Battle of The Ax
| Other names | Sherman-Denison Rivalry, BOTA |
|---|---|
| First meeting | 1901 |
| Latest meeting | August 30, 2024 |
| Next meeting | August 30, 2024 |
| Trophy | The Ax |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 125 meetings |
| All-time series | Sherman leads, 68โ48โ9 (as of last updated year) |
| Largest victory | Sherman 78โ0 (1925) |
| Longest win streak | Sherman, 11 wins (1969โ1979) |
| Current win streak | Denison, 11 wins (2013โpresent) |
The rivalry, often referred to as "BOTA," is a long-standing and intense competition between the two North Texas high schools.
The Battle of the Ax (often abbreviated as BOTA in recent years) is an annual high school football rivalry game between the Sherman Bearcats and the Denison Yellow Jackets in North Texas. This rivalry, which began in 1901, is one of the oldest and most storied in Texas high school football. The winner of the game is awarded the Ax Trophy, a tradition that began in 1949.
History
The rivalry between Sherman and Denison high schools is deeply embedded in the communities, with the game often referred to as "BOTA" by locals. The game draws large crowds and has become a significant event each year, with both teams fiercely competing for the coveted Ax Trophy. The rivalry has produced numerous memorable moments, including long winning streaks by both schools and several tightly contested games.
Notable Football Alumni
Both Sherman and Denison High Schools have produced several notable football players who have gone on to achieve success at the collegiate and professional levels.
- Sherman High School
- **[Charlie Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Johnson_(offensive_lineman))** - Former NFL offensive lineman who played for the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings. Johnson won Super Bowl XLI with the Colts.
- **[Curtis Luper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Luper)** - Former running back at Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M-Commerce, and a college football coach with experience at Auburn, TCU, and Missouri.
- **[Hunter Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_Smith)** - Former NFL punter who played for the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins. Smith won Super Bowl XLI with the Colts.
- **Jimmy Turner** - Former college football player at Texas Tech University, where he played as a defensive back.
- **[Kirby Hocutt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby_Hocutt)** - Former linebacker at Kansas State University, and currently the Director of Athletics at Texas Tech University.
- Denison High School
- **[Reggie Hunt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Hunt)** - Former CFL linebacker and Grey Cup champion with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Played college football at Texas Christian University (TCU).
- **[Jordan Taylor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Taylor_(American_football))** - Former wide receiver who played for the Denver Broncos, including during their Super Bowl 50 victory.
- **[Fred Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Washington_(defensive_tackle))** - Former defensive tackle who played college football at Texas Christian University (TCU) and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1990. Tragically, he died in a car accident during his rookie season.
- **Jadarian Price** - College football running back who currently plays for the University of Notre Dame.
- **[Aaron Hunt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Hunt_(defensive_end))** - Former defensive end at Texas Tech University, who went on to play in the CFL for the BC Lions, winning multiple Grey Cups.
- **Shadwick Criss** - Former defensive back who played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos in the NFL.
This section highlights some of the prominent football players from Sherman and Denison High Schools who have made significant contributions to the sport at the collegiate and professional levels.
Pre-Integration Schools
Before the integration of public schools, Sherman and Denison each had separate high schools for Black students. In Sherman, this was Fred Douglass High School, and in Denison, it was Terrell High School. These schools were central to their respective Black communities and had their own sports traditions and rivalries.
In 1967, Texas public schools were officially integrated, and the students from Fred Douglass and Terrell High Schools were merged into Sherman High School and Denison High School, respectively. The integration marked a significant moment in the history of both communities, bringing together students from different backgrounds under the same institutions.
Game Results
Below is a list of the results of each "Battle of the Ax" game since the rivalry began. The games are organized by year, with details on the winning and losing teams, scores, dates, and locations where available.
| Sherman victories | Denison victories | Tie games |
|---|
| Date | Location | Winner | Score | Loser | Game Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | Sherman | 12โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1901 | Tie | 5โ5 | Tie | ||
| 1901 | Sherman | Won by forfeit | Denison | ||
| 1902 | Tie | 0โ0 | Tie | ||
| 1902 | Sherman | 15โ6 | Denison | ||
| 1903 | Sherman | 11โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1904 | Denison | Won by forfeit | Sherman | ||
| 1905 | Sherman | 23โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1906 | Denison | 5โ0 | Sherman | ||
| 1906 | Denison | 5โ0 | Sherman | ||
| 1912 | Sherman | 13โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1912 | Sherman | 13โ6 | Denison | ||
| 1913 | Sherman | 41โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1914 | Sherman | 12โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1915 | Sherman | 71โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1916 | Sherman | 30โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1917 | Sherman | 25โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1920 | Sherman | 41โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1921 | Sherman | 6โ2 | Denison | ||
| 1922 | Denison | 19โ5 | Sherman | ||
| 1923 | Sherman | 38โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1924 | Sherman | 21โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1925 | Sherman | 78โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1926 | Denison | 1โ0 (Forfeit) | Sherman | ||
| 1928 | Sherman | 14โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1929 | Sherman | 32โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1931 | Sherman | 18โ2 | Denison | ||
| 1932 | Sherman | 19โ6 | Denison | ||
| 1933 | Sherman | 6โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1934 | Denison | 7โ2 | Sherman | ||
| 1935 | Sherman | 61โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1936 | Denison | 7โ6 | Sherman | ||
| 1937 | Sherman | 27โ13 | Denison | ||
| 1938 | Tie | 6โ6 | Tie | ||
| 1939 | Sherman | 13โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1940 | Sherman | 20โ7 | Denison | ||
| 1941 | Tie | 7โ7 | Tie | ||
| 1942 | Denison | 45โ6 | Sherman | ||
| 1943 | Tie | 7โ7 | Tie | ||
| 1944 | Tie | 6โ6 | Tie | ||
| 1945 | Denison | 21โ13 | Sherman | ||
| 1946 | Denison | 13โ6 | Sherman | ||
| 1947 | Denison | 39โ7 | Sherman | ||
| 1948 | Denison | 21โ6 | Sherman | ||
| 1949 | Sherman | 13โ7 | Denison | ||
| 1950 | Sherman | 14โ7 | Denison | ||
| 1951 | Denison | 26โ7 | Sherman | ||
| 1952 | Denison | 15โ0 | Sherman | ||
| 1953 | Sherman | 41โ6 | Denison | ||
| 1954 | Sherman | 27โ6 | Denison | ||
| 1955 | Denison | 27โ13 | Sherman | ||
| 1956 | Denison | 49โ0 | Sherman | ||
| 1957 | Sherman | 20โ13 | Denison | ||
| 1958 | Sherman | 8โ6 | Denison | ||
| 1959 | Sherman | 22โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1960 | Sherman | 18โ13 | Denison | ||
| 1961 | Tie | 0โ0 | Tie | ||
| 1962 | Sherman | 20โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1963 | Denison | 18โ9 | Sherman | ||
| 1964 | Denison | 28โ8 | Sherman | ||
| 1965 | Denison | 21โ6 | Sherman | ||
| 1966 | Denison | 17โ11 | Sherman | ||
| 1967 | Sherman | 36โ15 | Denison | ||
| 1968 | Denison | 28โ7 | Sherman | ||
| 1969 | Sherman | 31โ12 | Denison | ||
| 1970 | Sherman | 28โ8 | Denison | ||
| 1971 | Sherman | 30โ8 | Denison | ||
| 1972 | Sherman | 21โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1973 | Sherman | 14โ13 | Denison | ||
| 1974 | Sherman | 28โ12 | Denison | ||
| 1975 | Sherman | 29โ14 | Denison | ||
| 1976 | Sherman | 37โ14 | Denison | ||
| 1977 | Sherman | 51โ7 | Denison | ||
| 1978 | Sherman | 24โ17 | Denison | ||
| 1979 | Sherman | 10โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1980 | Tie | 14โ14 | Tie | ||
| 1981 | Sherman | 34โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1982 | Denison | 28โ10 | Sherman | ||
| 1983 | Sherman | 21โ14 | Denison | ||
| 1984 | Denison | 23โ6 | Sherman | ||
| 1985 | Denison | 39โ6 | Sherman | ||
| 1986 | Denison | 31โ0 | Sherman | ||
| 1987 | Sherman | 21โ14 | Denison | ||
| 1988 | Sherman | 33โ16 | Denison | ||
| 1989 | Sherman | 33โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1990 | Sherman | 38โ26 | Denison | ||
| 1991 | Denison | 28โ7 | Sherman | ||
| 1992 | Sherman | 27โ16 | Denison | ||
| 1993 | Sherman | 28โ21 | Denison | ||
| 1994 | Sherman | 21โ0 | Denison | ||
| 1995 | Denison | 16โ7 | Sherman | ||
| 1996 | Denison | 35โ19 | Sherman | ||
| 1997 | Denison | 31โ14 | Sherman | ||
| 1998 | Sherman | 19โ7 | Denison | ||
| 1999 | Sherman | 52โ10 | Denison | ||
| 2000 | Denison | 10โ7 | Sherman | ||
| 2001 | Sherman | 35โ20 | Denison | ||
| 2002 | Sherman | 33โ7 | Denison | ||
| 2003 | Sherman | Denison | 59โ33 | Sherman | Game Highlights |
| November 5, 2004 | Denison | Denison | 24โ10 | Sherman | Denison 2004 Schedule |
| November 4, 2005 | Sherman | Denison | 23โ21 | Sherman | Sherman 2005 Schedule |
| November 3, 2006 | Denison | Sherman | 48โ44 | Denison | Denison 2006 Schedule |
| November 2, 2007 | Sherman | Denison | 44โ43 | Sherman | Sherman 2007 Schedule |
| October 31, 2008 | Denison | Denison | 34โ17 | Sherman | Denison 2008 Schedule |
| October 30, 2009 | Sherman | Denison | 43โ28 | Sherman | Sherman 2009 Schedule |
| October 29, 2010 | Denison | Sherman | 39โ0 | Denison | Denison 2010 Schedule |
| November 4, 2011 | Sherman | Sherman | 49โ24 | Denison | Sherman 2011 Schedule |
| October 5, 2012 | Denison | Sherman | 42โ21 | Denison | Denison 2012 Schedule |
| November 1, 2013 | Sherman | Denison | 42โ24 | Sherman | Sherman 2013 Schedule |
| October 31, 2014 | Denison | Denison | 42โ20 | Sherman | Denison 2014 Schedule |
| October 30, 2015 | Sherman | Denison | 41โ14 | Sherman | Sherman 2015 Schedule |
| October 28, 2016 | Denison | Denison | 35โ30 | Sherman | Denison 2016 Schedule |
| October 27, 2017 | Sherman | Denison | 49โ24 | Sherman | Sherman 2017 Schedule |
| October 26, 2018 | Denison | Denison | 41โ16 | Sherman | Denison 2018 Schedule |
| October 25, 2019 | Sherman | Denison | 29โ13 | Sherman | Sherman 2019 Schedule |
| October 23, 2020 | Denison | Denison | 41โ23 | Sherman | Denison 2020 Schedule |
| October 29, 2021 | Sherman | Denison | 37โ13 | Sherman | Sherman 2021 Schedule |
| October 28, 2022 | Denison | Denison | 28โ14 | Sherman | Denison 2022 Schedule |
| August 25, 2023 | Sherman | Denison | 34โ28 | Sherman | Sherman 2023 Schedule |
| August 30, 2024 | Denison | TBD | TBD | [1] |
References
- "52 Things to Do in Dallas: Attend the Battle of the Ax." *D Magazine*, April 2018. [D Magazine](https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2018/april/52-things-to-do-dallas/)
- "Rivalry Spotlight: Denison takes on Sherman for the 121st Battle of the Ax." *Dave Campbell's Texas Football*, September 3, 2019. [TexasFootball](https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2019/09/03/rivalry-spotlight-denison-takes-on-sherman-for-the-121st-battle-of-the-ax)
- "Battle of the Ax: DQ Big Game of the Week." *Fox Sports*, 2016. [Fox Sports](https://www.foxsports.com/watch/801689155999)
- "Sherman vs. Denison: The Granddaddy of Them All." *Roo Nation*. [Roo Nation](https://roonation.org/sherman-denison-the-granddaddy-of-them-all/)
- "Battle of the Ax Alumni Edition." *KTEN*. [KTEN](https://www.kten.com/battle-of-the-axe-alumni-edition/article_24644933-48a1-5c58-a5f0-bc2260513a36.html)
- "Battle of the Ax Mentioned in The Boston Globe." *The Boston Globe*. [Newspapers.com](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/442155649/)
- "How an Ax Became the Trophy for the Longest High School Football Rivalry in Texas." *KXII*, August 28, 2024. [KXII](https://www.kxii.com/2024/08/28/how-an-ax-became-trophy-longest-high-school-football-rivalry-game-texas/)
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