You’ve probably heard it’s just a high school football game. Honestly, if you say that in the middle of Kirkwood or Webster Groves, you’re likely to get some very sideways looks. It’s way more than a game. It is a century-old tradition that basically shuts down two St. Louis suburbs every November.
The Kirkwood Webster Turkey Day Game is widely considered the oldest Thanksgiving Day rivalry west of the Mississippi. Since 1907, these two teams have been clashing for pride, bragging rights, and a very heavy piece of railroad history.
But there’s a lot of noise out there. People get the stats mixed up, or they don’t realize why the varsity teams sometimes don't even play on the actual holiday.
The Frisco Bell and the Jug Nobody Wants
Most trophies are things you display with pride. In this rivalry, we have two. One is legendary, and the other is... well, it’s a consolation prize.
The big one is the Frisco Bell. This 400-pound bronze beast came off a retired steam locomotive. The Frisco Railroad Company donated it back in 1952. If you win, you get to ring that bell until your ears bleed. If you lose? You get the Little Brown Jug.
Now, here is the kicker. Unlike the famous Michigan-Minnesota jug, the Turkey Day version is for the loser. It’s basically a "better luck next year" badge of shame.
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The jug actually went missing for two decades. Some Webster alum swiped it in 1974 and hid it in an attic until 1993. It eventually turned up at a local tavern. That's the kind of pettiness that makes this rivalry great.
What’s the Actual Score?
Don't let anyone tell you this is a one-sided affair, even though Kirkwood has been on a tear lately. If you look at the total history since 1898—including games that weren't on Thanksgiving—it's remarkably close.
As of the end of the 2025 season, the all-time series is tied at 58–58–7. You can't make that up.
However, if we’re talking strictly about the games played on Thanksgiving Day, the Pioneers have the edge. Kirkwood leads that specific count 48–37–5. Since 2013, it's been all Kirkwood. They’ve won 12 straight contests, including the 2024 and 2025 games where their JV teams took the field.
The "Turkey Day Agreement" Explained
This is where people get confused. Why does Kirkwood sometimes play their JV (Junior Varsity) team against Webster?
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Basically, it's about the state playoffs.
Missouri moved the state semifinals to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Because Kirkwood has become a powerhouse, they’re often still in the hunt for a state title. To protect the starters for the "real" trophy, the schools have an agreement: if a team is still in the playoffs, they play the JV game on Thursday so the tradition stays alive.
In 2024, Kirkwood was deep in the playoffs, so the JV team stepped up and walloped Webster 46–6. In 2025, it happened again. The Kirkwood young guns won 45–14. It’s a bummer for the seniors who want that final varsity showdown, but it’s the only way to keep the game on the calendar without risking a state championship run.
Weird Moments in History
- The 1918 Gap: People think 2020 was the first time the game was canceled. Nope. The 1918 flu pandemic shut it down first.
- The 1923 Melee: A massive fight broke out involving fans in 1923. It was so bad they didn't play again until 1928.
- Jeremy Maclin: Before he was an NFL star, he was a 14-year-old freshman scoring two touchdowns in the first-ever JV Turkey Day game in 2002. Now, he's the head coach at Kirkwood.
More Than Just Football
The week leading up to the game is absolute chaos in the best way. Both schools go through "Spirit Week."
Kirkwood has "Tacky Day" where they wear Webster's orange and black colors in the most hideous ways possible. They decorate the hallways until they look like a paper-mache fever dream. Webster does the same, usually involving a bonfire and the "Friendship Dance."
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It’s about community. You see alumni from the 1970s standing on the sidelines next to kids who aren't even in kindergarten yet. The stands at Lyons Field or Moss Field are always packed, regardless of the weather.
How to Do Turkey Day Right
If you’re planning on going to the next one, don't just show up at noon. You’ll miss the best parts.
- The Chili Bowl: Kirkwood hosts a massive chili cook-off the night before.
- The Run: There’s a Kirkwood-Webster Turkey Day Run that starts at the train station. It’s a 3 or 6-mile tradition.
- The Alumni Games: It’s not just football. There are alumni games for water polo, lacrosse, and even ice hockey on the Friday after.
The venue swaps every year. Even years are at Webster (Moss Field), and odd years are at Kirkwood (Lyons Field).
If you want to follow the action or check historical stats, the Kirkwood School District and the Webster Groves Historical Society keep the most accurate records. Avoid random social media threads; people love to inflate their school's win count.
Stick to the official tallies, wear your red or orange, and get there early if you want a seat. This isn't just a game. It's the reason St. Louisans aren't home basting turkeys on Thursday morning.