August 2021

T E X A R K A N A M A G A Z I N E

T exarkana got its beginnings in 1873 at the junction of the Texas and Pacific and Cairo and Fulton railroads. What was once a thunderous rumble of locomotives passing through town in the late 1800s and early 1900s is now replaced with the hum of 18-wheelers traveling down Interstate 30, except for Friday evenings in the fall, when the roar of our local high school football stadiums fills the autumn air. Texarkana may have gotten its roots as a railroad town, but the lifeblood is the hometown football game, and we are lucky enough to have a plethora of high schools within our city limits that provide an unforgettable experience on Friday nights under the lights. Residents of our great town, which of course is divided down the middle by a literal State Line, have crossed that border every year since 1918 to take part in one of the greatest rivalries in high school sports. Arkansas High versus Texas High easily brings 8,000 to 10,000 spectators through the gates of Tiger Stadium at Grim Park or Razorback Stadium each year. Texarkana is

painted in Razorback red and Tiger orange, and bragging rights are on the line. The Redline Drill Team and the Texas HighSteppers only add to the excitement of one of the oldest consecutive matchups in the United States. Both teams have also had success beyond their annual battle. Texas High was the 2002 4A Division I Texas State Champion, and Arkansas High won Arkansas State Championships in 1973, 1974, 1975, 2006 and 2007. At Harris Field in Liberty-Eylau, the Leopard faithful pack the stands and the entire school and community take part. The band, the Dazzlers and the cheerleaders energize the crowd and push the Leopards to victory. The atmosphere is electric, and the games are a must- see attraction every week. The band keeps the crowd lively and creates an electric atmosphere throughout the game. Liberty-Eylau added their 3A Division I Texas State Championships in 1999 and 2006 to Texarkana’s ever-growing number. Hawk Stadium, on the campus of Pleasant Grove High School, is nestled among tall East Texas pines. Once in the stands, the Pride in Motion Band serenades the Hawk

BY JONATHAN WEAVER

PHOTOS BY MATT CORNEL IUS

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