Shaw Rallies Giants to 21‑19 Squeaker Over 49ers
Interpreted from Lud Duroska San Francisco, Sept. 25 —
The New York Giants opened their season yesterday by the skin of their teeth, pulling out a 21‑19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in a frantic finish at Kezar Stadium.
George Shaw, taking over for Charlie Conerly in the second half, sparked two scoring drives that erased a 14‑7 deficit. Mel Triplett crashed over from the three‑yard line for the winning touchdown with less than five minutes to play, capping a drive that began on a 58‑yard pass‑run by rookie Bob Simms, the former Rutgers end making his pro debut.
The Giants had to gamble late, giving up an intentional safety to protect their lead. It nearly cost them the game when 49er kicker Tommy Davis missed a 38‑yard field goal with 36 seconds remaining. The ball sailed wide, and 44,598 fans watched their hometown heroes fall by inches.
San Francisco had jumped ahead early. Quarterback Y. A. Tittle engineered two first‑quarter touchdowns — one on a pass to Clyde Conner and another on Joe Perry’s plunge from the one — for a 14‑0 lead. The Giants looked sluggish until midway through the second period, when Kyle Rote’s third‑down catch and Frank Gifford’s running set up Conerly’s touchdown pass to Rote.
After halftime, Shaw took command. He directed an 80‑yard march in 12 plays, aided by an interference call on Ed Woodson, and Triplett blasted over from the one to tie it 14‑14. Davis’ 30‑yard field goal put the 49ers ahead 17‑14, but Shaw’s superb ball‑handling and passing turned the tide.
From the New York 18, Shaw faked a handoff to Triplett, rolled right, and fired a long pass to Simms, who slipped two defenders and raced to the 24. Two plays later, Shaw hit Triplett over the middle for the decisive score.
The 49ers fought back furiously in the closing minutes. Tittle drove his team to the Giants’ one‑yard line, but Rosey Brown and Jack Stroud led a goal‑line stand that stopped D. D. Smith inches short.
Head coach Jim Lee Howell then ordered the safety, giving San Francisco two points and a final chance. Davis’ missed kick sealed the Giants’ narrow escape — a victory earned through grit, luck, and a bit of daring.
It was a shaky start for the defending Eastern Division champions, but Shaw’s poise and Triplett’s power carried them through when it mattered most.
Courtesy of The Newark Star-Ledger September 26, 1960 via Newspapers.com