It was a gray, chilly Saturday afternoon, with temperatures in the low to mid 40’s - a perfect day for the 2007 Turkey Bowl. This two year-long standing tradition between the Yosts (the defending champs) and Riddells, prompts its share of smack talk during the off-season and the days leading up to the big event.  Most of these are good-humored pot-shots sneaked in through email to make the workday a little more interesting.

But when the time comes to throw down, a marked seriousness falls over the faces of the citizens of Westerville. Both families temporarily cast aside their typical ”blood runs thicker than water” attitudes. Instead, it’s a regular Hatfields vs. McCoys brawl, where the two prominent blood-lines, Yost and Riddell, suit up (some garbed in flashier attire than others) and battle it out on Thanksgiving Day (or, as was the case this year, the Saturday after Thanksgiving).

This, of course, is done over the pigskin and accurately determines who will own the title ”survivor of the fittest” for a year.  The family who loses can do nothing but let the defeat and the disquieting dissatisfaction of 2nd place stew with a long, torturous burn until next year’s Turkey Bowl.

The Turkey Bowl is played on an unmarked football field in a Westerville Park. It consists of a picnic table on the far side that you have to watch out for when “going long”, and an empty water bottle or wadded up sweatshirt, or whatever’s handy and doesn’t look like a leaf, for marking the endzones.

Although it is doubtful that it will affect Ohio State’s ranking, this year’s 2007 Turkey Bowl had the unexpected outcome of a tie. Both families went home winners. This was only made possible by a miraculous hail mary pass from Uncle Pete (aka. Uncle Flutie) to Andrew Riddell on the last play of the game to tie the score. “I slipped,” declared the cleat-less Tony Frabott.

Other highlights of the game include player Jessica Hodson who, when assigned the position of blitzing the quarterback, announced to the coach, “I don’t want to play that part”; and Cameron, the smallest but equally dangerous component of Team Riddell, sprawling face down on the field between plays, lost in deep thought over the custom-sized, red recliner awaiting him back at the house, where he’d later settle down for a two hour, post-game nap.

Afterward, the two families resumed their friendly relations and took family pictures beside the field. Then they had a nice Thanksgiving dinner together, dreaming of next year’s game.  

Categories: Sports