Reitz's offense typically makes headlines. Defense secured victory against Memorial

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — There's no sugarcoating how poorly Reitz's defense played at times last season.

The Panthers were inexperienced and allowed 31 points per game, often finding themselves on the wrong side of lopsided outcomes. Many of them were sophomores playing key positions, and they all learned as they took their lumps.

The difference a year makes has been like night and day. They've turned that figure around, now only yielding 13 points on average.

The Class 4A No. 8-ranked Panthers snagged three interceptions Friday at Enlow Field to defeat Memorial 27-18 and remain perfect. They kept the Tigers' passing attack at bay by winning the turnover battle while the Panthers' rejuvenated defensive line provided constant pressure in the pocket.

Indiana high school football: Check out all the Week 7 Evansville-area final scores

Reitz (7-0) has thrived in its 3-4 scheme this season after switching from a 4-3. Although its dangerous offense usually holds the spotlight as the Panthers light up the scoreboard week in and week out, the unsung defense stepped up Friday to prove it also can be game-changers.

"This year, we're just bigger and better and ready to go," junior Calab Utley said. "We're just playing like a team and just going out there and getting it done."

After allowing an early touchdown, Reitz blocked a punt deep in Panthers territory. The loose ball bobbled and rolled around the right side of the field until Utley secured it and walked it in for the score.

Those types of plays have been a common theme as Reitz finds ways to gain an early advantage. Utley's scoop-and-score showed once again nothing is going to come easy for opponents.

"We've been asking our special teams to make a big play, and that was a big play," Reitz coach Cory Brunson said. "It really got the momentum going for us."

The Panthers' defense has focused on the little things to improve as a unit, from perfecting their stances to simply running toward the ball to be in position to tackle. The extra effort and attention to detail in practice have translated to Friday nights. Their still-perfect record proves that.

"That's something that we worked on this year," junior Levi Oxley said. "Last year wasn't the best. So I think that if we just keep working on it, we're going to be really good."

Reitz continues to finish games, too. Once Memorial reached the red zone late, junior Ayden Wells had the idea of running the clock out if the Tigers scored. The Panthers got something even better: two stops that ended in turnovers. Wells snagged one of the picks while Xavier Thomas secured another before returning it to near midfield.

"Honestly, that's the best outcome that we could have got," Wells said.

Memorial (4-3) still has two tough games remaining next week at Vincennes Lincoln before hosting Castle during Rivalry Week. The Tigers are still coming together. They also appear to have the talent to return to semistate, but at least for now, the Class 4A sectional favorites are the Panthers.

With a high-powered offense and faster, more disciplined defense, Reitz has already clinched a share of the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference crown. It can secure the title outright with a win against Bosse or Mater Dei to close the season. The Panthers last were the sole SIAC champions in 2010 — they shared the title in '16 and '17.

And while their record may say otherwise, the Panthers are far from perfect. They still allowed big plays that made them sweat out this win. The entire team ran sprints because of all their penalties before they broke down the huddle postgame.

"We had so many mistakes," Oxley said. "If we put it all together, we're a very scary team. There's so much more that we can improve in. It's honestly something to look forward to every week to just get better at."

Brunson added: "These guys are working hard. Each week they're trying to strive for something new. We need to put together another good week. It's a big week coming up."

Courier & Press sports reporter Treasure Washington can be reached via her email, treasure.washington@courierpress.com, and on Twitter @Twashington490.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Indiana high school football: Reitz defense steps up to beat Memorial