In the 21st season of the Great American Rivalry Series, the Lewis Central Titans face off against the Harlan Community Cyclones at Merrill Field on August 30. This fierce rivalry, which began in 2002, has seen 22 thrilling matchups with the Cyclones leading the all-time series 15-7. 

With 5,000 fans expected to pack Merrill stadium, anticipation is high following last year’s nail-biter, where the Cyclones held out the Titans 21-20.  

The teams have split their last 10 meetings, with Harlan holding a slight 6-4 advantage. This game marks the second time these two powerhouses have been featured in the series. Get ready for an unforgettable showdown that showcases intensity, tradition, and  

We Know Friday Nights. 

MVP

Brady Hetzel
Lewis Central

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Hayden Soma

Harlan Community

Hayden is involved in numerous sports and activities such as football, baseball, basketball, track, National Honor Society, and 4H. In football, Hayden was awarded All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2022 and followed up with 2nd Team All State and 2nd Team All-Conference in 2023. Hayden is a shining example of what it takes to be a well-rounded Harlan Cyclone and plans to attend college after graduating.
Nathan Beyenhof

Lewis Central

Nathan is an extremely hard worker that has made himself to be a great all-around student athlete. He is a three-year starter for Lewis Central and is an excellent leader in the program. He has earned multiple district, area and all-state honors as a junior. He has big plans to continue his athletic career on the gridiron after high school.

GAME SUMMARY

Tonight, in the town of Harlan, Iowa, the Titans from Lewis Central High School clash with the Harlan Community High School Cyclones for their annual “Night of Champions” game. The two teams face off once again in The Great American Rivalry Series for the 21st season at Merrill Field. This fierce rivalry, which began in 2002, showcases pride and tradition as each team battles for bragging rights against their rival. Both teams started out strong with touchdowns in the first quarter to set the tone early for score of 7-7. At the start of the second quarter, a huge momentum shift was in favor of Lewis Central as the Titans came up with an impressive pick six to add points on the board before half. With key injuries, the Harlan Cyclones just could not find their stride as the Titans kept their foot on the gas in the second half, ultimately shutting out the Cyclones with a final score of 31-10 to add a win toward Lewis Central in the all-time series.