Reitz football overcomes quick Tri-West start to win in Week 2

FORT BRANCH — It started one way, but ended another.

After allowing a touchdown on the first play of Tri-West’s opening drive, Reitz responded in Week 2 and the Panthers are now 2-0 after defeating the No. 8 Bruins 55-27 on August 29 in Fort Branch.

“We had a lot of guys step up today,” Reitz coach Cory Brunson said. “I was kind of worried about how we would handle playing on a Saturday in the day (3 p.m. kickoff). But our guys did a great job, with exception to the very first play.”

Weekend scores: Evansville area and Indiana statewide high school football scores for Week 2

That play came from quarterback Jack Sorgi who found wide receiver Quentin Alexander streaking downfield. Not how you want to start, but Brunson said it woke up his group.  

That was clear — the Panthers would show an undeniable relentlessness.

On the following Tri-West possession, Sorgi threw an interception to junior Jaxson Woodring in the red zone. Reitz capitalized off the turnover, courtesy of junior Lee Steele, to even the score at 7.

What followed was another Woodring interception, this time a pick six to make it 14-7. He was leaving a clear mark on the Panthers' comeback efforts.

This remained the theme. The momentum had shifted, and the Panthers kept it on their sideline.

Senior linebacker Kade Voegel was effective again this week, even recovering a fumble for a touchdown after Tri-West mishandled the snap on a punt attempt in the third quarter.

Voegel, the group’s vocal leader, was proud of how his team responded to an unacceptable start. He felt the group took a step forward this week, even after its convincing performance against Harrison in Week 1.

Brunson said he prepared his group for what took place on that opening play, but it happened anyway. If there is anything to learn from after a big win like this, it is the players’ receptiveness to what is being told to them.

“There was a couple things we talked about right before the game,” Brunson said. “We were like, ‘Oh, that’s what coach was talking about.’ We have to do a better job of listening.”

But the message still proved to be loud and clear. A flip was switched offensively, defensively and on special teams.

The pursuit defensively was notable, limiting run after catch opportunities and a lot from truly materializing for the Tri-West offense in general. And that was never going to be an easy task against Sorgi — a Wisconsin commit.

Sorgi had his moments of brilliance in the passing and running game — showing why he is Division I bound. His game even felt fueled by the Reitz student support, or lack thereof towards him. Still, as the game progressed, the Panthers made it difficult on the quarterback to navigate the pocket with much ease.

Offensively, Amyr Wilford was brilliant for Reitz again — two touchdowns for the sophomore in the game. Highlighted by a drive that was essentially constructed and finished on his own to end the first half, leading to a touchdown of course.

“For a little guy, he finds a way to still make it hard,” Brunson said.

Elijah Darrett also deserves praise. The senior receiver caught two touchdowns against Tri-West to bring his season tally to three.

After a season-ending injury a year ago, the way Darrett has been playing brings the Panthers offense to a new level.

“Going into last year, I thought he was definitely a potential player of the year,” Brunson said. “He’s that type of player, and he played well again. You have to account for him.”

And through two weeks, sophomore Hunter Moers appears to be doing just fine at quarterback for Reitz. He threw three touchdowns against Tri-West. After allowing a sack-fumble in the third quarter, he was assessed on the sideline for injury but ended up going back into the game when the Panthers got the ball back.

The aim is to carry out a similar mentality against Jasper on September 4 at the Reitz Bowl. Brunson said his team needs to correct their self-inflicted errors heading into Week 3. Tri-West challenged them in a way that can allow that to happen.

“It’s a tough, tough schedule,” Brunson said. “But both teams played hard, it was a great game.”

Markos Tsegaye is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. He can be reached at mtsegaye@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @10_Markos_.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Reitz football overcomes quick Tri-West start to win in Week 2