Hutchinson made sure its final trip to Glencoe-Silver Lake would be memorable. 

The Tigers forced a turnover on downs deep in their territory while protecting a one-possession lead late in the fourth quarter of Friday's matchup with the Panthers, an East Central District South Division foe and longtime Wright County Conference rival.

Hutchinson senior Isaiah Nelson, a two-way starter who was already drained from the game's grueling nature, flipped the field by willing his way on a 70-yard run to inside Glencoe-Silver Lake's 10-yard line -- hobbling the final stretch as his hips tightened.

“My hips aren’t flexible and kinda messed up,” Nelson said. “I was pushing through pain there. It hurt.”

Nelson persevered and scored the game’s final touchdown two plays later, helping the Tigers win 28-14 and bring home the Battle of the Cats trophy, which will remain in Hutchinson’s possession indefinitely with its move to a new district next season.

“To get that last (touchdown) to put a nail in the coffin feels amazing,” Nelson said.

The win avenged a 6-0 loss to Glencoe-Silver Lake last season and presumably closes a historic rivalry between the two central Minnesota schools as Hutchinson switches to the North Central District next year.

“Eleven miles apart from each other and two pretty good football teams, tradition-wise,” Panthers coach Scott Tschimperle said in describing the rivalry. 

Hutchinson (2-0), which is ranked second in the Associated Press Class 4A poll, leads No. 11-3A Glencoe-Silver Lake (1-1) in the all-time series 63-44-3.

Tigers coach Andy Rostberg is bittersweet about the move.

“The towns come out, and it’s great entertainment,” Rostberg said. “It’s too bad that’s going by the wayside for the next two years.”

Hutchinson's move means the program will face new and larger schools from around the state, but it will also have to spend more money traveling and won’t draw the nearly the same number of fans being the southern outlier of a district which includes a handful of northern metro teams, as well as schools as far north as Bemidji.

“We’re going to spend a lot more on football and make a lot less,” Rostberg said. "We’re still going to show up and play.”

Nelson graduates this spring and won't be a part of a new era of Hutchinson football, but he said the Tigers' hard-nosed ground game is sure to attract some new antagonists.

“This is a good rivalry," he said. "It’ll be hard next year against the bigger teams, but I have no doubt we’ll find another rival.”

Christian Kurth scored three rushing touchdowns while Isaiah Nelson racked up 224 yards on 22 carries and sealed the game with a late TD run as Hutchinson recorded a 28-14 road victory over rival Glencoe-Silver Lake on Friday night.

Ranked No. 2 in The Associated Press Class 4A state high school football poll, the Tigers (2-0) scored in each quarter to oust the No. 11-3A Panthers.

Glencoe-Silver Lake (1-1) forced a three-and-out to open the second half, leading to a Panthers' touchdown by Carsen Streich that tied the game 14-14.

Nelson, however, provided the dagger in the fourth quarter, breaking off a 70-yard run before capping the three-play drive with a 5-yard touchdown.