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SHS Battle of the Ax

The History of the Sherman vs. Denison Football Games

paw.gif (901 bytes)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, one game not played during the 20’s and one game not played in the 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 Ax, its symbol the ax. The ax 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 ax. The first game for the AX was played in 1949. To date (2006) there have been 6 ties, 32 victories for Denison and 56 victories for Sherman. 2006 marks the 96th game for the AX. The longest possession of the AX was by Sherman from 1969-1981. The largest margin of victory occurred in 1925 when the score was Sherman 78, Denison 0. Mr. Barker wanted a symbol that represented a spirit of never quitting. Although only one team wins the AX, both teams win the spirit of the AX.

Scores
Battle of the Ax Scores


paw.gif (901 bytes)The following are year-by-year scores of the Sherman-Denison series, known as the “Battle of the AX”. 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
**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
1918-1919---no games
1920---Sherman 41, Denison 0
1921---Sherman 6, Denison 2
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
            Denison 1, Sherman 0
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, Denison7
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 13
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---
2008---
2009---
2010---

paw.gif (901 bytes)Note: Games are believed to have been played in the following years: 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, but scores can not be verified. No games played 1918, 1919, 1927 and 1930.

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