1949 Dixie Bowl

The 1949 Dixie Bowl, part of the 1948 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1949, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The competing teams were the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, representing the Southern Conference (SoCon), and the Baylor Bears, representing the Southwest Conference (SWC). Baylor was victorious in by a final score of 20–7.

1949 Dixie Bowl
Baylor Bears Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5–3–2) (6–3) 20 7 Head coach:  Bob Woodruff Head coach:  Peahead Walker AP 20
1 2 3 4 Total Baylor 6 14 0 0 20 Wake Forest 0 0 7 0 7
Date	January 1, 1949
Season	1948
Stadium	Legion Field
Location	Birmingham, Alabama
Referee	Jimmie C. Higgins (SWC; split crew: SWC, Southern)
Attendance	20,000
Dixie Bowl  < 1948

Teams

Baylor

See also: 1948 Baylor Bears football team

The 1948 Baylor squad finished the regular season 5–3–2 with losses against Texas, Tulane and SMU and ties against Mississippi State and Rice.^[1] Following their tie against Rice, Dixie Bowl officials extended the Bears an invitation to play in the 1949 edition of the game, which Baylor accepted.^[2] The Dixie Bowl appearance marked the first ever postseason bowl game for Baylor.^[3]

Wake Forest

See also: 1948 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team

The 1948 Wake Forest squad finished the regular season 6–3 with losses against Boston College, North Carolina and Clemson.^[4] Following their victory over Duke, Dixie Bowl officials extended the Demon Deacons an invitation to play in the 1949 edition of the game, which Wake accepted.^[5] The appearance marked the first for Wake in the Dixie Bowl and their second overall bowl appearance.^[6]

Game summary

Baylor opened the scoring in the first quarter after George Sims intercepted a Wake pass and returned it 52 yards to the Demon Deacons eight-yard line.^[7] Sammie Pierce scored from one yard out a few plays later and after Hank Dickerson missed the extra point, the Bears took a 6–0 lead.^[3][7] Baylor extended their lead to 20–0 at halftime after Jerry Mangrum scored from one-yard out and Harold Riley connected with Ray Painter for a 12-yard touchdown reception.^[3][7] Early in the third, Wake scored their only points of the game on a three-yard Mike Sprock run to make the final score 20–7.^[6][7]

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Baylor Wake Forest 1 8 yards Baylor Sammie Pierce 1-yard touchdown run, Hank Dickerson kick no good 6 0 2 58 yards Baylor Jerry Mangrum 1-yard touchdown run, Hank Dickerson kick good 13 0 2 68 yards Baylor Harold Riley 12-yard touchdown reception from Ray Painter, Hank Dickerson kick good 20 0 3 3 plays, 13 yards Wake Forest Mike Sprock 3-yard touchdown run, kick good 20 7 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 20 7

References

1. "All-time Results". 2010 Baylor Football Media Almanac (PDF). Waco, TX: Baylor University Department of Athletics. 2010. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
2. "Baylor to face Demon Deacons in Dixie Bowl". The News & Courier. Associated Press. November 28, 1948. p. 2D. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
3. "Bowl Recaps: 1949 Dixie Bowl". 2010 Baylor Football Media Almanac (PDF). Waco, TX: Baylor University Department of Athletics. 2010. p. 117. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
4. "Year-by-Year Results". 2010 Wake Forest Football Media Guide (PDF). Winston-Salem, NC: Wake Forest Athletic Media Relations. 2010. p. 195. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
5. "Wake Forest accepts Dixie Bowl invitation". The Tuscaloosa News. United Press. November 9, 1948. p. 10. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
6. "Postseason Games: 1949 Dixie Bowl". 2010 Wake Forest Football Media Guide (PDF). Winston-Salem, NC: Wake Forest Athletic Media Relations. 2010. p. 172. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
7. Simms, Leroy (January 2, 1949). "Baylor whips Wake Forest in Dixie Bowl". The News & Courier. p. 2B. Retrieved February 5, 2011.