Draft:Battle of The Ax

Battle of the Ax
This year's Battle of the Ax logo
This year's Battle of the Ax logo
Other namesSherman-Denison Rivalry, BOTA
First meeting1901
Latest meetingAugust 30, 2024
Next meetingAugust 30, 2024
TrophyThe Ax
Statistics
Meetings total125 meetings
All-time seriesSherman leads, 68–48–9 (as of last updated year)
Largest victorySherman 78–0 (1925)
Longest win streakSherman, 11 wins (1969–1979)
Current win streakDenison, 11 wins (2013–present)

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

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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

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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.

      1. Sherman High School
      1. Denison High School

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

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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

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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.

Game Results Legend
Sherman victories Denison victories Tie games
Date Location Winner Score Loser Game Link
1901 Sherman 12–0 Denison
1901 Tie 5–5 Tie
1901 Sherman Won by forfeit Denison
1902 Tie 0–0 Tie
1902 Sherman 15–6 Denison
1903 Sherman 11–0 Denison
1904 Denison Won by forfeit Sherman
1905 Sherman 23–0 Denison
1906 Denison 5–0 Sherman
1906 Denison 5–0 Sherman
1912 Sherman 13–0 Denison
1912 Sherman 13–6 Denison
1913 Sherman 41–0 Denison
1914 Sherman 12–0 Denison
1915 Sherman 71–0 Denison
1916 Sherman 30–0 Denison
1917 Sherman 25–0 Denison
1920 Sherman 41–0 Denison
1921 Sherman 6–2 Denison
1922 Denison 19–5 Sherman
1923 Sherman 38–0 Denison
1924 Sherman 21–0 Denison
1925 Sherman 78–0 Denison
1926 Denison 1–0 (Forfeit) Sherman
1928 Sherman 14–0 Denison
1929 Sherman 32–0 Denison
1931 Sherman 18–2 Denison
1932 Sherman 19–6 Denison
1933 Sherman 6–0 Denison
1934 Denison 7–2 Sherman
1935 Sherman 61–0 Denison
1936 Denison 7–6 Sherman
1937 Sherman 27–13 Denison
1938 Tie 6–6 Tie
1939 Sherman 13–0 Denison
1940 Sherman 20–7 Denison
1941 Tie 7–7 Tie
1942 Denison 45–6 Sherman
1943 Tie 7–7 Tie
1944 Tie 6–6 Tie
1945 Denison 21–13 Sherman
1946 Denison 13–6 Sherman
1947 Denison 39–7 Sherman
1948 Denison 21–6 Sherman
1949 Sherman 13–7 Denison
1950 Sherman 14–7 Denison
1951 Denison 26–7 Sherman
1952 Denison 15–0 Sherman
1953 Sherman 41–6 Denison
1954 Sherman 27–6 Denison
1955 Denison 27–13 Sherman
1956 Denison 49–0 Sherman
1957 Sherman 20–13 Denison
1958 Sherman 8–6 Denison
1959 Sherman 22–0 Denison
1960 Sherman 18–13 Denison
1961 Tie 0–0 Tie
1962 Sherman 20–0 Denison
1963 Denison 18–9 Sherman
1964 Denison 28–8 Sherman
1965 Denison 21–6 Sherman
1966 Denison 17–11 Sherman
1967 Sherman 36–15 Denison
1968 Denison 28–7 Sherman
1969 Sherman 31–12 Denison
1970 Sherman 28–8 Denison
1971 Sherman 30–8 Denison
1972 Sherman 21–0 Denison
1973 Sherman 14–13 Denison
1974 Sherman 28–12 Denison
1975 Sherman 29–14 Denison
1976 Sherman 37–14 Denison
1977 Sherman 51–7 Denison
1978 Sherman 24–17 Denison
1979 Sherman 10–0 Denison
1980 Tie 14–14 Tie
1981 Sherman 34–0 Denison
1982 Denison 28–10 Sherman
1983 Sherman 21–14 Denison
1984 Denison 23–6 Sherman
1985 Denison 39–6 Sherman
1986 Denison 31–0 Sherman
1987 Sherman 21–14 Denison
1988 Sherman 33–16 Denison
1989 Sherman 33–0 Denison
1990 Sherman 38–26 Denison
1991 Denison 28–7 Sherman
1992 Sherman 27–16 Denison
1993 Sherman 28–21 Denison
1994 Sherman 21–0 Denison
1995 Denison 16–7 Sherman
1996 Denison 35–19 Sherman
1997 Denison 31–14 Sherman
1998 Sherman 19–7 Denison
1999 Sherman 52–10 Denison
2000 Denison 10–7 Sherman
2001 Sherman 35–20 Denison
2002 Sherman 33–7 Denison
2003 Sherman Denison 59–33 Sherman Game Highlights
November 5, 2004 Denison Denison 24–10 Sherman Denison 2004 Schedule
November 4, 2005 Sherman Denison 23–21 Sherman Sherman 2005 Schedule
November 3, 2006 Denison Sherman 48–44 Denison Denison 2006 Schedule
November 2, 2007 Sherman Denison 44–43 Sherman Sherman 2007 Schedule
October 31, 2008 Denison Denison 34–17 Sherman Denison 2008 Schedule
October 30, 2009 Sherman Denison 43–28 Sherman Sherman 2009 Schedule
October 29, 2010 Denison Sherman 39–0 Denison Denison 2010 Schedule
November 4, 2011 Sherman Sherman 49–24 Denison Sherman 2011 Schedule
October 5, 2012 Denison Sherman 42–21 Denison Denison 2012 Schedule
November 1, 2013 Sherman Denison 42–24 Sherman Sherman 2013 Schedule
October 31, 2014 Denison Denison 42–20 Sherman Denison 2014 Schedule
October 30, 2015 Sherman Denison 41–14 Sherman Sherman 2015 Schedule
October 28, 2016 Denison Denison 35–30 Sherman Denison 2016 Schedule
October 27, 2017 Sherman Denison 49–24 Sherman Sherman 2017 Schedule
October 26, 2018 Denison Denison 41–16 Sherman Denison 2018 Schedule
October 25, 2019 Sherman Denison 29–13 Sherman Sherman 2019 Schedule
October 23, 2020 Denison Denison 41–23 Sherman Denison 2020 Schedule
October 29, 2021 Sherman Denison 37–13 Sherman Sherman 2021 Schedule
October 28, 2022 Denison Denison 28–14 Sherman Denison 2022 Schedule
August 25, 2023 Sherman Denison 34–28 Sherman Sherman 2023 Schedule
August 30, 2024 Denison TBD TBD [1]

References

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Category:Texas high school football rivalries Category:Denison, Texas Category:Sherman, Texas