Minus the power of their one-two punch, all conference tailback Bobby Griffin and dynamic fullback Bill Engle, East Texas State bowed to arch-rival North Texas State 27-7 in their 1948 grid finale.

Before falling, however, the Lions gave 10,000 Homecoming fans at Denton a rude shock by pulling ahead of the Eagles 7-0 on a play that is nearly as old as football itself, the screen pass. Bobby Wilkinson pulled the trigger on the short aerial to scatback Jim Bos worth who went all the way, aided and abetted by Captain Tom Ramey's vicious blocking. Griffin, suited out for just such an occasion, hobbled onto the field to kick the conversion. The first Eagle tally came minutes later on a run by their great halfback Dick Nutt. His extra point kick tied the game. Late in the second stanza the tide began to turn. A pass from back Cecil Martin to end Luther Fambro gave the Eagles their 14-7 halftime lead. In the third period fullback Ned McNeill slashed over center for the third Eagle score and Nutt came back for a repeat performance, plunging to paydirt the first play of the final period. An ironic Fate that had plagued the Lions with injury problems all season seemed to work overtime for this final game. With Griffin and Engle sidelined, Coach Berry had to rely on a make-shift backfield that switched wingback Wilkinson to Griffin's tailback slot and Ramey from his blocking back position to fullback. It was certainly a slap in the face to this same Fate that the two gridders turned in such a fine performance from these positions. Also cheer-raising was play by Bob Nations who handled the blocking back chores. Taking nothing from a fine North Texas eleven, it was undoubtedly quite a psychological blow to the Lions to find themselves without the services of Griffin, a great sparkplug and the team's top passer, kicker and ball handler as well as signal caller, runner, and a fine defensive back. Despite all the obstacles the East Texas eleven's fighting spirit and sheer will-to-win put them on the short end of nothing except the score.