The big game is back at 'Berg.

For the first time in more than 40 years, the Thanksgiving Day football rivalry between the Catasauqua High School Rough Riders and the Northampton Area High School Konkrete Kids will take place at Muhlenberg College's Scotty Wood Stadium.

The gridiron classic took place at the Muhlenberg stadium, 2400 Liberty St., Allentown, from 1930 to 1968.

The football game moved to the Al Erdosy Memorial Stadium in 1969 after the stadium was completed and the Northampton Area Middle School opened.

The cross-town rivalry game originally was held at Muhlenberg because there wasn't a big enough stadium to accommodate the crowds. Before Erdosy Stadium was built, Northampton played its home football games in a field across from Northampton Area High School.

The Turkey Day Football Classic dates back to 1925. It is the last football game played on Thanksgiving Day in the Lehigh Valley.

Last year's game, the 90th annual, was held at Alumni Field, Catasauqua.

This year's game was to have been held at Erdosy Stadium.

It was the Northampton Area Middle School and Secondary Campus Renovation Project that necessitated the move back to Muhlenberg.

"It's a one-time deal," said NASD Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik of the move.

"I'm pretty excited about it being at Muhlenberg," Kovlachik said at the Aug. 26 school board meeting. "It's a way to honor the past.

"There's an excitement out there in the community because it kind of leaked out [about the game location]," Kovalchik added.

Athletic Director Todd Bowser, Northampton Area High School Assistant Principal Robert Steckel and Kovalchik negotiated with Muhlenberg officials for use of the football field, which is being provided at no cost to the district, Kovalchik said.

The use was finalized Aug. 23.

The Muhlenberg stadium capacity is about 3,500, with an additional 500 accommodated around the perimeter track.

Typically, 4,000 attend the Northampton-Catasauqua football game.

Sale of tickets to the game will be announced.