancing 56 yards in seven plays. Testaverde completed two passes to TE Brian Kinchen, one of which gained 29 yards to the Oakland 26, and while a reverse by Alexander lost 13 yards, two more completions got the home team back into field goal range. Stover was successful from 37 yards and it was a one-point game at 14-13 after three quarters.

Another possession by the Raiders ended with a punt. Starting from their 17, the Ravens moved quickly as Testaverde connected on passes to Jackson for 27 yards and Earnest Hunter for 25 to reach the Oakland 31. FB Carwell Gardner picked up nine yards on three carries and Testaverde ran around end for 12 yards to get inside the ten. Finally, on the eighth play of the 83-yard possession, RB Earnest Byner reached the end zone from a yard out and, while the try for a two-point conversion failed, the Ravens were ahead by five points.

That proved to be all the home team needed. The Raiders had two more possessions but went three-and-out both times and Baltimore was able to control the ball for the last 4:47 of the contest to come away with a 19-14 win.

The Ravens led in total yards (314 to 238), first downs (21 to 13), and time of possession (34:38 to 25:22). Oakland turned the ball over twice, to one suffered by Baltimore, and was hurt by 12 penalties, to just two called on the Ravens. Both teams recorded three sacks apiece.

Vinny Testaverde completed 19 of 33 passes for 254 yards, with no touchdowns but also no interceptions, and he ran for a score. Earnest Byner (pictured below) rushed for 43 yards on 14 carries that included the game-winning TD and caught four passes for 32 more yards. Brian Kinchen and Carwell Gardner also co-led the team with four pass receptions apiece, for 57 and 16 yards, respectively, while Michael Jackson was the yardage leader with 60 on his three catches.

For the Raiders, Billy Joe Hobert was successful on 17 of 26 throws for 192 yards and two TDs while being intercepted twice. James Jett topped the club with 65 yards on his four pass receptions and Tim Brown scored on two of his four catches, for 31 yards. Harvey Williams gained 39 yards on 13 rushing attempts. 

While the season started on a high note for the Ravens, they lost their next two games on the way to ending up at the bottom of the AFC Central with a 4-12 record. Oakland got Jeff Hostetler back into the lineup for 13 games but went 7-9 to finish in fourth place in the AFC West.

Vinny Testaverde had a big year for a mediocre team, achieving career highs with 4177 passing yards and 33 touchdowns, both of which were still single-season records for the Ravens through 2014. He was selected to the Pro Bowl.

Highlighted Year: Kelvin Bryant, 1984

Running Back, Philadelphia Stars

Age: 23

2^nd season in pro football & with Stars

College: North Carolina

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 195

Prelude:

A three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference back in college, Bryant was chosen by the Stars in the first USFL territorial draft and went with the new league (the Washington Redskins selected him in the 7^th round of the ’83 NFL draft even though he had already signed with the USFL). He moved directly into the starting lineup and quickly became the focal point of the ground-oriented offense. Bryant rushed for 1442 yards and 16 TDs, caught 53 passes for another 410 yards and a score, and received MVP honors from the league as well as consensus first-team All-USFL recognition.

1984 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 18 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 297 [1, tied with Joe Cribbs]

Most attempts, game – 27 (for 114 yds.) vs. Tampa Bay 4/1

Yards – 1406 [2]

Most yards, game – 194 yards (on 24 carries) at Denver 6/8

Average gain – 4.7 [11]

TDs – 13 [6, tied with Leon Perry]

100-yard rushing games – 5

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 48      

Most receptions, game – 5 (for 34 yds.) vs. Oakland 3/18

Yards – 453

Most yards, game – 67 (on 3 catches) vs. Pittsburgh 6/4

Average gain – 9.4

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 15 [5, tied with Richard Johnson & Kevin Long]

Points – 90 [5, tied with Richard Johnson & Kevin Long]

Postseason: 3 G

Rushing attempts – 80

Most rushing attempts, game – 29 vs. Arizona, USFL Championship

Rushing yards – 384

Most rushing yards, game – 152 vs. Birmingham, Eastern Conference Championship

Average gain rushing – 4.8

Rushing TDs – 5

Pass receptions – 4

Most pass receptions, game – 2 vs. New Jersey, USFL First Round playoff

Pass receiving yards – 45

Most pass receiving yards, game - 32 vs. New Jersey, USFL First Round playoff

Average yards per reception – 11.3

Pass Receiving TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-USFL: League, Sporting News, College & Pro Football Newsweekly, Pro Football Weekly

Stars went 16-2 to finish first in the USFL Atlantic Division with the league’s best record. Won First Round playoff over New Jersey Generals (28-7), Eastern Conference Championship over Birmingham Stallions (20-10), and USFL Championship over Arizona Wranglers (23-3).

Aftermath:

Bryant continued to be one of the league’s best runners, even though battling occasional injuries, tying for fourth in ’85 with 1207 yards. He ended up gaining 4055 yards over the course of the three USFL seasons, and the Stars won the league championship in the last two. Following the demise of the USFL, Bryant joined the Redskins where he spent four seasons from 1986 to ’90, missing all of 1989 due to a neck injury. In the NFL, he battled injuries and was utilized more for his pass receiving skills, catching over 40 passes in each of his first three years but only once compiling as many as 100 carries (108 in 1988). With Washington, he rushed for a total of 1186 yards and caught 154 passes for 1634 yards.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1939: Giants Use 3 Field Goals to Defeat College All-Stars

The New York Giants represented the NFL in the sixth installment of the College All-Star Game in Chicago on August 30, 1939. They faced an All-Star squad coached by Elmer Layden, head coach of Notre Dame and a former member of that school’s famed “Four Horsemen” backfield.

The Giants were coached by Steve Owen, who had guided the club to two NFL Championships in eight years, including the 1938 season. New York had an able passer in tailback Ed Danowski and could run the ball effectively, most notably with FB Tuffy Leemans carrying. C/LB Mel Hein was coming off of a season in which he had been named MVP by the league and the team allowed few points on defense. Returning to the club was Ken Strong (pictured above), a former star fullback and placekicker who had jumped leagues after the 1935 season but was back at age 33.

The All-Stars had won the previous two contests and this year’s roster included future pro stars in center Charley Brock from Nebraska, Pitt HB Marshall Goldberg, FB Bill Osmanski of Holy Cross, and the diminutive Heisman-winning QB Davey O’Brien from TCU.  

There were 81,456 fans in attendance for the Wednesday night game at Soldier Field. The All-Stars were in trouble early when Davey O’Brien fumbled the game’s first punt and end Jim Poole recovered for New York. However, the Giants were unable to capitalize when Ward Cuff missed a field goal from 41 yards by inches.

Following an exchange of punts, the Giants again moved into scoring territory thanks to good runs by FB John “Bull” Karcis and Cuff. Cuff kicked a 34-yard field goal late in the first quarter to put the Giants in front.

In the second quarter, New York put together a 56-yard series that led to another field goal, this time by Ken Strong from 22 yards, to take a 6-0 advantage. The All-Stars responded by driving from their 28 to the New York 39, with the big play a 15-yard run by Bill Osmanski. However, a second-down pass by Michigan State back Johnny Pingel was intercepted by LB Kayo Lunday to end the threat.

The Giants attempted to add to their advantage in the third quarter with a drive to the All-Star 13, but came up empty when O’Brien intercepted a pass. The pro champs mounted another strong possession to the All-Star two, but Cuff’s try for a field goal hit the upright and bounced away.

Following more punts which included a quick-kick by the Giants that pinned the All-Stars back at their 20, New York got another field goal, again by Strong, who connected from 41 yards.

The All-Stars finally mounted a threat in the fourth quarter with Baylor QB Bill Patterson in the game, who threw the ball effectively. But drives to the New York 11 and 17 were blunted by interceptions by DB Len Barnum and LB Doug Oldershaw, respectively. The Giants came away with a 9-0 win in which they were more dominant than the score indicated.

The Giants, who controlled the line of scrimmage and kept the collegians bottled up on their side of the field for most of the game, had the edge in total yards (199 to 166) although the All-Stars had more first downs (10 to 9). However, New York intercepted five passes. Bill Osmanski (pictured at left) and QB George Faust from Minnesota drew praise as the best of the All-Star rushers.

The win for the Giants tied the series, which was far more competitive at that point than it would be in the ensuing years of its existence, at two wins apiece, with two ties.  New York again topped the Eastern Division with a 9-1-1 record during the regular season but lost in a title rematch with the Green Bay Packers.

Bill Osmanski played seven years in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and led the league in rushing as a rookie in 1939. Davey O’Brien also had a fine first year with the Philadelphia Eagles, passing for a NFL-high 1324 yards in his first of two pro seasons before leaving to join the FBI.

Highlighted Year: Bob Davis, 1974

Quarterback, Florida Blazers

Age: 29 (Sept. 15)

8^th season in pro football, 1^st in WFL & with Blazers

College: Virginia

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 202

Prelude:

Davis was a quarterback who could both run and pass effectively in college, throwing for 3095 yards and gaining 930 on the ground, but he suffered a major knee injury in his last game. He was chosen by the Houston Oilers in the second round of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft and he was a backup in Houston for three seasons, completing 67 of 147 passes (45.6 %) for 735 yards and two TDs with 12 interceptions. Davis spent the 1970 to ’73 seasons with the New York Jets and started seven games in 1971 due to injuries to Joe Namath and Al Woodall. It proved to be his most productive NFL season as he threw for 624 yards and 10 touchdowns, but he averaged just 5.2 yards per attempt and completed only 40.5 percent of his passes. Davis spent a year as a backup with New Orleans in 1973 and saw scant action. He was traded to Buffalo but signed with the Washington Ambassadors of the new WFL for ’74. By the time the regular season started, the club was in Orlando and called the Florida Blazers.

1974 Season Summary

Appeared in all 20 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 414 [3]

Completions – 227 [3]

Yards – 3079 [3]

Completion percentage – 54.8 [1]

Yards per attempt – 7.4 [3]

TD passes – 21 [5]

Interceptions – 23 [2]

Rushing

Attempts – 28

Yards – 94

Average gain – 3.4

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs – 2

Action Points - 0

Points – 14

(Note: Touchdowns counted for 7 points in the WFL)

Postseason: 3 G

Pass attempts – 50

Most pass attempts, game – 21 at Birmingham, WFL Championship

Pass completions – 17

Most pass completions, game – 8 at Birmingham, WFL Championship

Passing yardage – 317

Most passing yards, game – 184 at Birmingham, WFL Championship

TD passes – 3

Most TD passes, game – 2 at Birmingham, WFL Championship

Interceptions – 2

Most interceptions, game – 2 at Birmingham, WFL Championship

Rushing attempts – 3

Most rushing attempts, game – 3 at Birmingham, WFL Championship

Rushing yards – 10

Most rushing yards, game – 10 at Birmingham, WFL Championship

Average gain rushing – 3.3

Rushing TDs – 0

Blazers went 14-6 to finish first in the WFL Eastern Division. Won First Round playoff over Philadelphia Bell (18-3) & Second Round playoff over Memphis Southmen (18-15). Lost WFL Championship to Birmingham Americans (22-21). 

Aftermath:

Following the demise of the Blazers, Davis joined the Philadelphia Bell in 1975 and beat out Jim “King” Corcoran to be the starting quarterback. He passed for 1114 yards and 7 touchdowns while giving up 12 interceptions before the league folded at midseason, ending his career as well. Davis ended up as the WFL’s career passing yardage leader in its brief existence with 4193 yards, tossing 28 TD passes with 35 interceptions. In the NFL, he started a total of 14 games and threw for 1553 yards and 14 TDs while giving up 23 interceptions.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Billy Hillenbrand, 1948

Halfback, Baltimore Colts

Age: 26

3^rd season in pro football, 2^nd with Colts

College: Indiana

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 188

Prelude:

Hillenbrand was a consensus first-team All-American in 1942 and was chosen by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1944 NFL draft. However, he went into the military for two years during World War II and played service football. The versatile halfback signed with the Chicago Rockets of the new AAFC in 1946 and had a good year for a poor team, gaining 490 yards from scrimmage, intercepting three passes on defense, and returning both a punt and kickoff for touchdowns. He moved on to the Colts in 1948 and further developed as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 39 passes for 702 yards (18.0 avg.) and seven TDs and, adding in kick returns, he gained 1573 all-purpose yards.

1948 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 100 [10, tied with Edgar Jones]

Yards – 510 [12]

Most yards, game – 112 yards (on 12 carries) at Brooklyn 11/28

Average gain – 5.1 [9]

TDs – 7 [5, tied with Lou Tomasetti]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 50 [3, tied with Fay King]

Yards – 970 [1]

Average gain – 19.4 [2]

TDs – 6 [8, tied with Jack Russell]

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 16 [4]

Yards – 356 [5]

Average per return – 22.3 [4]

TDs – 0

Longest return – N/A

Punt Returns

Returns – 18 [4]

Yards – 231 [6]

Average per return – 12.8 [5]

TDs – 0

Longest return – N/A

All-Purpose yards – 2067 [2]

Scoring

TDs – 13 [3]

Points – 78 [4]

Postseason: 1 G (Eastern Division playoff vs. Buffalo)

Rushing attempts – 6

Rushing yards – 5

Average gain rushing – 0.8

Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 7

Receiving yards – 75

Average yards per reception – 10.7

Pass receiving TDs – 0

Kickoff returns – 3

Kickoff return yards – 35

Average yards per return – 11.7

Kickoff return TDs – 0

Punt returns – 1

Punt return yards – 0

Punt return TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-AAFC: League, UPI, NY Daily News

Colts went 7-7 to tie for first in the AAFC Eastern Division while leading the league in passing yards (2899). Lost Eastern Division playoff to Buffalo Bills (28-17).

Aftermath:

Hillenbrand’s outstanding 1948 season turned out to be his last. He retired, having caught 110 passes for 1987 yards (18.1 avg.) and 17 touchdowns, rushed for 889 yards on 216 carries (4.1 avg.) and another 11 TDs, returned 44 punts for a 13.9 average and a TD and 42 kickoffs for a 24.8-yard average and two scores. Overall, he scored 31 touchdowns in his three seasons.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1943: College All-Stars Thrash Redskins in Game at Northwestern

The tenth College All-Star Game was held on August 25, 1943 and was the first to be played at a venue other than Soldier Field in Chicago. The Wednesday night contest was held instead in nearby Evanston at Dyche Stadium of Northwestern University with 48,471 fans in attendance.

The NFL Champions, the Washington Redskins, were heavy favorites coming into the game. They had a new head coach in Dutch Bergman but capable returning veterans in tailback Sammy Baugh, HB Wilbur Moore, FB Bob Seymour, end Bob Masterson, and tackle Willie Wilkin.

Harry Stuhldreher, former member of Notre Dame’s “Four Horsemen” backfield and now head coach at Wisconsin, coached the All-Stars and prepared them well, running a simple but effective offense. The team was chosen by coaches rather than a nationwide newspaper poll, as in past years, and included future pro stars in Indiana end Pete Pihos, tackle Al Wistert of Michigan, Stanford center Vic Lindskog, Northwestern tailback Otto Graham, HB Charley Trippi of Georgia, and FB Pat Harder from Wisconsin (pictured above).

There was a heavy rain as the game started and it was hot and muggy for the remainder of the contest, which seemed to wear the Redskins down more than the collegians. The Redskins had first possession and drove from their 35 to the All-Star 38 in seven plays before being stopped and coming up empty.

The next Washington series ended with a punt by Sammy Baugh from his own 21 and HB Bob Steuber from Missouri picked up the bouncing ball and returned it 50 yards behind outstanding blocking for the first touchdown of the game. Pat Harder added the extra point.

The All-Stars got another break when Bob Seymour fumbled and Al Wistert recovered at the Washington 48. But after advancing 20 yards in four plays, highlighted by an Otto Graham pass to Pete Pihos for 12 yards, Harder fumbled and end Bob Masterson recovered for the Redskins to end the threat.

Washington then put together a 70-yard drive that stretched into the second quarter. Baugh completed two passes for first downs along the way and ended the series with a touchdown pass to end Joe Aguirre that covered six yards. Masterson kicked the extra point to tie the score. It would prove to be the high point for the pro champs.

Late in the second quarter, the All-Stars scored again. A penalty on a Washington punt gave the collegians good starting field position at their 42 and, with Tulsa’s passing tailback Glenn Dobbs now in the game, they went to the air. Dobbs was sacked on first down but completed five passes, including one to Washington State back Bob Kennedy for 19 yards and another to Harder for 14. The last was also to Harder, a short toss that ended up covering 36 yards for a TD. Harder again added the point after and the All-Stars took a 14-7 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, the Redskins advanced to the All-Star 17, but a second down pass intended for Bob Seymour in the end zone was instead intercepted by Otto Graham (pictured at left), who made a spectacular play with a 97-yard interception return for another touchdown. Harder failed to add the PAT, but the rejuvenated All-Stars were ahead by 20-7.

Washington would never seriously threaten again.  In the fourth quarter, Harder scored a second TD on a 30-yard run to put the game away. Graham kicked the extra point and the All-Stars won in convincing fashion by a final score of 27-7.

Washington had the edge in total yards (325 to 212), with 273 of that total coming through the air, and first downs (16 to 9). However, the Redskins turned the ball over five times, three of them by interception, to two suffered by the collegians.

Pat Harder led the All-Stars in rushing with 53 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns, and also played well at linebacker on defense. Sammy Baugh completed 21 of 41 passes for Washington.

It was the first win for the All-Stars since 1938, also over the Redskins, and the third since the series began in 1934 (there had been two ties). Washington went on to top the Eastern Division for the third time in four years but lost the NFL Championship game to the Bears.

Pat Harder and Otto Graham both appeared in the 1946 College All-Star Game (during World War II restrictions on participation were lifted, which allowed underclassmen to appear, and several players played in multiple games). They moved on to successful pro careers, and both would return to the College All-Star Game as members of NFL Championship clubs (Harder with the Cardinals and Lions, Graham with the Browns). Graham would later coach the All-Stars for ten games of the series that lasted until 1976, two of which they won.