Top Thanksgiving Day rivalries

By Staff Report Nov 23, 2010, 12:42pm

Big Bone Game and Webster Groves versus Kirkwood are the top Thanksgiving Day games west of the Mississippi.


Stonington (Conn.) vs. Westerly (R.I.)
- These two schools have played an annual Thanksgiving Day game since 1911. Stonington leads the series 47-40-11. Overall the teams have met 150 times and remarkably the series is just about even with Stonington holding a 68-65-17 edge. Results.

Portland (Maine) vs. Deering (Portland, Maine)
- Thursday will mark the 99th meeting between the crosstown rivals have met on Thanksgiving. Portland leads the series 54-37 with seven ties. The series began in 1911. Deering is coming off a loss in the Western Class A final on Nov. 13 against Cheverus. Results.

Lincoln (San Jose, Calif.) vs. San Jose (Calif.)
- Tabbed the "Big Bone Game," both teams give up the possibility of competing in the region's Central Coast Section playoffs in order to maintain the rivalry, which dates back to 1943. Teams play for a "Big Bone," which is the femur from a cow. Results.

Kirkwood (Mo.) vs. Webster Groves (Mo.)
- These squads met just last week in a Missouri Class 5 semifinals with Webster Groves winning 28-0. Since Webster Groves advanced to the state championship game, the two junior varsity teams will meet on Thanksgiving. The rivals have squared off for 102 years, 92 times on Thanksgiving. Results.

Ariel view from the Kirkwood vs. Webster Groves game.
Ariel view from the Kirkwood vs. Webster Groves game.
Photo courtesy of Kirkwood High School