After the Bowsher football team earned only two wins in 1984, the 1985 squad was completely ignored in preseason polls. But with a tight-knit, proud senior class, talented underclassmen, a focused and vital coaching staff, and the passionate support of the entire community, this Bowsher team engineered a dramatic turnaround with a 7-3 record in 1985, becoming Tri-Champions of the Blue Division (tied with St John’s and Waite). This team relished physical play on both sides of the ball and was sparked by the seasoned talents of BAHOF members co-captain Mike Reese (2002) and Bryce Tuohy (1996), as well as the electrifying newcomer Ralph Harris. Coach Burton Rogers (BAHOF 1999) was named All-Blue Division Coach of the Year and All-City Co-Coach of the Year. The season’s final game remains a City League benchmark as one of the most exciting high school football games Toledo has ever seen.

The team’s strength was a versatile offense, and uncharacteristically for a Bowsher squad of the time, could strike quickly and often through the air via co-captain and quarterback Reese, wide receiver Harris, and a fierce group of receivers. The offensive line – dubbed the “Hogs” by Coach Neuendorf – and a stable of potent running backs relentlessly pounded opponents and ground out many long, punishing drives, hustling to the line of scrimmage while battered defenses struggled to regroup from the last play.

Defensively, Bowsher was a swarming, hard-nosed squad whose spirit was personified by the fiery Tuohy at safety and led by co-captain and three-year letterman Rodney Isaacson at linebacker. The team allowed only 15 points per game, including a shutout on the road against Blue Division rival and perennial powerhouse St Francis de Sales at the Glass Bowl. The Rebels’ stout run defense shut down a formidable Waite running attack on Homecoming to take the Blue Division lead and set up a showdown with rival St John’s the following week.

There was a steely resilience that formed among these bonds of team, brotherhood, and friendship. This stubborn trait built to a crescendo and powered a furious effort in the final game of the season against rival St John’s, with a trip to the Shoe Bowl at stake. The Titans jumped out to a shocking 28-0 lead, powered by three early Rebels turnovers, an all-world performance from their tight end, and a key injury to Bowsher’s defensive unit. To a man, the Bowsher players dug deep, faced with the possibility that this could be the last time they would ever battle together on a football field. The Rebels came storming back, but ultimately fell just short of victory, 35-28. But no one on that Bowsher team hung his head that night, and they made Bowsher fans proud. Many who saw that game still say it is one of the best high school football games ever played in the Toledo City League. Co-captain Mike Reese received TV Channel 24 Player of the Week honors for throwing three touchdowns, running for another, throwing for 253 yards, and rushing for 73 yards. Their rival edged out the mighty Rebels that night, but the Bowsher players gave everything they had and left it all on the field.

Bowsher’s 221 total points led the Toledo City League in 1985. This explosive and balanced offense featured two All-Blue Division lineman and two other lineman who received Honorable or Special Mention, three dynamic running backs, an All-City quarterback in co-captain Reese, an All-District wide receiver in Harris, as well as two other brilliant receivers who received All-Blue Division Honorable or Special Mention. The 1985 offense averaged 22.1 points per game in a conservative, run-focused era. The next closest team scored around 30 fewer total points over the course of the season. The other top teams in the city averaged 19, 16, 15, and 14 points, respectively, per game. The growth spurred by a tough 1984 campaign catapulted the 1985 team into a legitimate contender for the 1985 City League title.

The sum of the 1985 team was greater than its parts; And the parts were many smart, talented, passionate football players. Three players earned First-Team All-City: Ralph Harris at WR, co-captain Mike Reese at QB, and Bryce Tuohy at DB. Four players earned Second-Team All-City: David Colter at LB, Ron Isaacson at DE, Packy Jewell at OT, and Pat Stover at OG. David Colter, Ralph Harris, Packy Jewell, Matt Mason, co-captain Mike Reese, Pat Stover, and Bryce Tuohy received Honorable or Special Mention All-District. Harris secured Honorable Mention All-State on top of his local and regional honors.

Twenty-five seniors initially suited-up in 1985, 17 of them started, and 13 earned All-Blue Division honors. The seven All-Blue Division players were David Colter, Ralph Harris, Ron Isaacson, Packy Jewell, Mike Reese, Pat Stover, and Bryce Tuohy. The six Honorable or Special Mention players were co-captain Rodney Isaacson, Gary Kujawa, Matt Mason, Jim Ray, Ray Rodriguez, and Steve Wagner. Five players from the 1985 team had three years of varsity experience. Co-captain Rodney Isaacson and Steve Robaszkiewicz earned three varsity letters and Packy Jewell, Gary Kujawa, and co-captain Mike Reese had three years of varsity experience.

Quarterback Mike Reese and wide receiver Ralph Harris had record-setting years on offense. Reese set the Bowsher single-season touchdown passing record with 19 touchdowns, along with a career mark of 24 touchdown passes. Harris set Bowsher single season and career touchdown reception records with 13 touchdown receptions and a 21.4 yards per catch average. Reese also set a career a milestone of 2,833 passing yards. These records still stand today, in 2024. The Bowsher Male Athlete of the Year in 1986 was co-captain Mike Reese, primarily for his contributions to the 1985 football team.

Off the field, the team excelled academically as nine seniors earned All-City Academic honors, the most of any City League team in 1985. Packy Jewell was the honorary tri-captain of this academic unit, earning a 4.1 grade point average. Other seniors that received All-City Academic recognition were David Colter, Gary Kujawa, Matt Mason, Jim Ray, co-captain Mike Reese, Dan Schroeder, Bryce Tuohy, and Steve Wagner. Packy Jewell and Bryce Tuohy were also selected as Scholar-Athletes from the Toledo Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. In addition, Mike Reese received the University of Michigan Club of Toledo Honor Trophy Award in 1986 for outstanding achievement in scholarship, athletics, and leadership as selected by the Bowsher faculty.

Three players from the 1985 football team also received recognition in the sport of baseball. Bryce Tuohy was First-Team All-State in 1986, Gary Kujawa was Second-Team All-City in 1985 and 1986, and Mike Reese was All-City Honorable Mention in 1986. Four players from the 1985 team have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame: Bryce Tuohy in 1996, James Worthy in 2000, Mike Reese in 2002, and Gary Kujawa in 2021.

Two players from the 1985 team went on to become four-year starters for their respective college football teams: Bryce Tuohy at RB for Heidelberg University 1986-89 and Mike Reese at QB for Ohio Wesleyan University 1986-89. Tuohy was inducted into the Heidelberg University Football Hall of Fame in 2000, was a three-time MVP of the football team, held the career rushing yards and carries mark until the 1999 season, and was First-Team Football News Gazette All-American and First-Team All-OAC during his senior season. Touhy also continued to excel in baseball, earning MVP honors his junior and senior seasons, was named All-Midwest Region following his senior season, and was a two-time performer on the All-OAC and All-OAC Academic squads. Mike Reese was an All-League performer in 1987 and 1989, was fifth in career yardage at OWU when he finally hung it up, and led his team to a co-conference championship in 1989 as a tri-captain.

Jack Walker Jr, who was a junior on the 1985 team and a key backup at the wide receiver position, went on to have an excellent semi-pro career. Jack played several seasons in Arena League AF2, scoring a league all-time record 45 touchdowns in 2003 with the Peoria Pirates. He was the AF2 Ironman of the Year in 2007 and finished his career as one of AF2’s most prolific two-way players. Jack also played for the Toledo Thunder, where he was First-Team All-American and Team USA. Jack was one of the most dominant wide receivers in minor league football in the 1990’s and the first player ever inducted into the Toledo Thunder Hall of Fame in 2018. Jack also spent time on the Buffalo Bills NFL practice squad.

James Worthy, who was a sophomore and key contributor to the 1985 team, was a standout in minor league football as a defensive back after his college football career. He was inducted into the American Football Association Hall of Fame in May 2022. Worthy played for the Southern Michigan Timberwolves, Detroit Seminoles, and Toledo Thunder from 1993 through 2010. Detroit won three national titles in Worthy’s nine years with the Seminoles. He was the all-time leader in single-season punts returned for touchdowns (eight), also set a season record for punt return yardage (998), and is the career leader in punt return yardage (2,307). Ralph Harris leveraged his amazing 1985 season into an outstanding career at wide receiver for 14 years with the Toledo Thunder and Southern Michigan Timberwolves.

Co-captain Mike Reese was honored along with his father and brother for their athletic and community accomplishments at the 51^st Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet by the Toledo “Wistert Chapter” National Hall of Fame in 2013. Roger Reese Sr, Roger Reese Jr, and Mike all excelled at the quarterback position, the former at Waite and the latter two at Bowsher.

You will not find a closer group of men than the 1985 team. They all went their separate ways after high school. Some attended different colleges and universities, while others jumped right into the workforce and the armed forces. Many moved to different states and one to another country. They started their own families, became leaders in their communities, and advanced in their careers. They also became leaders in the art, automotive, education, entertainment, financial, government, health care, law enforcement, manufacturing, non-profit, philanthropic, and sports industries. But their most special trait is that they remain brothers to this day. They keep in touch and they take care of each other.

All of this was a gift, forged in the crucible of an unforgettable football season at Bowsher High School in the glorious year of 1985.

The 1985 Bowsher Rebels were accomplished on and off the field, prepared by coaches who were at the top in their craft and united in a single purpose. It is impossible to quantify the chemistry of this team, full of lifelong friendships. Each player knew he could (and still can) count on his teammates. The brotherhood remains strong, even today. The 1985 team was a special group of very talented players, truly unique and outrageous personalities, and incredible human beings that came together to light up E.L. Bowsher High School and the Toledo City League.