Every Thanksgiving Day, Woodward Alumni, along with their families, gather for the for the Annual Turkey Bowl game played on Graham Hixon Field at Colquitt Stadium.
25th Annual Woodward Alumni Turkey Bowl Game
On Thanksgiving morning, twenty-two former War Eagle football alumni gathered on the Graham Hixon Field at Colquitt Stadium to participate in the 25th Annual Alumni Turkey Bowl Touch Football Game. After a full 60 minutes of a closely contested confrontation, the odd number year graduates, the White Team, outscored the even number year graduates, the Red Team, by a score of 48 to 32.
Retired Woodward Coach, Pete Fritts Sr., organized and coordinated this immensely popular alumni event for the 22nd time in its 25 year history. Lee White '01 and Jake Lyons '01 (both former WA players, who were unable to compete due to medical reasons) served as the game officials. In the second half, several of the sons of the participating alumni players joined the action and played alongside the fathers.
In the first quarter, the Red Team jumped out to a 14-0 lead on a 14-yard TD pass from Jordan Lyons '04 (on loan from the White Team) to Rusty Gore '93, a two-point PAT pass from Jordan Lyons to Shawn Stratton (Woodward Faculty Member), and a 15-yard TD pass interception return by Shawn Stratton. The White Team countered with 26 unanswered points in the second quarter, starting with an 80-yard TD pass from Chad Crowe '04 to Cole Crowe '06, a 15-yard TD pass from Cole Crowe to Jordan Lyons (returned to his original team) and a PAT pass from Chad Crowe to his brother Cole. Cole then threw a 15-yard TD pass to Jordan Lyons and a 40-yard TD pass to his brother Chad. The first half ended with the White Team in the lead 26 - 14.
After the halftime break, the Red Team retaliated on a 50-yard TD pass from Jordan Miller (son of Jeff Miller ’85) to Fred Achecar ‘85. The PAT attempt failed with the ball reverting to the White Team. On the second series of downs, Tim Teck ’01 intercepted a pass for the Red Team at their opponent’s 40-yard line. Following a short gain, Fred Achecar completed a 35-yard TD pass to his former WA teammate, Darren Mitchell ’85, to tie the score at 24–24 as the third quarter came to an end.
The White Team began the fourth quarter by marching down the field from their own 20-yard line and scored on a 15-yard TD pass from Cole Crowe to Chad Crowe. Then, after the Red Team had moved the ball from their own 20-yard line to midfield, Drew Wilson ’98 intercepted a pass to return the ball to the White Team. Three plays later, Matt Brennan ’02 (a former War Eagle defensive tackle) took over at the quarterback position and threw a bullet to Cole Crowe for a 20-yard TD pass. After the White Team stopped their opponent on the succeeding possession, Matt Brennan came back to throw a 35-yard TD pass to Jordan Lyons and a ten yard PAT pass to Chad Crowe. The White Team once again stopped the drive of their opponents and took over the ball in the Red Team’s territory. From here, the White Team scored on the accurate passing of Matt Brennan on a 16-yard TD pass and a 10-yard PAT pass to Chad Crowe. The Red team countered with a 70-yard TD pass play from Jordan Miller to Fred Achecar, bringing the final score to 48-32 in favor of the White Team (odd numbered year graduates) with less than a minute left in the game. A final scoring threat ended on an incomplete pass with the White Team knocking on the door at the four-yard line. Thus, the silver anniversary WA Turkey Bowl Game came to a successful end!
If you are a Woodward football alum, join us next Thanksgiving morning! We guarantee that you will have a fun time!