The Ax comes out tonight

The Ax is in Denison tonight. It has been for 128 meetings, which is another way of saying it has been here longer than anyone walking into Munson Stadium this evening has been alive.

Kickoff is 7 p.m. at 326 West Crawford. Denison, 0–0, against Sherman, 0–0, in the rivalry that dates to 1901. The Jackets won it last August, 28–16. That was the last time Brent Whitson coached an opener here. This is the first time Brian Lilly will.

Lilly is a 2008 Yellow Jacket, a former Texas State linebacker, and as of April 7 the athletic director and head football coach. He built a program from scratch at James Lawson in Nashville and took it to the playoffs in 2025. His first Friday night back home is the one every Jacket calendar is built around. Offensive coordinator Bryan Wilson and defensive coordinator Todd Wallis have the other headsets.

Sherman ISD said this week that tickets were sold out. Denison sold them online only through HomeTown Ticketing — $8 adults, $5 students — starting Aug. 17. If you already have one: gates open at 6 p.m., one hour before kickoff. Home fans use the west gates at Forrest Park. Visiting fans use the east gates on S. Rusk. Clear bags only. No in-and-out without a stamp. Munson holds about 6,500, and on this night it will feel like less.

The junior varsity goes at 5:30 p.m. Varsity warms up at the north end, toward the field house. Sherman gets the south end, toward the scoreboard. District 4-5A Division II can wait — it does not start until Sept. 10 at Prosper Richland. Tonight is not a district game. Tonight is the Ax.

The 2025 Jackets finished 4–5. They beat Sherman, then spent the rest of the year finding out how thin the margin is in this classification. Whitson left in February for Celina’s athletic director job. Lilly’s first answer is tonight, under the lights, with the oldest trophy in Grayson County sitting in the building.

The file will be open after 10:30 for a final. Until then the only number that matters is 7:00.