HILLTOPPERS VS CRUSADERS…1980’S… PART 1

This story features, in two parts, two great teams who year in year out played in maybe the toughest conference in the state during the 1980’s.  The teams were directed by two Hall of Fame coaches who are representative of the most outstanding members in their profession.

In picking the top game of for the story concerning “THE 1980’s GREATS”, I ran across a series of usually close and exciting encounters between the two great ball clubs:  Milwaukee Marquette Academy and Waukesha Catholic Memorial.  The two schools played each other 16 times during the decade…once each during the regular season and six times in the WISAA playoffs.  Often, the regular season game was for bragging rights in winning the Catholic Metro Conference.  And often their games were classic battles known for terrific defense.  Only a few were blowouts.

Marquette played their first ever game in 1909, tying Milwaukee Pio Nono 0-0.  The Fighting Hilltoppers have won more games than any other school in Wisconsin football history with 775 all-time wins.  In the 1980’s the school was coached by Dick Basham who, from 1972-2012 had an 350-87 record, currently #5 on the state’s all-time win list.

Memorial with 527 career victories as of 2024, opened in 1949, played a freshman and junior varsity schedule in it’s first two years.  In 1951 they played an independent schedule before formally joining the Catholic Conference at the varsity level in 1952.  One of those games in 1951 was against future Catholic Conference powerhouse, Milwaukee Don Bosco, an upset tie, yes, tie, 6-6. 

The Hilltoppers and the Crusaders first played on September 21, 1952 with Marquette winning 31-0.  From 1952-79, 28-years, Marquette dominated the series 18-5-1.  The Catholic Conference, because of adding new schools in the 1940’s and 1950’s growing from six teams to 10 (11 teams in the 1960’s).  The Conference split into two divisions for the 1960 and 1961 seasons before reverting back to 10-11 teams in a round robin schedule so the two schools didn’t play five times in the 1952-79 period.  Currently, Bill Young has coached Waukesha Catholic Memorial since 1978 and is #3 on the state’s all-time coaching win list with a record of 413-127.

1980 was Dick Basham’s 9th season at the school and he had a then career 59-21 record at the school.  In 1979, Bill Youngs 2nd at Memorial was a very good one as he led his Crusaders to a 10-1 record and the WISAA state title.

1980

The two schools met on Saturday, October 11 at Waukesha South’s home field which they shared with Memorial.  The Crusaders was hoping for a win after losing earlier to Thomas More.  If they lost, they would probably be out of the race for the conference title.  The team had two goals going into the season.  One was to beat Marquette and the other was to win the conference title.  Memorial outgained Marquette 319-76 yet they lost 21-13.  How could that be?  First, a 31-yard punt return in the first quarter, an 88-yard kickoff return following a Crusader score and a third quarter run for a touchdown after making their only drive of the game gave Marquette the win.  Six times Waukesha had the ball inside the 20-yard line but could only score twice.  Marquette would stumble and end up with a 6-3 record for 3rd place in the Metro, but Memorial would make the playoffs and end with an 8-3 record and second place, losing to Marshfield Columbus 19-12.

1981

With a 2-2 record Memorial was facing their third WISAA top ranked team in four weeks.  Marquette was undefeated, 4-0 and headed to a second place showing in the conference after pulling out a 14-7 victory.  Memorial scored late to pull close but failed to put up another drive.  It was a tough defensive battle for each school.  The Hilltoppers would lose the next week to Thomas More and then again in the playoffs to the Cavaliers and finish with a 8-2 record.  The Crusaders would end with a 5-4 record.

1982

Both schools were undefeated early in the season when the two met and the Waukesha Freeman newspaper declared the match up as the most exciting game of the season.  Marquette had posted four consecutive shutouts to start the year while Memorial had only allowed 11 points in their first four games.  It looked to be a defensive battle, and it was.  Memorial scored first and then Marquette replied with a score in the second period and the game was tied 7-7.  Neither team generated a lot of offense, in fact, the Crusaders held the Hilltoppers to one first down and 26 yards in the second half.  After regulation the two were still all even.  Memorial got the ball first in overtime and had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by kicker Bob Vitale.  Marquette next took the ball to the 1-foot line.  On fourth down nose-guard Pat Rankin broke through the line and stopped Marquette’s Tom Klar for a two-yard loss to seal the win, 10-7.  Memorial would finish the year with a 9-1 record, win the Metro title but lose to Marquette 19-7 in the WISAA semi-finals. 

Tom Klar got his revenge in the second matchup as he led the Fighting Hilltoppers with 138 rushing yards on 25 carries and his team’s final score.  Memorial dominated in the first half taking a 7-0 lead but they couldn’t hold back Marquette.  The Crusaders fumbled on two of their first second half possessions and along with adjustments made by Dick Basham with his offensive line that allowed his quarterback, Chris Rolof, to have more time to pass and that opened up the run game.  Memorials offense was non-existent in the second half as Marquette dominated defensively.  The Hilltoppers would finish 10-1, finish 2nd to Memorial in the Metro and take the state title a few days later with a 7-0 win over Marshfield Columbus.  

1983

Waukesha Memorial again had major goals for the season, 1983.  First was to take down Milwaukee Marquette, second was to win the Metro Conference and third, go deep in the playoffs.  Marquette’s goals were similar (But of course to beat Memorial).  The Hilltoppers didn’t return a strong squad and as a result when the two schools met, even though they had a 5-2 record they were not strong offensively.  A close 3-0 defeat at the hands of Milwaukee Pius in game two and later a 21-6 loss to Thomas More the week before they would meet Memorial.  The Hilltoppers were looking to change things around.  With a goal of winning, Marquette however had again issues with moving the ball against a stubborn Memorial defense gaining only 9-yards rushing vs. Memorials 290 and in holding Marquette’s offense back Waukesha took advantage, winning 20-0.  Marquette would end the year in 4th place in the Metro with a 6-3 record.  Memorial was undefeated during the regular season, won the Metro and end up losing in the second round of the playoffs to Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs (The eventual champion) 9-2 to end the year with a 10-1 record.

1984

The two schools met early in the season on September 15th and Memorial again had Marquette’s number.  The Crusaders outgained the Hilltoppers 287-129 and despite having five turnovers Memorial won 14-0.  Waukesha would have scored at least three more times if they hadn’t handed the ball over.  In the end, this meeting was not one of their classic battles.  Marquette placed 2nd in the Metro, made the playoffs, losing to St. Mary’s Springs 15-6 in the first round and finished with an 8-2 record.  Memorial again won the Metro, going undefeated until the second round of the playoffs, losing to Springs, 19-7 to finish 10-1.

1985

1985 was the first season of five consecutive years where the two schools played each other twice.  The roles were reversed from 1984 as Marquette waltzed to a 27-0 victory in their first meeting and this time, even though they only led 3-0 at halftime.  Their offense showed up in the second half gaining 355 yards to Memorials 108.  This was the Hilltoppers year as they would go 12-0 and win the WISAA title.  Memorial had a down year going 5-5 but they did make the playoffs. 

After opening the season with three consecutive losses, one to Marquette, Memorial won five of their next six games and surprised many as being named to fill a spot in the playoffs.  However, Marquette coach Dick Basham felt that Bill Youngs Crusaders earned their spot.  Unfortunately for the Crusaders, Memorials first playoff game would be against Marquette. 

What turned things around for Youngs team during the regular season was the fact that they were passing the ball much more than in the past and generally more effectivly.  Both coaches expected a close game.  However, it became the Chris Wagner show as Marquette won 24-7.  Wagner, a first team all-stater, took the opening kickoff back as he zig-zagged 85-yards for the score.  Wagner, who also played wide receiver and defensive back caught three passes for 79 yards and two scores…38 and 30 yards all from all-state quarterback Dan Novotny. As it turned out Marquette barely won the offensive statistical battle as they gained 109 yards on the ground and 127 (7-14-1) through the air for a total of 236 yards.  Because the run game wasn’t going for Memorial, gaining only 61 yards, they reverted to throwing the ball on 17-35-2-169-0 for a team total of 230 yards.  The 35 passing attempts was the most, up to this time, in the Bill Young era.  The 1985 team for Marquette was rated by me as #7 on my story entitled “THE 1980’S GREATS…PART 1”.

More on these two teams’ next time.