Editor’s note: 2014 & 2015 knocked 1960 down to No. 9 on the all-time list
Coming in at No. 7 on “The Top 10 Most Offensive Teams in Reitz Football History” are the 1960 Panthers. That season’s undisputed No. 1 team, they finished 9-0, outscoring their opponents, 333-15, and averaged 37 points per game.
They finished ranked at the top of the AP & UPI polls and Litkenhous Grid Ratings. In addition to their mythical state title, they also won the SIAC A Division and city championships.
Included in Coach Whicker’s Legendary Game Series, on Oct. 27 of this year, the top-ranked Panthers defeated then-No. 3 North, 34-0, in what is simply known as “The Game.”
Coach Byers‘ 1960 squad featured several future Reitz Football Hall of Famers (seniors Don Hansen, Ken Hansen, Doug Harp and junior Charles Orth). Joe Goodrid and Royce Neisz also earned all-state honors.
After the season, Byers stated that the 1960 team was the best defensive group he’d ever coached. However, the following season’s team may have changed his mind about that (they’ll be featured in an upcoming edition of the series!).
Links of interest
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