From first kickoff in 2012, Boot Bowl defines Burleson’s football spirit
While the Boot Bowl in Burleson (try saying that fast 10 times) isn’t as old as many other rivalries, the intensity of the annual football game between the crosstown rival Burleson Elks and Centennial Spartans is unparalleled in the eyes of those involved.
“A rivalry like this is bigger than just two football teams lining up on Friday night,” Burleson ISD athletic director Kevin Ozee said. “Win or lose, both schools benefit from the energy and spotlight this game generates. It’s a showcase of student-athletes, bands, cheerleaders, drill teams, ROTC, our student A/V team and the spirit of Burleson ISD as a whole.
“The Boot Bowl is a sell-out every year and the largest public event in Burleson.”
For a town of nearly 60,000 residents, that’s saying something. But this is Texas, and nothing brings people together like high school football.
“The Boot Bowl is the epicenter of high school sports in Burleson,” Spartans fan Tyler Walker said. “Football players often have friends and former peewee teammates on the other side of the ball, which just raises the intensity of the game.
“The fullness of the experience wouldn’t be complete without the school bands providing the soundtrack to the mounting drama on the field. Overall, it’s a great night for Texas high school football in Burleson.”
Elks fan Tiffany Renee said her son grew up dreaming of being an Elk. This year he’s a senior playing in his final Boot Bowl.
“The boot game is a great way to kick off the season for both schools with a fun rivalry against old friends. It’s a sense of pride for the team that gets to take the boot home with a win,” Renee said. “It’s being a part of Burleson’s history, fostering unity in the community.”
The latest Boot Bowl, played Friday, was a stunner. After being outscored 105-26 in the past three meetings, Burleson flipped the script in 2025, rolling to a 45-21 victory.
There is a traveling trophy that stays with the winning school until the other takes it back via a victory of its own.
“The students get excited about it, the campuses display it proudly, and it adds just a little extra fuel to the fire,” Ozee said.
The now-retired Steve Goben was the Elks’ track coach when the rivalry started and was part of it through 2019. He noted that in that first game, many of the Centennial players had previously attended Burleson High as freshmen.
“The numbers in BHS senior class were very low, and depth was a huge issue for us,” he recalled. “We played CHS in the last game of the season and were trying to prevent going winless. Unfortunately, we were handled pretty easily by CHS that night (42-6).
“It was strange being the visitor in our stadium.”
The venue, formerly Elk Stadium, is now Burleson ISD Stadium, but is still on the campus of Burleson High School.
“The very next year we proved all those who said we could not compete wrong when BHS won a very close game [28-25, first of three straight wins in the series],” Goben continued. “Winning the boot is special, and those postgame celebrations you don’t forget.”
Goben said the week leading up to the Boot Bowl is much like homecoming week. There are special spirit days and signs all around each campus.
But through it all, they are friends and neighbors, he added.
“In Burleson, both the CHS and BHS bands, along with the drill teams, will perform together at the game,” he said. “Administration tried to keep the rivalry low-key, but when it comes down to it, you are either a Spartan or an Elk.”
Brad Hart coached baseball at Centennial for five years. He said the game has always had a different feel than others, whether the teams were in the same district or not. They shared a league for the first eight years.
“As a coach you never wanted to lose a game, but especially to your crosstown rival. I always thought it was big to the players because both sides knew each other so well,” Hart said. “Full stadium and loud. We always had a great student section and so did BHS, and they went all out for this game. Winning that boot meant a lot to everyone involved.”
Former Spartans baseball coach Art Senato said that while football grabs the spotlight — again, this is Texas — the rivalry extends into all sports.
“Anytime the schools play in any sport, there will be big crowds. They will be loud and they will support their school no matter what,” he said. “BOTB was great because it involved the entire community.”
Ozee would love to see the teams reunite in the same district, but doesn’t see that happening anytime soon. Centennial is in Class 5A Division I and Burleson is in 5A Division II. Regardless, he said the Boot Bowl will remain a highlight on the community calendar.
“Personally, I think this rivalry is a treasure,” Ozee said. “I’ve been blessed to be a part of some great ones — A&M vs. Texas, Duncanville vs. DeSoto, Southlake vs. Trinity, Coppell, and Arlington High vs. Lamar.
“But to me, because of the entire community’s excitement and investment, the Burleson ISD Boot Bowl is the best of them all. The fact that it has stayed intact and stayed strong says a lot about the character of Burleson.
“People care about it. The kids grow up hearing about it, the parents have lived it, and it’s passed down from generation to generation. That continuity makes it special.”
Boot Bowl rivalry history
All-time series: Burleson Centennial leads Burleson High 8-6.
2012: Centennial 42, Burleson 6
2013: Burleson 28, Centennial 25
2014: Burleson 22, Centennial 10
2015: Burleson 55, Centennial 35
2016: Centennial 28, Burleson 11
2017: Burleson 31, Centennial 28
2018: Centennial 21, Burleson 7
2019: Centennial 37, Burleson 10
2020: Centennial 38, Burleson 34
2021: Burleson 40, Centennial 13
2022: Centennial 42, Burleson 13
2023: Centennial 35, Burleson 6
2024: Centennial 28, Burleson 7
2025: Burleson 45, Centennial 21
This story was originally published August 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM.
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