Choctaw Central Defeats Cherokee in 27th ‘Battle of Nations

CHOCTAW, Miss.— The smell of roasted corn, concession-stand hotdogs and grilled burgers drifted across Warrior Stadium as the sound of tribal drums welcomed Choctaw Central High School’s varsity football team onto the field.

It was Sept. 5, and fans of Mississippi’s only Indigenous high school cheered as the Mighty Warriors hosted their longtime rivals, the Braves of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from Cherokee, N.C.

A Rivalry Rooted in Culture

Fans from both schools packed the stands, many wearing maroon—Choctaw Central’s accented with black and white, Cherokee’s paired with gold. The matchup marked the 27th meeting between the two Indigenous programs in 35 years, a tradition known as the Battle of Nations.

“This game builds community,” said Dr. Tammy Greer, a psychology professor at the University of Mississippi and a member of the United Houma Nation. “We share cultures. That is huge. It helps survivability, both back in the day and now.”

Choctaw community members play tribal drums as they lead the Mighty Warriors football team of Choctaw Central onto the field at Warrior Stadium in Choctaw, Mississippi, Friday, Photo MBCI/CCHS

History of the Battle

The series began in 1991, when then-Cherokee Principal Chief Ed Taylor and Mississippi Choctaw Chief Philip Martin worked with coaches Walter Wilson and Willis Tullos to schedule the inaugural game. Originally intended as a friendly exhibition, the annual meeting quickly grew into a cultural exchange as much as a football rivalry.

Through the years, the Battle of Nations has rotated between Warrior Stadium in Choctaw and Ray Kinsland Stadium on the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina. The series has endured gaps—after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021—but has remained one of the most distinctive rivalries in high school sports.

This Year’s Game

On the field, the Mighty Warriors dominated, defeating Cherokee 47-7 before a capacity crowd. As the clock ran out, fireworks lit up the sky and both teams gathered for a midfield handshake.

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben carried the series’ Golden Ball trophy to midfield and awarded it to Choctaw Central as fans roared their approval.

Despite the loss, Cherokee still holds the edge in the all-time series, leading 15-12.

More Than Sports

Rhonda Phelps, a Cherokee fan from Foley, Ala., said the game represents more than bragging rights. “I love the merging of two cultures together, seeing the similarities and differences and respecting them both,” she said.

Chris Garcia of Choctaw, known locally as a “superfan,” agreed. “I’m more of a basketball guy,” he said, “but this game is still fun to see other tribal members visit us every year and share cultures.”

Before kickoff, a Choctaw teen sang the national anthem in the Choctaw language and a local pastor offered a prayer in Choctaw. Tribal delegations from both nations met at midfield, with Cherokee players carrying their tribal flag to the coin toss.

Looking Ahead

Next year, the 2026 Battle of Nations will shift to the Qualla Boundary in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. In 2027, the Choctaws will host again at their new campus stadium, now under construction in Neshoba County.

“This is necessary to ensure that Indigenous culture continues,” said Mericia Sanders, a Cherokee fan from Mobile, Ala. “And it helps create a better understanding of different tribes.”