Dec 11

Top 25 Biggest Wins in Reitz Bowl History – #17: Reitz 19, Mater Dei 7 (Oct. 24, 1952)

The legendary West Side War, named by many as the best in the state, had to start somewhere. That first meeting came in 1952 and is the 17th biggest win in Reitz Bowl history.

Although the Wildcats picked up the sport in 1949, it wasn’t until their fourth season that they decided to give it a go against the Mighty Panthers.

Mater Dei takes Big Five lead into inaugural game
Going into the game, Mater Dei held first place in the “Big Five” city series. The Wildcats had lost to Central, but an ineligible man forced the Bears to forfeit and the Wildcats were 2-0. The Panthers were listed at second with only one city victory.

Game recap
Following a Mater Dei fumble, the Panthers scored first courtesy of a five-yard run by Jim Aurs. However, Dick Georgette’s extra point attempt failed when bounced off the left upright. The Wildcats answered in the second quarter with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Jerry Horstketter to Charlie Niemeier, whose brother Tom booted the conversion and gave Mater Dei a 7-6 lead going into halftime.

That lead didn’t last long, as the Aurs raced 66 yards for the touchdown after a Jim Byers fake. Georgette’s kick was blocked, but Billy Pfohl scored a few minutes later on a four-yard run. Georgette finally connected with a placekick straight through the uprights. Neither team threatened in the fourth quarter and Reitz took the 19-7 win in the first game of the series.

How they finished
While not yet in the SIAC, the Wildcats would go on to finish a respectable 4-4-1 and tied for second in the city at 2-2. The Panthers finished 8-1 overall and were 4-0 in the city and SIAC, earning those respective championships.

While the series is more even nowadays (Reitz leads 47-23 through 2021), the Panthers laid the foundation with this first win and would win the next five before Mater Dei finally pulled one off in 1958.

Points of interest

  • Game was broadcast on WJPS, WIKY-FM, WGBF and WMLL, WGBF’s FM station
  • The Press reported 5,000 fans in attendance, while the Courier estimated 6,500
  • Kickoff was at 8 p.m.
  • Reitz only tried three passes; no success there but they outrushed MD 219 yards to 29
  • Mater Dei through five interceptions but did recover five Reitz fumbles
  • Aurs lead the Panthers with 10 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns

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.

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