The Turkey Day Game – 100 Years Ago (1916)

This year, the Turkey Day Game will involve two historical milestones – a team, Kirkwood, for the second time will have played both in the State Championship game and the Turkey Day Game and, for the first time, they will play in the Turkey Day Game already the Missouri State Champion. The stakes for this year’s game is Missouri’s oldest championship title – Turkey Day Game Champion – and whether Kirkwood, for the third time, will be the Suburban XII South Conference undefeated champion – having already won the title.

A hundred years ago, competition between the two schools was on a much more even level – the series was split 5-5-2 after the 1915 game. Starting in 1916, Kirkwood would not win another contest until 1930. Most of the games played, however, were not considered “Turkey Day Games.” The games played on Thanksgiving Day in 1907 and 1908 were played as a county championship game formed between the two schools. In 1908, the two teams started playing in the new County League and their contests from 1908 (playing for two championships that year) to 1923 were County League games, usually the championship of the league being determined between the two in their contest – which happened at 12 out of 15 games played.

The 1916 game was held as the County League Championship at Washington University’s Francis Field, where the County League championships were held, sometimes as preliminary games for Washington University football. Several prolific Webster players began their careers this year, which included future sensation Al Lincoln, Aristotle Jannopoulo, Frank Irland, and Richard Kopplin. Richard Kopplin was killed almost instantly by a shell in the Great War after graduating in 1917 in the Gerardmer Sector in Deutschland. Webster’s first football field, behind the school, was named in his honour. The captain of Webster’s team was Bill “Punk” Howze.

Kirkwood too had notable players on its squad, best known being Fred Kinyon also with Stewart Vickers, Ray Kinsella and team captain Granville Hawkins. The head coach of Kirkwood football was Ed Beumer, who was in his second year with Kirkwood. Charley Roberts, his opponent, was in his tenth year at Webster and had already won four County League Championships. Since 1908, Kirkwood had won two County League Championships and the County Championships of 1907 and 1908 against Webster. Actually, all of the championships won by both teams were played against the other team – except for Kirkwood’s 1914 title.

One minute into play, Kirkwood’s great left halfback, Fred Kinyon, was injured and was forced to leave the game, causing an ominous cloud to be cast over the game. Nonetheless, after its first set of downs, Webster was forced to punt. Kirkwood returned the ball to Webster’s 40 but, because of a Webster 10-yard penalty, began with the ball at Webster’s 30. Not gaining any further yardage, Kirkwood attempted a field goal which was so close that the crowd thought it was made and the Kirkwood fans erupted with excitement for a few minutes. The ball was brought to the 20 for Webster to start. After some back and forth play in the middle of the field, the first quarter ended 0-0.

Nothing of note happened in the second quarter but in the third quarter Kirkwood kicked off. Webster received and eventually punted to Kirkwood on its own 20. From the 20, Kirkwood carried it to the middle of the field where they fumbled and Webster captain Punk Howze carried the ball 30 yards until he was forced out of bounds. Kirkwood received a 15 yard penalty for tackling him out of bounds and the ball was taken almost to the Kirkwood goal. Future football star, sophomore Al Lincoln scored his first touchdown against Kirkwood and Sanford Avis missed the extra point.

The fourth quarter was a repeat of the second and the game ended with Webster in possession of the ball at the middle of the field. Webster won its fifth County League Championship as a result of the game and took its second lead in the win-loss record against Kirkwood – the first lead they lost on November 4, 1907, when they also lost the first County Championship against Kirkwood and the trophy the schools had purchased for the series.

This year celebrates the 108th varsity football game between the 118th football teams of each school. Webster leads in all varsity games played, 54-46-7 and Kirkwood leads in varsity games actually held on Thanksgiving Day, 39-37-5 and Turkey Day Game Championship titles 39-38-5. May the Bell ring for you this Turkey Day!

By Shawn Buchanan Greene, Webster Alumnus 1987