SHERMAN VS DENISON

The Battle of the Ax

 

It is said to be the longest standing high school football rivalry in Texas. The two teams are the Sherman High Bearcats VS the Denison High Yellow Jackets. The Battle of the Ax was established in 1906, and was originally played on Thanksgiving day. 

To paint a picture for you, things we now take for granted were luxuries. Pavement, for example, was first laid in Sherman in 1905 and it wasn’t everywhere. A necessity now known as air conditioning was non-existent. People had to find ways to entertain themselves and football was a show people LOVED to watch!

 

1906 was the first year both Sherman and Denison schools recognized this rivalry now known as “Battle of the Ax.”

In 1949, Denison businessman Jack Barker, who owned the Main Street ice cream store, wanted to bury the ax. Mr. Barker wanted to transpire a feeling of good sportsmanship between Sherman and Denison. He donated the ax to the football teams to pass back and forth to the winners.

The first team to win the ax was Sherman in 1949, the score ended 13 to 7.  The outcome of every game is engraved on the ax blade and once it’s filled, the team with the most victories will keep the original ax.  Since 1906, the Sherman Bearcats have 57 wins to Denison Yellow Jackets’ 32. There have only been 6 ties throughout the years.   With the competitive nature of each team and community it is a surprise that neither Sherman or Denison have stolen or withheld the ax. Although it’s a huge thrill of a win, a victory, the ax in your house,  the Bearcats and the Yellow Jackets fight it out year after year for the love of the game and the pride in their city!

 

 

 

GAME ON!

The Battle of the Ax will take place on August 26, 2022 at Munson Stadium

331 W. Morgan St.

Denison , TX 75020