DURANT, OK - Record numbers donated blood Thursday, and blood drive organizers believe their success was all thanks to a new way of running things. The City of Durant and Bryan County went head to head in a battle for blood.

It was a friendly competition to see which government entity could get the most people to donate blood on their behalf.

"We're going to duke it out. He's got his gloves right over there waiting on him and I've got mine ready to go,” County Monty Montgomery said jokingly at the blood drive.

Organizers with the Oklahoma Blood Institute said they had more donors than ever before, with over a hundred people giving blood. And when each donation could possibly save three lives, it really adds up.

"We just felt like a little bit of competition is going to encourage more citizens from the whole county; because the city of Durant is part of the county, and encourage more people to come in and donate blood,” said Montgomery.

The County did come out on top with the most donations, and that means Durant City Manager Jim Dunegan will have to mow the Bryan County Courthouse lawn on June 2nd. But both sides agreed that no matter who won, the real victory is for the community.

"It’s great, every pint of blood someone gives could be saving another person's life so we're all winners,” said Kathy Craven, Durant’s Human Resources Director.

So while Dunegan will have to pay the price, a life could be saved any day because of everyone’s efforts.

"Nobody knows when they may be involved in an automobile accident or any other catastrophic illness could come up where you'd need blood, so you have to be prepared ahead of time,” said Montgomery.