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Cowboys Top Lions at Cotton Bowl for First Victory of 1963

Oct. 13, 1963 - Linebacker Chuck Howley’s interceptions of two passes set up a field goal and a touchdown pass from Eddie LeBaron (pictured) for Dallas today, and Amos Marsh ran 41 yards for another Cowboy touchdown as the Dallas eleven scored its first victory of the NFL season, a 17-14 triumph over the Detroit Lions at the Cotton Bowl. Howley also prevented a Detroit touchdown with a tackle of Terry Barr and knocked down a desperation pass by Milt Plum with 2 minutes to go and the Lions on the Dallas 38. A crowd of 27,264 turned out to watch Dallas break its painful losing streak. The Cowboys had started the season as one of the top-rated teams in the Eastern Conference. Detroit certainly didn’t win because it didn’t try. Wayne Walker attempted four field goals and missed on all. He was to the right on every one of them. Compounding Detroit woes, the Lions lost another of their stars today. Linebacker Carl Brettschneider crumpled under a pile of Cowboy blockers in the second half and had to be carried from the field on a stretcher. He is lost for the season. Brettschneider suffered torn ligaments and cartilage in his left knee and will undergo surgery at University of Michigan hospital. The gloom in the Detroit dressing room was deep. Milt Plum, suffering another poor day on completions — only 7 for 20 — refused to talk to reporters. Another serious casualty may be fullback Nick Pietrosante. He suffered a possible fractured hand on the first series of plays, which explains Ollie Matson’s early presence in the lineup. There was one bright spot for the Lions: Yale Lary’s punts. Lary let loose with a booming 73-yarder, his longest in a league game. In the Runner-Up Bowl in Miami last January, Lary had one 74-yard kick.

© 2024 by Joe Rubenstein

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