Feb 05

Galloping Ghost of West High helps 1927 become No. 4 Most Offensive Team in Reitz Football history

1927 Varsity team picture

The varsity team picture for the 1927 Panthers (Source – 1928 Ohihill Yearbook)

The 1927 Panthers are No. 4 on “The Top 10 Most Offensive Teams in Reitz Football History.” Overlooked by many, that year’s team went unscored upon in their first six games and only allowed nine points all season. Central was the only setback for the ’27 Panthers, beating them, 7-6.

While that win gave the Bears the city title, Reitz would win their first-ever conference championship. While the SIAC would not exist until 1935, the Panthers were members of the Tiny Ten Conference and took the title in the fall of ’27.

1927 Tiny Ten Standings Conference Overall
W-L Pct. W-L Pct.
Evansville Reitz 7-1 0.875 7-1 0.875
Mount Carmel (Ill.) 5-1-2 0.750 5-1-2 0.750
Princeton 6-3 0.667 6-3 0.667
Evansville Bosse 6-3-1 0.650 6-3-1 0.650
Henderson Barret (Ky.) 6-3-1 0.650 6-3-1 0.650
Evansville Central 4-4-1 0.500 4-4-1 0.500
Carmi (Ill.) 4-4-1 0.500 4-4-1 0.500
Boonville 4-4 0.500 4-4 0.500
Evansville Memorial 3-4 0.429 3-4 0.429
Petersburg 2-5 0.286 2-5 0.286
Mount Vernon 1-3 0.250 1-3 0.250
1927lettermen

Note that the ’28 on the graphic refers to the graduating class of 1928, which of course played football in the fall of 1927 (Source – 1928 Ohihill Yearbook)

At the time, the 7-1 record was the young West Side school’s best to date. Reitz outscored her opponents 327-9 and averaged 40.88 points per game.

Elmer W. Weber’s 1927 squad featured several outstanding players, four of whom would be named all-city and all-Tiny Ten (Carver Browne, Bill Droll, Sr., Edgar Engel and Herman Korressel). Droll & Engel were both all-state.

Droll, described by the 1928 Ohihill Yearbook as the “galloping ghost of West High”, lead the 1927 team with 117 points (14.625/game) and is a member of the Reitz Football Hall of Fame.

Links of interest

ReitzFootball.com

Dan Engler's love for Reitz Football goes back a long time. Engler played for the Panthers all four years of high school and graduated in 1996.
That summer, as the popularity of the Internet began to explode, Engler's search for Reitz Football information came up empty, so his father suggested he create a website. Engler taught himself HTML and launched the Unofficial Reitz High School Football Home Page that August.
Since then, Engler, through ReitzFootball.com, has spent the past 25 years chronicling the rich history and tradition of Reitz High School Football.
Engler and his wife, Melissa, have two sons, Logan and Micah, and a daughter, Juliette. Engler has traveled all over the world but is proud to call Evansville his home.

2 comments

  1. How about a Most Defensive Team series to compliment the offensive series?

    1. Great idea! It’s common knowledge for most Reitz fans that 1961 would top that list, but I think fans would be interested in the other top defensive teams, as well. Great suggestion!

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