By Gene Wang
Washingtonpost.com Correspondent
Web Posted: Sunday, November 22, 1998; 7:45 p.m. EST

His team trailing by seemingly an insurmountable margin at halftime, Redskins quarterback Trent Green showed fortitude in the second half today that almost made for one of the most memorable comebacks in franchise history.

After a nondescript first half in which he completed 11 of 19 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown, Green directed the Redskins to touchdowns on five straight possessions in the second half. But in the end, the unheralded 1993 eighth-round draft pick from Indiana could not complete the improbable turnaround from a 31-6 halftime deficit, throwing an interception with just more than a minute to play in a 45-42 loss Sunday.

Even in defeat, teammates praised Green's poise under trying circumstances. They talked about his quiet leadership in the second-half huddles. They pointed to his rugged two-yard touchdown run with 1 minute 46 seconds to play that pulled the Redskins to within three points. But mostly, they touted his character.

"He's a battler. He'll step up in the pocket, take a hit for the team," Redskins left tackle Brad Badger said of Green. "To see that touchdown, it was a tough run, but he just put it in there. That's his courage."

Green's run, in which he scrambled left and dove just inside the left pylon for the score, left the Redskins' starter in some pain. He momentarily had to lean on trainers on the sideline before eventually composing himself. Green accounted for five touchdowns in the game, and his four touchdown passes were the most by a Redskins quarterback since John Friesz did it Sept. 11, 1994.

"I think he went out there and proved that he could play," Redskins veteran Pro Bowl linebacker Ken Harvey said of Green. "Under pressure and under the gun, he can make things happen. If you have a guy like that, whose teammates are willing to follow and willing to go out and push for him, then you can win some games."

Though the Redskins fell painfully short today, Green showed the Redskins might not be in as desperate a situation at quarterback as once thought. In the second half, Green completed 19 of 30 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, proving that the Cardinals' Jake Plummer was not the only quarterback in the game prone to dramatic rallies.

"He stepped up his game like everyone else in the second half," Redskins running back Skip Hicks said of his quarterback.

Green threw three touchdowns to embattled wide receiver Michael Westbrook and one to wide receiver Leslie Shepherd. Green's deft touch contributed to a career day for Westbrook, who set personal records for catches (10), yards (135) and touchdowns in a game. Shepherd finished with seven receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown.

"It was a first for me and Mike to get into a rhythm like that," Shepherd said. "It is something we had not shot for when we came into training camp. It was exciting. It kind of brought back the [Gary] Clark/Art Monk kind of era. But you know, we did not win."

Green gave the Redskins just about every chance to do so in the second half before the Redskins' final possession. On that drive, which began at the Washington 32 with 1:16 to play, Green threw incomplete to tight end Stephen Alexander, then had Westbrook just get a hand on his high throw on second down. The ball deflected off Westbrook's hand and into the awaiting arms of defensive back Kwamie Lassiter.

"By no means was anybody on this team going to give up," Green said. "Any time you're down 31 points, you can go in the tank. We just had guys continue fighting. That's the only positive you can take from it."