The OLDEST Rivalries in Texas High School Football
The oldest rivalries in Texas high school football include Groesbeck vs Mexia, Denison vs Sherman, Marshall vs Tyler, Ennis vs Waxahachie, and El Campo vs Wharton.
Cameron v Rockdale (98 games)
In 1954, the Rockdale, Sandow, & Southern Railroad donated a brass bell from a steam locomotive to serve as a trophy for the annual Cameron versus Rockdale football game. Now, the Battle of the Bell rivalry is played for a chance to ring that bell – and signal Milam County football supremacy.
Cooper v Honey Grove (97 games)
Cooper leads the all-time series 51-41-5, but Honey Grove had a cathartic win in 2025. The Warriors won their first game against Cooper at home since the 2008 season opener en route to a District Title. Can the 16 returning starters on Cooper’s team get revenge in 2026?
Amarillo v Lubbock (103 games)
This rivalry game is one of the oldest in West Texas, but it hasn’t necessarily been the most competitive. Amarillo holds a commanding 88-12-3 series lead. The last time the Sandies fell to Lubbock was in 1973.
Longview v Marshall (115 games)
This East Texas rivalry has been a tale of two eras. Marshall dominated Longview in the beginning, racing out to a 28-12-3 series lead by the end of 1953. Longview officially tied the series at 33-33-5 in 1981 and hasn’t looked back. Since 2000, the Lobos have won all but one game, a 28-25 defeat in 2015.
Ennis v Waxahachie (104 games)
This rivalry is dubbed the “Battle of 287” because of the highway that connects these two towns, just 16.6 miles apart. In fact, both high schools are located 1,000 feet from the highway. But those aren’t the only similarities these two towns share. They were each incorporated a year apart (Waxahachie in 1871 and Ennis in 1872). These rivals are like brothers, too close together and too similar to not have some animosity.
“51 weeks a year, we manage to get along,” Ennis alum and game broadcaster Ronnie Greer said. “For that one game a year, it’s pretty much pure hatred.”
Marshall v Tyler (89 games)
Marshall is making a case for the Mount Rushmore of Texas high school football’s most historic teams. The Mavericks have three rivalry games on this list, each of which started before 1911. The game against Tyler is the most intermittent of Marshall’s rivals, with only 89 games played. The rivalry took an extended hiatus from 2011 to 2022. But the recent clashes have reminded us how lucky we are to have this game back. In 2023, Tyler beat Marshall 38-36 in a five-overtime classic. Last fall, Marshall prevailed 43-42 in a thriller.
Denison v Sherman (121 games)
Texoma’s “Battle of the Ax” is the second-most-played game in state history. The teams have played 95 consecutive games since 1931, but the first meeting dates back to 1902. The rivalry didn’t get its famous trophy, however, until the 1940s. Denison’s Jack Barker, who owned an ice cream parlor on Main Street across from the high school stadium, crafted the ‘Ye Old Battle Ax.’ The Ax is awarded on the field after every game, and the year is carved on the winning team’s side. The engravings date back to 1949.
Oftentimes, a successful season is strictly defined by whether or not you won the Battle of the Ax. In 2004, Sherman head coach Drew Young led the Bearcats to the state semifinals, the best season in program history. After the season, an older gentleman stopped him in Walmart.
“Coach, you had a good season, you won the old Battle Ax,” he said. “How’d the rest of the season go?”
“Got to the state semifinals, best season in school history,” Young said.
“Well, that’s nice,” the gentleman said.
Not as nice as the rivalry win, though.
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