DENISON, Texas — One of Texas high school football’s oldest and most storied rivalries returns Friday night when the Sherman Bearcats and Denison Yellow Jackets meet in the 128th Battle of the Ax.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Munson Stadium in Denison. The rivalry game will open the 2026 varsity football season for Sherman. Sherman ISD said Tuesday that tickets for the game are sold out and a livestream will be available. Denison ISD also enforces a clear bag policy at Munson Stadium.
The annual matchup is about much more than starting a new season with a victory. Generations of players from the neighboring Grayson County communities have competed for possession of the Ax and a year’s worth of bragging rights.
Battle of the Ax has been going on since 1901
The rivalry dates to the beginning of the 20th century, although historical accounts differ on the exact year of the first meeting. A 2024 KXII report said the earliest known newspaper account dates to 1901, while Dave Campbell’s Texas Football lists the first game in 1902. The schools are separated by only a few miles, and the series has developed into one of the signature rivalries in Texas high school football.
The famous trophy did not arrive until decades after the rivalry began. Denison businessman Jack Barker introduced the Ax in 1949 as a trophy for the winner of the game. The scores of the rivalry games have traditionally been engraved on the trophy.
Sherman historically controlled much of the series and held a significant advantage in the overall record. Denison, however, has enjoyed considerable success in more recent decades. A 2022 history of the rivalry reported Sherman leading the series 68-47 with eight ties at that time, while Denison had won 24 of the 39 meetings beginning in 1982.
Friday’s meeting is officially being promoted by Sherman ISD as the 128th Battle of the Ax. The district describes it as one of the oldest high school football rivalries in Texas.
The rivalry has already generated activity throughout Sherman this week. Sherman High School held its Battle of the Ax community pep rally Monday, while the school’s annual Battle of the Ax canned food drive continues through Friday. Donations will benefit MasterKey Ministries, which provides food assistance and other community resources.
Local businesses are also getting involved. The Sippin’ Social said it provided hydration and electrolytes for Sherman football players as they prepared for Friday’s game, describing its involvement as a way to support local athletes and the community during one of the area’s biggest traditions.
For both programs, however, the focus turns to football when the lights come on at Munson Stadium.
The winner will leave Friday night with an opening-week victory, possession of the Ax and something that has mattered in Sherman and Denison for generations — bragging rights until they meet again.