WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN     9
SMU     7
Dallas, Texas - January 1, 1925

Thanks to a 19-game unbeaten streak, the 1924 SMU football team was invited to its first post-season bowl, the 1925 Dixie Classic. The Dixie Classic was a college football bowl game played in Dallas following the 1921, 1924 and 1933 seasons. It was the precursor to the Cotton Bowl Classic, which has been played every year since 1937.

The Mustangs faced West Virginia Wesleyan in the 1925 Classic on New Year's Day at Fair Park Stadium in Dallas. The 1924 Mustangs entered the Dixie Classic with 5 wins, 0 losses and 4 ties. 

The SMU-West Virginia Wesleyan game was a match-up of two schools started by the United Methodist Church. In fact, some football historians have referred to the game as the very first "Methodist Bowl."

The game was a low-scoring affair, with both teams fighting for field position. After a scoreless first half, SMU's George Watters blocked a punt in the third quarter, which he recovered in the end zone to give SMU a 7-0 lead. WVW battled back, though, answering with a 40-yard field goal to pull to 7-3.

In the fourth quarter, the Wesleyans took the lead on what the Dallas Morning News would call a "luck pass." WVW quarterback DeLong lofted a long ball which SMU's Logan Stollenwerck batted down. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, he knocked the ball directly to WVW's Gale Bullman, who raced into the end zone for a 66-yard score. The PAT, though, was missed.

SMU battled back and had a field goal try in the game's final minute for the win. Lawrence Reisor's 30-yard try was no good, however, and Wesleyan prevailed 9-7, handing SMU its first loss in two years.

SMU    0    0    7    0    -    7
West Virginia Wesleyan    0    0    3    6    -    9

Game Statistics

Scoring Summary
SMU     Watters punt block, recovered in end zone (Stollenwerck kick)
WVW    King 40-yard field goal
WVW     Bullman 66-yard pass from DeLong (PAT missed)