That's because the 2013 Turkey Bowl, a flag football game to raise money for the Christmas for Kids program, will pit bitter softball rivals against one another on the gridiron Saturday.

The matchup at Hoyle Field will feature the city playing KapStone, said Captain Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department.

When looking to renew the game, which will be played at 6 p.m. at Hoyle Field, organizers believed the perfect matchup might be challenging employees of the paper mill to a game of football, Jackson said.

(A fish plate sale to benefit the Christmas for Kids program will be held Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at ProBuild on Tenth Street. Plates are $8 and include fish, slaw, potatoes and hushpuppies. Herman Moseley is cooking. Tickets may be purchased at the Roanoke Rapids Police Department or at ProBuild the day of the event)

“The competition with KapStone and the city has been serious in softball. We thought what better way to bring the competitive part of this to the table for a good cause,” Jackson said.

Frankie Griffin, a Roanoke Rapids police officer, likens the competition between the two to a State-Carolina game. “Everyone is so competitive. They normally win the season. We normally win the championship.”

Jackson said the city hopes to make this matchup an annual event considering how competitive the two teams are.

Admission to the game is $5 and there will be a 50-50 raffle.

Another reason the city chose KapStone, Jackson said, was because of its community spirit. “KapStone has been very generous to the community and financially supportive. They support the development of youth through different sporting leagues.”

Jase Elias, an electrician at the paper mill, said the rivalry between the city and KapStone in softball has been going on for about eight to 10 years. “We enjoy playing against them. I think it's a good idea. We're trying to get more people out there.”

Jackson said the city will probably have the Christmas for Kids shopping spree some time in December. “Obviously, the more money we make the more kids we can include.”

Jackson said the spirit of Christmas for Kids is being able to give. “A lot of people are in a lot worse shape than we are. There are a lot of kids who don't have a good pair of shoes. We've seen kids whose only meal is cereal.”