The locally famous Keg Bowl, unofficially one of the longest running for-fun football bowl games anywhere, will be played for the 45th year running Saturday east of Thompson Falls.

Started on a whim by a group of avid former Thompson Falls High School football players who played on the Blue Hawk State B championship teams of 1974 and 1975, back in 1981, the Keg Bowl has been played under flag football rules every year since without fail on the Saturday falling between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

As always, anyone who plans to play should show up for the pre-game draft at 12:30 at the field being used on Commercial Way behind the Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge east of town. The long-time organizer of Sanders County’s biggest (and only) football bowl game, Thompson Falls Gridiron Club president Doug Willhite said all proceeds from the game will be donated to the Thompson Falls junior high football program this year.

Also as always, fans are very welcome and appreciated at the annual game, which has been played in all kinds of weather – from warm and dry to rainy and muddy to cold and snowy – over the years. Older players have understandably grown fond of the idea of having some relatively deeper, softer snow to land their bodies in for the big game, and to possibly slow down some of the younger, speedier players.

“We are hoping for snow but the forecast is not looking good,” Willhite said.

Regardless of the field’s condition Saturday, the Keg Bowl will kickoff at 1 p.m. or a little thereafter, he added.