ReitzFootball.com proudly presents “This Day in #ReitzFootball History,” as we look back through almost 100 years of The Mighty Panthers.
On November 22:
- Overall: 5-1-1 (7 games)
- At Reitz Bowl (1945, 1946, 1951, 1952): 2-1-1
- Away (1956, 1958): 2-0
- At unknown location (1919): 1-0
- On Thursday (1945, 1951, 1956): 2-1
- On Friday (1946): 0-0-1
- On Saturday (1919, 1952, 1958): 3-0
1919: Reitz 14, Ricadonia Independents 13
1945: Reitz 37, Bosse 0 (SIAC game on Thanksgiving)
1946: Reitz 0, Memorial 0 tie
1951: Central 20, Reitz 6 (SIAC game on Thanksgiving)
1952: Reitz 47, Central 7 (SIAC game)
1956*: Reitz 39, Memorial 0 (SIAC game on Thanksgiving)
Reitz’ undefeated Panthers won the SIAC title and claimed the mythical state crown yesterday afternoon by beating Memorial, 39-0, in a cold Thanksgiving Day battle at Enlow Field.
Almost 3,000 fans braved the freezing weather to see “one of the best teams in Reitz history” close out the 1956 Evansville football season. The Panthers, called by Coach Herman Byers as “the best team in the state,” tied Bosse for the city title with a 3-0-1 record.
[Bill] Coleman scored one touchdown yesterday to win the city scoring title with 106 points … but it was little Donnie Pfohl, 130-pound senior halfback, who led Reitz with two touchdowns.”
– Evansville Courier & Press, Nov. 23, 1956
While Richmond was voted state champ by the International News Service and United Press, the Panthers shared the honors by virtue of the No. 1 finish in the Litkenhous Prep Grid Ratings.
1958: Reitz 20, Bosse 0 (SIAC game)
* – denotes state championship season
