the ice later in the game.
The Hawks return home to play Boston tomorrow night and then head east to meet New York on Tuesday and Detroit on Thursday.
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AFL Championship [have pics]
Many additional AFL pics here: https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?editorialproducts=archival&family=editorial&page=12&phrase=december%201964&sort=mostpopular
7
🚨The Buffalo Bills are AFL Champions
🚨Dec. 26, 1964 - Buffalo took possession of its first major league sports title late this afternoon when the Bills dethroned the San Diego Chargers as champions of the AFL. In a hard‐fought game played in unusual weather for this city, the Bills defeated the Chargers, 20‐7, in the fifth AFL championship contest.
Led by Jack Kemp (right) at quarterback and the running of the colorful Cookie Gilchrist (left), the Bills withstood an early shock to win the biggest sports crown any team has earned here. It was fully appreciated by most of the 40,242 fans who filled War Memorial Stadium and set a record for attendance at an AFL title contest.
It was also greatly appreciated by Ralph Wilson, the Bills’ owner, who has been hoping for such a title since he began building the team at the inception of the league in 1960. Coach Lou Saban also had much to be happy about since he had been dismissed from the job as the Boston Patriot coach only to take over the head coaching job with the Bills in 1962.
The contest was staged in temperatures near 50 degrees and on a field that was wet but was nevertheless good for running. Gilchrist, a former Canadian Football League star, made the most of these conditions, charging for 122 yards on 16 carries and 22 yards with two pass receptions.
The big fullback didn’t score a point. But his efforts were important in setting up two touchdowns and two field goals by the Bills. Pete Gogolak, the soccer‐style place‐kicker, booted the field goals and both extra points. Wray Carlton and Kemp scored the winners’ touchdowns.
Gilchrist’s running fell only 2 yards short of the total the Chargers managed to gain on the ground.
Cookie, however, had his problems as well as his glory. He was injured early in the fourth period and missed most of the remaining action. He suffered bruised ribs on one of his charging runs.
“It was worth it,” Gilchrist said afterward. “Yes, it was rough and tough but no more than last week’s triumph over Boston that gave us the Eastern Division title. But I’m glad it’s over. I don’t want to play tomorrow.”
Saban summed up the season this way: “What a year. This was a great performance by a lot of fine young players. But I want to pay tribute to the Chargers.
The Chargers woke us up in a hurry when they marched to that first touchdown, 80 yards in four plays. We were so high a week ago for Boston that we needed a jolt. They gave it to us, but I wasn’t too concerned. I know my team, I knew they’d come along.”
Saban did not care to guess how much the loss of Keith Lincoln hampered San Diego’s running attack. He said only that “it was a fine championship game, everybody rocked and socked. I didn’t notice any lessening of San Diego’s efforts after Lincoln’s departure.”
Lincoln left midway through the first quarter after a tremendously hard tackle by Mike Stratton, the Bills’ 240‐pound right linebacker.
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