The Vikings vs The Lancers : Battling for More than a Century

By Jennifer Rivera

Thanksgiving traditions in Philadelphia are about more than just turkey. If you’ve ever spent time in the city you know Philadelphians are just as interested in football. What you may not know is that they are also interested in a horse, no, not Barbaro (may he rest in peace.) I’m talking about the mahogany horse that represents over a hundred years of rivalry among two of the city’s biggest schools, Northeast and Central High Schools.

“I go to their thanksgiving game every year, they have one of the oldest rivalries in the country” said Rebecca Goodman, very matter of factly. The Cheltenham High School graduate and Drexel University student is a part of the tradition. “They have such great, loyal alumni” she added.

She’s living proof Central Lancer’s pride is inherent. Her father, Lewis Goodman graduated in 1970, a member of the 229th class. Goodman, who is now partner at a successful law firm in nearby Lansdale has been taking his two daughters, Rebecca and Kaitlyn to games since they could walk.

“In the beginning, my wife and I would go out to breakfast and the girls, after, they would go home with their mother, and I would go to the game” explained Goodman. But as soon as they got a little older, the two Goodman daughters became a part of the tradition.

The Northeast, Central High School rivalry, is not one of the oldest; it’s the oldest rivalry among public school’s in the nation. Since its beginning in1886 this tradition has grown to include generations of students, alumni and family from each school.

The schools have come a long way since their early beginnings Northeast and Central were traditionally all-boys’ schools. When Northeast High School was first founded it was originally located on 8th and Lehigh Streets in North Philadelphia. It even went by a different name; Northeast Manual Training School. In 1958, the school moved to its current location, Cottman and Algon Ave. That year the school began admitting girls and got a new name to match, Northeast High School.

Central High School, is older than northeast, in fact it is the second oldest high school in the country. It was founded in 1836. Central is known around the country not just because of its historical significance but also because of its academic programs (Bill Cosby and Noam Chomsky are among its alumni). Regardless of the school district’s economic struggles, it continues to be one of the most renowned magnet schools in the area.


The rivalry between northeast and central began in 1886 and they have been playing football on thanksgiving morning ever since. The Central Lancers travel to nearby Northeast each year to take on the Vikings at their home turf.

Each Thanksgiving, the schools battle it out for the mahogany horse. But the Trophy wasn’t always a part of the deal. It came into play in 1946 when a student committee decided the object would be awarded to the year’s winning team.

So how has this rivalry survived for so long? “Along with your school song you are taught that’s your rival” explained Lewis Goodman. “[the rivalry] Its introduced to you in middle school, when you are applying to high schools, you know that northeast and central hate each other…sports wise” said Jason Becker, a graduate of Northeast, and a member of the homecoming court in 2003.

“It’s not just about the rivalry that day, at least for northeast. Its homecoming too, there’s a huge parade before the game, everyone gets really excited”, added Becker. Each year the homecoming dance is held the Wednesday before thanksgiving. The King and Queen march through the streets, celebrating their win and hoping for a victory.

The pre-game tradition for Central High School students is a little different. “Since I was a freshman—on thanksgiving that’s where I am, that’s where everyone is, we would go to the Country Club dinner and then would walk over to the field. It was just what you did on thanksgiving” said Goodman.

As the years have passed, these schools have changed as much as the city has. Although both are still considered to be some of the best public high schools in the city, they are both struggling for funds and handling issues most inner-city kids are all too familiar with. “A lot of the football players were afraid to be in that neighborhood, well, all of us were at some point.” said Dave Koch a Graduate of Central High School referring to the section of North Philadelphia (also known as Olney) where Central High School is located.

Some would call Koch’s story some what colorful. He was once a cheerleader for the Lancers “A guy bet me I wouldn’t try out and when I did, I got in, so I did it. I was the guy that tossed girls up in the air.” he said bashfully, yet proudly.

The cheerleader admits, “We weren’t a really good a team, I think we won once the entire time I was there, but I think the games were more important to Northeast. We were more about academics.” Koch laughed as he realized, he was still defending his Alma mater’s defeat more than five years after graduating.


“The alumni treat the football players like royalty.” said Koch. Perhaps this is with good reason, after all Football have been a means to not only keep the existing community together, but also to motivate alumni to collaborate to their Alma maters, helping the new generation of Lancers and Vikings.

For those who wonder how this tradition has lasted more than one hundred years, two proud alumni will be happy to explain; Goodman says, “Its kind of like a home for me every year you either see people at the game who you haven seen for a years, or maybe just a year and you have breakfast –we’re all Philly kids from some neighborhood its a real homecoming a chance to reconnect.”

“Growing up in my mind things that go together are thanksgiving turkey and football and this is football that you are a part of, its meaningful, its not Greenbay playing Dallas” said Becker.