The 1948 Dixie Bowl was a post-season college football

College football

College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...

 bowl game

Bowl game

In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...

 between the Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas Razorbacks football

The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...

 and the William & Mary Indians. In the inaugural Dixie Bowl

Dixie Bowl

The Dixie Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game held New Year's Day at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The game was only held twice, following the 1947 and 1948 seasons, after which it was discontinued. Birmingham and Legion Field have since played host to a number of other bowl...

, Arkansas defeated William & Mary, who was ranked fourteenth by the AP Poll

AP Poll

The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...

, 21–29. The final Dixie Bowl was played on 1949. William & Mary would get their revenge for the game the next year, a 9–0 win in Little Rock, and again in a 20–0 win in Little Rock.

Setting

Arkansas entered the game with a 1–4–1 record in the Southwest Conference, with four non conference wins boosting their record to 5–4–1. William & Mary was 9–1–0 entering the game.

Game summary

The William & Mary Indians took an early lead when they recovered a fumbled quick-kick, which lead to a Jack Cloud

Jack Cloud

Jack Martin Cloud was an American football linebacker and fullback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990....

 touchdown run. Cloud scored again, but the extra point

Extra Point

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 was missed by Indian quarterback Stan Magdziak. Down by 13, Arkansas quarterback Kenny Holland connected with Ross Pritchard for a 59-yard touchdown pass. After a completed extra point by Aubrey Fowler, Hog defender Melvin McGaha intercepted a Magdziak pass, and returned it for a 70 yard touchdown. Fowler again added the PAT, giving the Razorbacks a 14–13 lead.

The Indians struck again in the third quarter, when Magdziak hit Henry Bland for a touchdown, but the extra point was no good for a second time. Arkansas would strike last, however, when Leon Campbell

Leon Campbell (American football)

Leon L. Campbell was an American football fullback who played five seasons in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts, the Chicago Bears, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Campbell played college football at the University of Arkansas before being a 2nd round selection in the 1950 NFL...

's 7-yard touchdown run gave the Hogs the lead with five minutes remaining. Arkansas moved their bowl record to 1–0–2 with the win, while William & Mary dropped to 0–1–0.