The Turkey Day Game - 100 Years Ago (1915)

A big thing has happened in 2015 – Webster Groves has maintained a century lead in victories over Kirkwood in football. Kirkwood last led the series in 1914, 7-6-2, which was carried over from the previous year because there was no game in 1914. In 1916, Webster took the advantage, lengthened it over 14 years, and has held a lead to this day. First, however, Webster needed to even the win-loss record with Kirkwood and so came “The Game” of 1915.

After 1908, there was no need for a Turkey Day Game championship between Webster and Kirkwood because the County League, which had its first championship in 1908, became the game to win. From 1908 to 1913, Webster and Kirkwood were the two teams in the championship fight. There was an effort to stop football below the collegiate level in 1911 so there was no game and there was a “disagreement” in 1914 between the schools which cancelled that game. It did not matter to Kirkwood, though, because they won the County League Championship in 1913 and 1914. After the cancelled game of 1914, Webster was ready to play Kirkwood again and the two coaches of 1913 and 1914 were still at the helms of their respective teams – Charley Roberts at Webster and W. C. Ashley at Kirkwood.

The 1915 game was for the County League Championship and there would be no cancellation due to disagreement – one, at least, that would not deny the cancelling team the championship trophy. As was customary for the County League championship, the game was played at Francis Field at Washington University and Webster was favoured to win. It was therefore stunning that for the first half of the game, Kirkwood “grandly,” as the Echo newspaper notes, kept the football in the Webster end of the field. Kirkwood even scored the only touchdown of the half but the extra point was apparently missed.

The game remained at 6-0 well after the third quarter, when Webster’s Frank Irland “distinguished himself by tearing around right end for a ten yard run that led to a touchdown.” A few minutes later, while playing defense, Irland intercepted a Kirkwood pass and ran it to their 10-yard line. Webster’s Halman scored the third touchdown of the day on the next play and Northrup Avis kicked the extra point. There are no details that describe Webster’s third touchdown, but it came only minutes later – the thrill of the game being a come-from-behind victory for Webster after three touchdowns were scored in a matter of minutes.

The end of the 1915 game brought Webster and Kirkwood to an all-time record of games of 7-7-2. At this point in time, after 16 football games, Webster and Kirkwood had played against each other for two Turkey Day championships and six County League championships. Kirkwood won both of the Turkey Day titles and two of the County League titles, Webster won the other four County League titles and broke Kirkwood’s two-year County League championship streak.

This year celebrates the 107th varsity football game between the 117th football teams of each school. Webster leads in all varsity games played, 54-45-7 and Kirkwood leads in varsity games actually held on Thanksgiving Day 38-37-5. May the Bell ring for you this Turkey Day!