Keg Bowl raises funds for Blue Hawk scholarship

Despite the snow and cold on Saturday, a large crowd turned out to watch the annual Keg Bowl held at the Ainsworth Field next to the Town Pump in Thompson Falls. Hot dogs and beer were served to spectators as they stood next to metal drums with fires burning inside. Out on the field alumni from the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk football team played a game of flag football, which on some occasions turned into contact football.

All ages played, with some players still young and fresh, while for others age was catching up. Despite the snow, cold and age, all the players made it off the field walking tall and proud of playing a game, which went for over two hours.

The annual Keg Bowl started in 1981, and the founders being Roger Willhite, Doug Willhite, Bob Brown and Mike Allen.

“Every game has been played here except for the first.” Roger Willhite said as he looked out over Ainsworth field. He described that the first game in 1981 was played in the back yard of a citizen of Thompson Falls, Paul Walker. He described how the end zone ended right at the river, which made things interesting.

To play, each player had to give five dollars and the spectators could donate as much as they want as they ate and drank. The money raised went to the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk Scholarship Fund. The Whitefish Credit Union also donated to the event and fund. Doug Willhite said, Everybody has been outstandingly generous.” as he prepared to referee the game.

The two teams who played were determined the day of the game and either blue or white jerseys were adorned and the game continued for four quarters. Blue dominated the field most of the game, with a couple consecutive drives resulting in touchdowns. Not having any field goal posts, if a team scored a touchdown, they went for an extra point by going for another touchdown starting at the five yard line.

The white team made a come-back in the second half of the game and by the end, they closed the gap to a final, 48-34. At one point there were so many fumbles, interceptions, turnovers, conversions that the referees lost track of the score for a couple minutes until they figured it out. By most standards, the game just became a friendly brawl, with statistics being thrown out the window, not helped by the cold and drinking.

The spectators became just as involved in the game, heckling some of the players or yelling out jokes. Tony Waller who was with his girlfriend, Mitzy Hart, described the afternoon as, “It’s all about relaxing... A bunch of of grownups having fun.”

Many of the spectators have been coming for many years and it was a tradition to watch the alumni of the Blue Hawks to play. For Elaine Lyon, a new resident of Thompson Falls, it was her first time. “We’ve just moved here... I think it’s great everyone comes together, another nice thing about living in a small town.”