The last time head coach Jeremy Maclin donned the pads for Kirkwood High School, he lost to Webster Groves in the 2005 Turkey Day game. During Maclin’s tenure as head coach, Kirkwood has won the past three editions of the matchup and kept the Frisco Bell at KHS for 11 straight years.
On Friday, Oct. 27, Kirkwood was dealt another disappointing loss in a first-round playoff matchup against CBC, 37-16. Maclin said that he doesn’t let that interfere with preparation for Turkey Day, though.
“We didn’t get the result we wanted [vs. CBC],” Maclin said. “But we have another chance to go out on top.”
Even in tough situations like the losses to CBC, Turkey Day gives Kirkwood a chance to end the season on a high. Maclin spoke to the uniqueness of that.
“The way that I look at it,” Maclin said. “There’s eight teams that get to end their season with a win; the seven state champions and the winners of Turkey Day.”
Some of Kirkwood’s seniors will move on to collegiate football after this season. However, for most of them, this will be their last game in a sport they’ve been playing since elementary or middle school.
“I don’t know if it hits home yet,” Maclin said. “But for a lot of these guys, this is their last-ever football game. What better way to go out than to compete in a game with this much history, this much tradition?”
Maclin has become a hometown hero to Kirkwood residents since his days at Mizzou, and after that, his 10 years in the NFL. He said he feels a responsibility to give back to the community by making sure Kirkwood gets the win on Turkey Day.
“As a coach, I want to do right by the community,” Maclin said. “By the school, by the people I grew up with, and the people that’ve been watching me my entire career. I want to make them proud.”
Maclin has played in the 90,000-person Cotton Bowl and on Sunday Night Football. But those experiences don’t stop him from appreciating Turkey Day.
“I’m not a nervous guy, but I get a little nervous [for Turkey Day],” Maclin said. “It’s a special day, It’s a holiday, and people could be doing a lot of things. But they’re here to watch you.”
The losses to CBC have cut Kirkwood’s season short for two years in a row. Kirkwood will have to search for answers in preparation for next year if they want to break that streak. But for now, Maclin said he’s focused on protecting the Frisco Bell.
“I’m not afraid to tell anybody my goal is to get [Kirkwood] back to competing for state championships,” Maclin said. “But in the process of that, we also want to win Turkey Day.”
