I love that natural swimming pool in Balmorhea! It is so neat! But I can see that coming to the "big city" would have been a big deal!
The rivalry did start in the '40's between Midland High and Odessa High, but I can't recall hearing about a specific game. Permian was built in 1960 and Midland Lee a few years later--and they have the real rivalry! It is brutal. But Permian and Odessa High can get into it, too!
Get this, my family moved to Balmorhea from Houston! To say that I experienced culture shock would be an understatement. I loved the afternoon drives to Midland-Odessa once or twice a month because they offered a taste of civilisation. The state park in Balmorhea is fantastic. Where else can you visit a fully-stocked dive shop in the semi-desert of West Texas!