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



The Abilene-Abilene Cooper rivalry has only been in place for 56 years, but its ascension into the conversation on the top rivalries in Texas was a rapid one.

Abilene was a dominant football powerhouse in the years leading up to Abilene Cooper opening in 1960. The Eagles had six state championship trophies to their name, including a three-peat from 1954-1956, and were known as one of the top programs in the state at the time.

But when growth in the city forced a new high school to open south of the railroad tracks in Abilene, the balance of power quickly shifted.

Abilene dominated the first matchup between the natural rivals 35-0. But as The Crosstown Showdown progressed in the 1960’s, it was clear the Cougars had the upper hand. After going 1-4-1 to start the series, Abilene Cooper went on to win 15 straight games from 1966-1980.

While Cooper dominated in the early years, things have leveled off now as Abilene turned the tables in the early 2000’s. The Eagles have won 11 of the last 13 games, and won last season’s matchup 56-37.

The shift in power is largely due to a change in enrollment numbers in the city. Abilene now competes at the Class 6A level while Cooper is a 5A program.



“It’s definitely a different atmosphere when you’re playing in the same district,” Abilene coach Del Van Cox said. “The intensity is still there in the game, but the animosity isn’t there like it used to be.”

In the years leading up to 2008, the teams always competed in the same district. The “Little Southwest Conference” as District 3-5A was known was loaded with state powers in Abilene Cooper, Abilene High, Midland Lee, Midland High, Odessa High and Odessa Permian. The district and its teams were a major part of the identity of Texas high school football.

However, declining enrollment numbers eventually led to Abilene Cooper dropping in classification and out of the same district as Abilene. While the two teams joined back together for a short period of time, Abilene is again a classification above the Cougars.

Competing for a playoff spot often led to an increased intensity between the crosstown rivals on the field, but Cooper coach Todd Moebes said the game still remains an important one for the two teams these days.

“I guess everybody is waiting to hear its lost its luster, but I don’t think it has,” Moebes said. “It’s been an important football game for our players, and it’s been an important football game for our community.”

While the animosity on the field may be suppressed, the game remains a vital one in the Abilene community. Fans are divided throughout the city as the north and south part of the city come together at Shotwell Stadium once a year.

“Now it’s more for bragging rights,” Cox said. “In the town, it’s like it always has been. There’s a separation and it’s been heated in the town for some time. It’s probably more heated in the town’s eye’s than the players and coaches eyes these days.”

Quick hits for "The Crosstown Showdown": 

How many years has it been played?: 56 years (Since 1961)

Overall record: 32-23-1 Abilene Cooper

Distance between schools (in exact miles): 4 miles

State titles won and/or appeared in for each team: Abilene won the 2009 Class 5A DII title over Katy, won the 1956 Class 4A title over Corpus Christi Ray, won the 1955 Class 4A title over Tyler, won the 1954 Class 4A title over Houston Austin, won the 1931 Class 1A title over Beaumont, won the 1928 Class 1A title over Port Arthur, lost the 1927 Class 1A title to Waco, won the 1923 Class 1A title over Waco and lost the 1922 Class 1A title to Waco; Cooper lost the 1996 Class 5A DII title to Westlake and lost the 1967 Class 4A title to Austin Reagan.

Average attendance: combined average of both stadiums’ capacities: Shotwell Stadium has a max capacity listed at 15,000, but the game has been known to draw more than 18,000 fans on its biggest years.

How much animosity is there, really? Is it a fun rivalry, or does it always get chippy and cross the line? The game was much more intense on the field when it was played with the two teams competing in the same district. While that change has eased some of the animosity on the field, the game is still extremely intense for the fans and the rest of the town.

Does the game have a nickname? What’s the story behind it? The Crosstown Showdown. When Abilene Cooper opened in 1960, the town was split along the railroad tracks – Abilene to the North and Cooper to the South.

WHY do the schools dislike each other? What’s the town history? The high schools sit just four miles apart. When Cooper opened in 1960, Abilene was still riding the wave of three straight state championships from 1954-1956. The schools competed in the same district every year from 1961-2007, so not only were town bragging rights on the line – the game also had playoff implications each season.

How has the rivalry changed over the years? Declining enrollment led to realignment separating the schools into different classifications – Abilene now competes at the Class 6A level while Cooper is Class 5A. But the game is still a big one in Abilene each season and continues in the non-district portion of the season. 2016 marked just the fifth time the teams haven’t played as members of the same district.

Any famous alumni? Coaches? Abilene – Dave Parks (Texas Tech, NFL), Jim Welch (SMU, NFL), Sneezy Beltran (Texas, Abilene Christian), Herschel Sims (Oklahoma State, Abilene Christian), Abram Smith (Baylor), Keevan Lucas (Tulsa, Philadelphia Eagles), Jeret Smith (McMurry, Kansas City Chiefs), coach P.E. Shotwell, coach Charles Moser, coach Steve Warren. Abilene Cooper – Jack Mildren (Oklahoma QB, former Lt. governor of Oklahoma), Jeff Ireland (Former Miami Dolphin’s GM), Ray Berry (Baylor, Vikings, Seahawks), Dowell Loggains (Arkansas, Chicago Bears’ OC), Terry Orr (Texas, Redskins), Dominic Rhodes (Midwestern State, NFL), Justin Snow (Baylor, Colts), coach Randy Allen (Played at Cooper and SMU, coached the team from 1991-1998).

How’d the first-ever game go? What is known about that one? Abilene shutout Cooper 35-0 in 1961, just a year after Cooper opened. But Cooper snuck out a 19-18 win the next season, and five of the first six games were decided by seven points or less – including a 0-0 tie in 1965.

Greatest game ever? Abilene wins 30-27 in 2001. After trailing by 10 with about two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Eagles scored a touchdown before recovering an onside kick and adding a field goal to send the game to overtime.