1935 Detroit Lions season

Schedule

Season summary

Week 1: Lions 35, Eagles 0

On Friday, September 20, 1935, the Lions opened their season with a 35–0 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles before a crowd of approximately 10,000 at University of Detroit Stadium. Halfback Ernie Caddel scored three touchdowns. Dutch Clark also scored a touchdown, and a fifth came on a 10-yard pass from Pug Vaughan to Frank Christensen. Clark kicked four extra points, and Glenn Presnell kicked the fifth. The Lions prevented the Eagles from making a first down. The Lions totaled 381 total yards against the Eagles, including 324 rushing yards on 57 carries for an average of 6.8 yards per carry. Following the game, the Associated Press reported that the Lions has "definitely established themselves as serious contenders for the 1935 National Professional football league championship."

Week 2: Lions 10, Cardinals 10

On September 29, 1935, in the second game of the season, the Lions and Chicago Cardinals played to a 10–10 tie in front of approximately 10,000 spectators at the University of Detroit Stadium. The Lions trailed 3-0 at halftime but scored a touchdown in the third quarter on a 15-yard pass from Dutch Clark to John Schneller. Chicago retook the lead with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The Lions then tied the score in the final minutes, as Glenn Presnell kicked a field goal.

Week 3: Dodgers 12, Lions 10

The Lions suffered their first loss of the season in a road game against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field.

Week 4: Lions 17, Redskins 7

In week four, the Lions defeated the Boston Redskins 17–7 in front at Fenway Park in Boston. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 35-yard field goal by Glenn Presnell. The Lions added a touchdown in the third quarter on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Ace Gutowsky to Dutch Clark. Both teams scored touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The Lions' final touchdown was fueled by a 40-yard run by Ernie Caddel and a final 10-yard touchdown run by Caddel.

This would be the Lions' last road win against the Redskins until the 2013 season, as they went on a 21-game road losing streak against them, one of the longest road losing streaks against a single opponent in NFL history.

Week 5: Packers 13, Lions 9

In week five, the Lions suffered their second loss of the season, falling to the Green Bay Packers 13–9 at State Fair Park in Milwaukee. Former Oregon State tackle Tar Schwammel kicked two field goals for the Packers.

Through the first five games, Ernie Caddel was tied with Dale Burnett for the NFL scoring lead with five touchdowns and 30 points. Caddel had gained 297 yards on 39 carries for an average of 7.6 yards per carry.

Week 6: Lions 14, Redskins 0

In the sixth game of the season, the Lions defeated the Boston Redskins 14–0 in front of 14,000 spectators in Detroit. In the first quarter, Ernie Caddel threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Schneller for the first points of the game. The second half was played in heavy fog, "at times almost completely blotting out all action, and making necessary the use of a white ball."

Week 7: Lions 7, Cardinals 6

Chicago, IL In week seven, the Lions narrowly defeated the Chicago Cardinals in the rain and mud at Wrigley Field. The final score was 7–6 with the difference being a successful extra point kicked by Dutch Clark after a 12-yard touchdown run by Ernie Caddel in the first quarter. The Cardinals scored a touchdown in the second quarter but missed the extra point attempt.

Week 8: Packers 31, Lions 7

In week eight, the Lions lost for the second time in 1935 to the Green Bay Packers, this time by a score of 31–7.

Week 9: Lions 20, Packers 10

Detroit, MI In week nine, the Lions and Packers met for the third time in the 1935 season. This time, the Lions came out on top 20–10. Bill Shepherd, who had been acquired by the Lions in a trade for Doug Nott on November 4, 1935, scored two touchdowns for the Lions. Ebding added another. Dutch Clark kicked two extra points. The game was attended by 14,000 spectators at University of Detroit Stadium.

Week 10: Lions 20, Bears 20

In week 10, the Lions played the Chicago Bears to a 20–20 tie at Wrigley Field. The Bears' Bill Karr caught three touchdown passes in the game. The Lions' touchdowns were scored by Dutch Clark, Bill Shepherd and Klewicki.

Week 11: Lions 14, Bears 2

For their 11th game, the Lions played the Bears on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit. Dutch Clark scored two touchdowns as the Lions beat the Bears 14–2. The Bears scored a safety after Buddy Parker fumbled and recovered the ball behind his own goal line.

Week 12: Lions 28, Dodgers 0

In their final regular-season game, the Detroit Lions defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 28–0 in front of 12,000 spectators in Detroit. The Lions scored on a field goal by Glenn Presnell, a touchdown reception by Presnell, two safeties, and touchdowns by Dutch Clark and Ace Gutowsky. They scored 16 points in the fourth quarter. The win gave the Lions the undisputed NFL Western Division title.

Standings

Championship Play-off

Main article: 1935 NFL Championship Game

(1935 NFL Championship Game) Detroit, MI

The 1935 NFL Championship Game was held on December 15, 1935, at University of Detroit Stadium (some sources call it Titan Stadium) in Detroit. The game was played in a snowstorm in front of 12,000 spectators. It was the 3rd annual title game for the NFL. The champion of the Western Division was the Detroit Lions (7–3–2) and the champion of the Eastern Division was the New York Giants (9–3).

On the opening drive of the game, the Lions Glenn Presnell threw a 36-yard pass to Frank Christensen, and Ace Gutowsky threw another long pass to Ed Klewicki at the Giants' 8-yard line. Gutowsky then ran the ball into the end zone to give the Lions a 7–0 lead. The Lions scored again after Christensen intercepted a pass thrown by New York's Ed Danowski and ran it back to midfield. Three plays later, Dutch Clark ran 40 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, the Lions blocked a punt, and George Christensen recovered the ball on the Giants' 22-yard line. Ernie Caddel ran the ball in from the one-yard line for the Lions' third touchdown.

The Lions added to their lead late in the game after Parker intercepted a pass from New York quarterback (and former University of Michigan star) Harry Newman on the Giants' 45-yard line and returned it to the nine-yard line. Buddy Parker ran for the touchdown as the Lions won the championship by a final score of 26–7.

Post-season games

All-Star Game: Lions 33, NFL All-Stars 0

After the NFL Championship Game, the Lions played a game against an NFL All-Star team on January 1, 1936. The game was attended by 11,000 spectators and marked the first NFL game to be played in Denver, Colorado. The Lions scored five touchdowns, including three in the third period, for a 33–0 victory.

Roster

Detroit: "City of Champions"

When the Lions won the 1935 NFL Championship Game, the City of Detroit was mired in the Great Depression, which had hit Detroit and its industries particularly hard. But with the success of the Lions and other Detroit athletes in 1935, Detroit's luck appeared to be changing, as the City was dubbed the "City of Champions." The Detroit Tigers also won the 1935 World Series, and the Detroit Red Wings won the 1935–36 Stanley Cup championship. Detroit's "champions" included Detroit's "Brown Bomber," Joe Louis, the heavyweight boxing champion; native Detroiter Gar Wood who was the champion of unlimited powerboat racing and the first man to go 100 miles per hour on water; Eddie "the Midnight Express" Tolan, a black Detroiter who won gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter races at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

Statistical leaders

Rushing

Passing

Receiving

Scoring

Awards and records

• Ernie Cadell :: Led NFL in all-purpose yards and yards from scrimmage (621) :: Led NFL in rushing touchdowns (6) :: Led NFL in yards per rushing attempt (5.2) :: Led NFL in yards per touch (6.4) :: Tied for NFL lead in rushing/receiving touchdowns (6) :: 2nd in NFL in rushing yards (450)
• Dutch Clark :: Led NFL in points scored (55) :: Tied for NFL lead in extra points made (16) :: Tied for NFL lead in rushing/receiving touchdowns (6) :: 2nd in NFL in all-purpose yards (551)
• Glenn Presnell :: Tied for NFL lead in punt return touchdowns (1)

References

References

1. (September 21, 1935). "10,000 See Lions Beat Eagles, 35 to 0". Detroit Free Press.
2. (September 23, 1935). "Detroit Lions Win Opening Game, 35–0". Ludington Daily News.
3. (September 23, 1935). "Detroit Leads Pro League in Yardage: Lions Have Gained Total Of 381 Yards". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
4. (September 30, 1935). "LIONS TIE CHICAGO CARDS.; Detroit Gains 10–10 Deadlock in League Football Game". The New York Times.
5. (September 30, 1935). "Lions Come From Behind to Tie Cardinals, 10-10". Detroit Free Press.
6. Arthur J. Daley. (October 7, 1935). "Football Dodgers Triumph in Inaugural at Ebbets Field; Giants Also Score; DODGERS VANQUISH LIONS BY 12 TO 10". October 7, 1935.
7. (October 9, 1935). "Detroit Lions Smother Redskins 17–7 in League Tilt Before 20,000 Fans". The Lewiston Daily Sun (AP story).
8. (September 23, 2013). "Lions End 21 Game Road Losing Streak to Redskins".
9. Charles Nevada. (October 21, 1935). "PACKERS DEFEAT LIONS, 13 TO 9, ON TWO FIELD GOALS: Schwammel Place Kicks from 39, 41 Yard Lines". Chicago Daily Tribune.
10. (October 23, 1935). "Caddel Keeps Spot As Scoring Leader". Berkeley Daily Gazette.
11. (October 31, 1935). "Redskins Licked by Detroit Lions; Score 14 to 0". The Lewiston Daily Sun.
12. (November 4, 1935). "Lions Vanquish Cardinals, 7–6, As Clark Converts Extra Point; Detroit Quarterback Boots Ball Between Uprights After Caddel Takes Lateral and Runs 12 Yards to Score in First Period". The New York Times.
13. Charles Nevada. (November 11, 1935). "Packers Pound Lions, 31 to 7; Hold 1st Place". Chicago Daily Tribune.
14. (November 11, 1934). "GREEN BAY PASSES BEAT DETROIT, 31–7; Packers Get 21 Points in Last Half, Blood Twice Snaring Touchdown Tosses. HINKLE KICKS FIELD GOAL Hutson Also Scores Through Aerial Route – Kleiwicki Accounts for Losers' Tally". The New York Times.
15. (November 5, 1935). "Casey Trades Bill Shepherd to Detroit For Passing Ace, Nott". The Lewiston Daily Sun.
16. (November 18, 1935). "Lions Trounce Packers 20–10: Dutch Clark Hero as Team Stays in Race". The Windsor Daily Star.
17. (November 25, 1935). "BEARS TIE DETROIT AS KARR SETS PACE; He Scores Three Touchdowns in 20–20 National Football League Deadlock. CLARK GETS FIRST TALLY Klewicki and Shepherd Also Cross Goal Line for Lions at Wrigley Field". The New York Times.
18. (November 29, 1935). "Detroit Lions Defeat Bears". The Spartanburg Herald.
19. Wilfrid Smith. (November 29, 1935). "DUTCH CLARK IS PUNCH BEHIND LIONS' ATTACK: Takes Two Passes for Detroit Touchdowns; Lions Defeat Bears, 14 to 2; Tie for Lead". Chicago Daily Tribune.
20. (December 2, 1935). "Lions Rout the Dodgers by 28–0 And Gain Western Division Lead; Presnell Starts Detroit's Scoring With a Field Goal and Later Crosses on a Pass – Clark and Gutowsky Also Go Over for Touchdowns – Two Safeties Included in the Total". The New York Times.
21. (December 15, 1935). "Detroit Lions Win Grid Championship: Pro Team Takes 26 to 7 Decision Over New York Giants". The Palm Beach Post (AP story).
22. (January 2, 1936). "Detroit Lions Beat All-Star Eleven, 33–0". Chicago Daily Tribune.
23. (January 20, 1936). "Detroit Lions Defeat Los Angeles Gridders". The Miami News.
24. (January 2, 1936). "Lions Score Five Touchdowns in Defeating Pro Football All-Stars at Denver, 33 to 0". The New York Times.
25. "Archived copy".