Previously: No. 10 — Harlingen vs. San Benito / No. 9 — El Campo vs. Bay City / No. 8 — Cuero vs. Yoakum / No. 7 — Stephenville vs. Brownwood / No. 6 — Abilene vs. Abilene Cooper

In the end, Ennis and Waxahachie were always destined to be rivals.

Both towns were founded before the end of reconstruction. The populations of both towns were greatly increased after a railroad went through town. Both towns are around the same distance outside of Dallas, with Waxahachie directly off I-35 and Ennis off of I-45.

These towns are nearly identical to the other historically, almost like two brothers. Two brothers that fight every year in what’s come to be known as “The Battle of 287,” named after the highway that connects the two towns.



Though the rivalry that has spanned more than 100 years, the series is still incredibly close, with Ennis just barely leading 46-44-2. Through the years, the series has had time to capture many generations of fans.

“The people who graduated here and then their sons play here and then those sons play here,” Stephen Howell, Waxahachie alumnae and current head softball coach and a receiver/outside linebackers coach, said. “That’s what has kept the rivalry going. We have a lot of ex-players and coaches who live here that keep the rivalry going.”

Along with great on the field performances, the off the field antics have provided quite the show. There have been cases of fists flying at games and the Waxahachie Indian statue has been shot, just to name a few instances.

“For us old schoolers, it’s still an intense rivalry,” Ronnie Greer, Ennis alumnae and game broadcaster, said. “51 weeks a year, we manage to get along. For that one week a year, it’s pretty much pure hatred. [The hatred for each other] is always there kind of underlined, just waiting for the fall.”

Quick hits for "The Battle of 287":

How many years has it been played? The first game was played in 1908. They have played against each other 92 years (not including 2017) and 2017 will mark 79 consecutive years of play.

Overall record: Ennis leads 46-44-2

Distance between schools (in exact miles): 16.6 miles

State titles won and/or appeared in for each team: Ennis was state champion in 1975, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2014; and a state semifinalist in 1970, 1999, 2002 and 2013. Waxahachie won its lone state title in 1992.

Average attendance: The average attendance ranges from 70-percent to capacity. So anywhere from 6,650-10,000 on average. In the past, there had been a lot of games where the standing room only tickets were 5-6 rows of people deep.

How much animosity is there? There have been fights at the games where the fire marshal has been called to de-escalate the situation.

Does the game have a nickname? What’s the story behind it? The game is referred to as “The Battle of 287.” The fastest way to get between the two schools is a trip down highway 287. Both schools are also less than 1,000 feet from the highway.

WHY do the schools dislike each other? What’s the town history? The school dislike each other because of the proximity. Both cities are very old are that might play a factor. In fact, before a game one year, the Waxahachie Indian Statue was shot with a .22 pistol. Both sides say they refuse to wear either the ugly maroon or gaudy green, no matter the occasion.

How has the rivalry changed over the years? The two towns have always disliked each other, however, the sense we got from listening to people from both sides was that the rivalry has calmed down a bit. It seems like the people that are getting into the rivalry most are not the high school aged kids, but rather the grads who are now in their thirties who never left the respective towns.

Any famous alumni? Coaches? Waxahachie: Brian Waters (NFL offensive lineman for 14 years. Six-time Pro Bowler and winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award), Montae Reagor (Texas Tech’s all-time leader in sacks and TFL, had a lengthy NFL career before going back to coach at Ennis. Now coaches at TCU, where his son Jalen, also a Waxahachie alum, plays), Aldrick Robinson (played college football at SMU, was drafted by the Redskins and is currently playing with the 49ers. Ennis: Graham Harrell (2008 Heisman finalist at Texas Tech, won a Super Bowl with the Packers in 2011, and is currently the OC at UNT under Seth Litrell), Ray Armstrong (former NFL DL who played college football at TCU), Jack Lummus (former NFL DL who played college football at Baylor. He played for the New York Giants for one year before enlisting in the Marines in 1942. He died at the battle of Iwo Jima, and was inducted into the Giant’s Ring of Honor in 2015).

How’d the first-ever game go? What is known about that one? According to Waxahachie’s website, the first game was played in 1908 and saw Waxahachie prevail 37-0.

Greatest game ever? 1975. It was an absolute slugfest. It was a terrible, rainy night and Ennis won the game 7-6.