EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Before the start of their Sept. 11 showdown with cross-town rival Reitz Memorial High School, the Mater Dei High School football team burst through a paper banner with all the excitement you would except from teenage boys about to play in a clash between two of southwestern Indiana’s top teams.
But in this annual affair, the two Evansville, Indiana-based Catholic schools weren’t just playing for school pride and post-season positioning. They were also playing for the poor.
The matchup between the Reitz Memorial Tigers and the Mater Dei Wildcats, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the Indiana Football Coaches Association poll at the time, marked the 10th installment of an Evansville fundraiser known as the Hunger Bowl. Organized by the local Knights of Columbus, the initiative combines football and faith, all for the sake of raising money for a local food pantry operated by the Society of St. Vicent de Paul (SVdP).
“These teams have been playing for generations, but tonight we are helping others, those that might go with no food at all,” said Reitz Memorial senior defensive back Thomas Pope before the game.
The big game drew fans from more than 20 different parishes in the Diocese of Evansville, a territory that hugs the Ohio River in southwestern Indiana and includes 70,000 Catholics.
While the players were locked in on the field, volunteers in the stands did their part to tackle hunger.
The night began with a greeting at the gates: “Would you like to donate to the Hunger Bowl?”
With branded collection buckets in hand, volunteers from both schools — students, teachers and athletes — solicited fans for donations.
“I love that the Hunger Bowl combines school spirit with service,” said Andrea Greaney, the principal of Corpus Christi Catholic School, a local pre-K-to-8 school that raised more than $400 as part of the effort. “It gives students a chance to support something bigger than themselves while helping people right here in our community.”
‘A Nifty Idea’
The Hunger Bowl got its start in 2016, when Knights of Columbus member John Sandwell read about a rivalry game in Florida that raised funds for charity.
“That’s a nifty idea,” Sandwell, a Mater Dei alumnus and Hunger Bowl co-chair and founder, recalls thinking. “It doesn’t matter who wins; they are helping the poor.”
The goal of the initial Hunger Bowl was fairly modest, aiming to raise about $3,000. Over the years, however, the effort has grown and now includes Catholic partner schools throughout the area as well as other groups, all working together to fundraise for one cause. This year’s goal was $50,000.
Since its early days, the fundraiser has always been focused on helping the less fortunate. The Knights decided early on to help the SVdP food pantry with the help of Benedictine Sister Donna Maria Herr.
“She was very soft-spoken yet very dynamic,” said Sandwell. “We just knew working with her to help the poor was where we wanted to concentrate our efforts.”
Aimed at maximizing support for those most in need, this year’s Hunger Bowl expanded to feature online donations and corporate sponsorships.
“The work that SVdP food pantry provides to address the needs of the hungry has a significant impact in addressing the needs of the people of the Evansville area, and we are excited to do our part in making the Friday Knights Hunger Bowl a success,” said Jim Elsner, the owner of Tri-State Bearing, the 2026 main sponsor.
Throughout a decade of expanding the fundraiser, Sandwell and fellow co-chair Mark Hackert, a Reitz Memorial alumnus, have maintained an unwavering dedication to maximizing every dollar raised.
“Our only expenses over 10 years have been the trophy and plaques; we want every single penny directed to helping those in need,” Sandwell explained. “We want every penny going towards the poor.”
Ashley Newell, executive director of the local SvDP, described the Hunger Bowl as “a lifeline for us,” especially during a time of rising food shortages, including among children, who make up 30% of food-pantry recipients. Last year, the fundraiser accounted for 340 tons of food, she said, the equivalent of 95,000 grocery bags.
“We can’t do it alone and are very grateful for the community’s support of the Hunger Bowl,” said Newell.
‘A Great Night to Be Catholic’
At the start of the Hunger Bowl, Evansville’s Bishop Joseph Siegel kicked things off with a prayer from the press box.
Reflecting on that moment, Sandwell smiled and said, “It’s a great night to be Catholic. A great rivalry game and hundreds of Catholics praying together: It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Supporters packed the Reitz bowl clad in their school colors — red and gold for Mater Dei from Evansville’s west side and blue and white for Reitz Memorial from the east side.
The first half of action was close, with Mater Dei quarterback Knox Simmons connecting with running back EJ Rainey for a touchdown with 43 seconds remaining to narrow Memorial’s lead to 17-14 at the half.
While halftime meant a break for the players, it brought a fresh wave of volunteers asking for donations. Cheerleaders, Mater Dei boys soccer players, and members of the Reitz Memorial girls flag football team once again implored the fans to donate. Jesus’ teaching on feeding the hungry came alive in the stands as both schools banded together for a common purpose.
“Even though we are really different, in the end we are supporting a good cause and doing what we believe in, no matter what happens,” said Reitz Memorial senior defensive end Luke Lovell.
A Rivalry With a Mission
The sense of solidarity was palpable among the Catholic high schools’ leadership, too.
“Working alongside Mater Dei is always a privilege, whether on the field of competition or in serving our community,” said Deacon Josh Reising, president of Reitz Memorial.
Holding a leadership role at one institution while having a daughter enrolled at the other has given Deacon Riesing a distinctive viewpoint on the collaboration. “With the Holy Spirit actively inspiring millions globally to embrace their faith authentically, I witness that same desire in so many of these students,” he said. “I see it in their faces, an earnest commitment to get involved. Something they had in their hearts is coming to life.”
Mater Dei President Deacon Dan Niemeier emphasized the shared mission of instilling habits of service and helping students discover joy in helping others. As the school looks forward to future initiatives themed around “educating for eternity,” he said events like the Hunger Bowl support the central focus.
“We want to touch their hearts about having an encounter with Christ and having a relationship with Him,” Deacon Niemeier shared. “This event is just one of many that helps in this critical job of forming our students, helping them really understand their purpose, gifts and talents to really make a difference in the community.”
The lesson wasn’t lost on the players on the field.
“[The Hunger Bowl] means a lot. There is a lot of history here,” said Mater Dei senior offensive lineman Dylan Schmitt. “It is a blessing to play tonight.”
Nash Stratman, a fellow Wildcat offensive lineman, echoed the mentality. “They tell us at Mater Dei, ‘Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve.’ And that is what the game is all about.”
More Than a Game
Although close at halftime, the battle between the top-five-ranked rivals turned into a rout by Memorial in the second half. Three touchdowns within eight minutes silenced the Wildcat faithful, as the Tigers ran away with the game, winning 52-21.
Following the final whistle, players gathered in the endzone to pray alongside their parish priests. Anticipation grew as members of the Knights arrived with the Friday Knights Hunger Bowl trophy, which Reitz Memorial has claimed now for all 10 years of the initiative.
But perhaps the most important number from the night was 50,000: the dollar amount organizers had targeted as the goal of this year’s fundraiser. The Knights confirmed to the Register that Hunger Bowl donations have surpassed the target.
The local Knights noted that the ripple effect of the Hunger Bowl goes beyond the fundraiser itself. For instance, Sandwell shared how previous attendees of the game — including a reporter who had been assigned to cover it — have gone on to join the Knights.
And the idea of the Hunger Bowl is catching on elsewhere, too, with a neighboring county recently launching its own version.
“We just keep looking for what to do next. It would be a nice goal to see this idea go state wide,” said Sandwell.
For Hackert, the mission is simple. “Keep raising more money.” One Hunger Bowl at a time.