Thirty years ago on November 24, something happened with the Kirkwood and Webster football game that had not happened in 75 years – they had two football games in a season! A 10-0 Webster squad, led by St. Louis Globe-Democrat High School Football Player of the Year, Keith Jones, played an 8-2 Kirkwood team in the Show-Me Bowl 5A Quarterfinal game – Kirkwood winning the game 14-0. Due to a loss to Hazelwood Central the next week, Kirkwood was pitted in a grudge match against Webster in the Turkey Day Game at Kirkwood. In a closer held contest, Kirkwood won the game 17-12, handing Webster their second loss of the season.
In the rivalry between the two schools, Webster and Kirkwood have played multiple games in only four years and these “extra” games have benefitted Kirkwood:
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1906-10-13 KHS Athletic Field W 0 K 0
1906-10-20 WHS Athletic Field W 0 K 5
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1907-10-05 The Stadium W 0 K 5
1907-11-04 WHS Athletic Field W 0 K 6
1907-11-28 KHS Athletic Field W 0 K 5 Thanksgiving Day
1908-11-07 Francis Field W 12 K 17 County League Championship
1908-11-26 WHS Athletic Field W 0 K 5 Thanksgiving Day
1983-11-14 Busch Stadium W 0 K 14 MSHSAA 5A Quarterfinal
1983-11-24 Lyons Field W 12 K 17 Turkey Day Game
Now, thirty years from the last time this event occurred, it will happen again this Turkey Day. However, Cliff Ice and the Webster Statesmen have already changed the trend from past years, having won the first encounter between the schools 21-19, for the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 5 Division 2 Championship. The stage is now set between the schools for a pinnacle event this Turkey Day – a rematch between ancient rivals in which the first game’s weather may have been a factor in the outcome. The forecast for this Thursday is for sunny weather which may bring Kirkwood’s passing game to bear and, for the very first time – in four years – Coach Matt Irvin will coach his team in the historic Turkey Day Game.
May the Bell ring for you this Turkey Day!
By Shawn Buchanan Greene
Webster Alumnus 1987