The 1953 College All-Star Game
In
a bitterly played game, the 1953 All-Stars had to face bombing Bobby
Layne and a brawny Detroit team. Layne completed 19 of 30 passes for 339
yards on the night with the help of Doak Walker, Leon Hart and Harley
Sewell. The Stars’ coach was for a second time Bobby Dodd of Georgia
Tech. His team with Jack Scarbath of Maryland, Jim Sears of USC, Richard
Modzelewski of Maryland and Gib Dawson (MVP) of Texas would face a
Detroit team at the top of their game and in a year the Lions would
successfully defend their title in the NFL championship.
After
Bob Hoernschemeyer carried from the 5-yard line in the first quarter for
a score and a Doak Walker field goal in the second, the Lions led 10-0
after two quarters. But the Stars’ Gib Dawson of Texas booted a field
goal from Detroit’s 23-yard line for a 10-3 score at halftime.
As part of his record-breaking passing attack, Bobby Layne hit Cloyce
Box with an 8 yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to make the score
17-3. And, in the final period, quarterback “Hunchy” Hoernschemeyer
plunged in from the 2-yard line for the final touchdown for the Lions.
Pat Harder kicked all three extra points for Detroit. The collegians
made their final statement late in the fourth quarter when Dawson
sprinted 17 yards for an All-Star touchdown. This coming after two
fights broke out between the two teams, once in the third period and
once in the fourth. The final score showed Detroit 24 and the All-Stars
10. Layne’s 339 yards passing in the contest would stand as the all-time
All-Star Game individual record.
This was the Twentieth Anniversary of the game hosted by the Chicago
Tribune Charities. The record stood at twelve wins for the
professionals, six for the collegians with two ties between them.