SHS - Battle Of The Ax

Battle of the Axe History The Longest Rivalry in Texas High School Football History!!!!!
The Sherman-Denison Football rivalry began in 1906. A rivalry that has become a tradition for both communities and both schools. This is the longest continuous rivalry among all high schools in the state of Texas. Sherman won the first game. There were three games not played during World War I and one game not played during the 20's and 30's. Originally, and for many years to follow, the game was played on the afternoon of Thanksgiving Day. It did not take long for the rivalry to take a negative turn, involving much vandalism and property destruction. Everyone was concerned, but only one individual took positive action--Jack Barker, a Denison businessman. Mr. Barker, owner of a small ice cream parlor and store on Main Street across from the old Denison High School, wanted to create a symbol that represented good sportsmanship and excellence in the athletic competitions between the two schools. The game has come to be called the Battle of the Axe, its symbol the Axe. The Axe is awarded yearly to the school that wins the football game between Sherman and Denison. The scores and years are engraved on the blade. When both sides of the blade are filled, the school with the most victories will keep the original Axe. The first game for the Axe was played in 1949. To date (2009) there have been 6 ties, 33 victories for Denison and 56 victories for Sherman. 2009 marks the 111th game for the Axe. The longest possession of the Axe was by Sherman from 1969-1981 (13 years). Mr. Barker wanted a symbol that represented a spirit of never quitting.
Although only one team wins the Axe, both teams win the spirit of the Axe.
Battle of the Axe Scores
The following are year-by-year scores of the Sherman-Denison series, known as the "Battle of the Axe". Sherman leads the overall series 56-32-6.
1906-Denison 5, Sherman 0 1906-Denison 5, Sherman 0 1912-Sherman 13, Denison 0 1912-Sherman 13, Denison 6 ˆ 2 games played in 1906 & 1912 1913-Sherman 41, Denison 0 1914-Sherman 12, Denison 0 1915-Sherman 71, Denison 0 1916-Sherman 30, Denison 0 1917-Sherman 25, Denison 0 1918-no game 1919-no game 1920-Sherman 41, Denison 0 1922-Denison 19, Sherman 5 1923-Sherman 38, Denison 0 1924-Sherman 21, Denison 0 1925-Sherman 78, Denison 0* 1926-Sherman forfeit to Denison 1927-no game 1928-Sherman 14, Denison 0 1929-Sherman 32, Denison 0 1930-no game 1931-Sherman 18, Denison 2 1932-Sherman 19, Denison 6 1933-Sherman 6, Denison 0 1934-Denison 7, Sherman 2 1935-Sherman 61, Denison 0 1936-Denison 7, Sherman 6 1937-Sherman 27, Denison 13 1938-Sherman 6, Denison 6* 1939-Sherman 13, Denison 0 1940-Sherman 20, Denison 7 1941-Sherman 7, Denison 7* 1942-Denison 45, Sherman 6 1943-Sherman 7, Denison 7* 1944-Sherman 6, Denison 6* 1945-Denison 21, Sherman 13 1946-Denison 13, Sherman 6 1947-Denison 39, Sherman 7 1948-Denison 21, Sherman 6 1949-Sherman 13, Denison 7 1950-Sherman 14, Denison 7 1951-Denison 26, Sherman 7 1952-Denison 15, Sherman 0 1953-Sherman 41, Denison 6 1954-Sherman 27, Denison 6 1955-Denison 27, Sherman 13 1956-Denison 49, Sherman 0 1957-Sherman 20, Denison 13 1958-Sherman 8, Denison 6	1959-Sherman 22, Denison 0 1960-Sherman 18, Denison 13 1961-Sherman 0, Denison 0 1962-Sherman 20, Denison 0 1963-Denison 18, Sherman 9 1964-Denison 28, Sherman 8 1965-Denison 21, Sherman 6 1966-Denison 17, Sherman 11 1967-Sherman 36, Denison 15 1968-Denison 28, Sherman 7 1969-Sherman 31, Denison 12 1970-Sherman 28, Denison 8 1971-Sherman 30, Denison 8 1972-Sherman 21, Denison 0 1973-Sherman 14, Denison 12 1974-Sherman 28, Denison 12 1975-Sherman 29, Denison 14 1976-Sherman 37, Denison 14 1977-Sherman 51, Denison 7 1978-Sherman 24, Denison 17 1979-Sherman 10, Denison 0 1980-Sherman 14, Denison 14* 1981-Sherman 34, Denison 0 1982-Denison 28, Sherman 10 1983-Sherman 21, Denison 14 1984-Denison 23, Sherman 6 1985-Denison 39, Sherman 6 1986-Denison 31, Sherman 0 1987-Sherman 21, Denison 14 1988-Sherman 33, Denison 16 1989-Sherman 33, Denison 0 1990-Sherman 38, Denison 26 1991-Denison 28, Sherman 7 1992-Sherman 27, Denison 16 1993-Sherman 28, Denison 21 1994-Sherman 21, Denison 0 1995-Denison 16, Sherman 7 1996-Denison 35, Sherman 19 1997-Denison 31, Sherman 14 1998-Sherman 19, Denison 7 1999-Sherman 52, Denison 10 2000-Denison 10, Sherman 7 2001-Sherman 35, Denison 20 2002-Sherman 33, Denison 7 2003-Denison 59, Sherman 33 2004-Denison 24, Sherman 10 2005-Denison 23, Sherman 21 2006-Sherman 48, Denison 44 2007-Denison 44, Sherman 43 2008-Denison 34, Sherman 17 2009- Denison 43, Sherman 28
Note: Games are believed to have been played in the following years: 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911 but scores cannot be verified. No games were played 1918, 1919, 1927 and 1930.