The final Elkhart Central/Memorial rivalry football game leaves Elkhart Central High School as the keepers of the Mangy Lion trophy.
The Mangy Lion was created in 1972 when Elkhart High School split in two. Now, with the high schools merging, the rivalry is being laid to rest.
The stadium Friday night was packed with spectators.
The game was close in the beginning, with Central up by just one touchdown at the half. The Chargers couldn’t make that up. They put seven points on the board in the second half. But Central scored 20. Final score 41-21.
Central Coach Josh Shattuck told his team he’d been protecting them from the pressure of history all week. “Imma tell you something right now," he told the team after the win, "you just made everyone who has wore that jersey as proud as you could freaking imagine.”
Memorial Athletic Director Jacquie Rost said this game is just the beginning. “This is the first of the lasts, rivalry games, every sport will have a last, it’s just the first one.”
Starting next year the two high schools will become one set of athletic teams: the Elkhart High School Lions.