Big 33 Game
2010 PNC Big 33 Game Recap
Most fans will not remember the sloppy play in the first 46 minutes of the 53rd Big 33 Football Classic. The first half is one both teams would like to forget, with the sides tallying a combined seven first downs, 137 total yards and 215 penalty yards. The only highlight was when Ohio punter Terry Spear kicked the ball out of the end zone after a bad snap for a safety, giving the Keystone State a 2-0 lead.
Things picked up in the third, as the PA quarterbacks Tyler Smith from Wilson headed to University of Maryland and Libery High School and Pitt recruit, Anthony Gonzalez picked apart the Ohio secondary, going 6-for-6 and 129 yards. Smith hurled the biggest dagger, a 48-yard bomb to Alex Kenney, giving Pennsylvania a 9-0 lead.
A short 30 seconds later, Ohio MVP Verlon Reed who is headed to Ohio State, danced away from Pennsylvania MVP Rich Gray from Woodland Hills headed to Kent State University and ripped off a 74-yard touchdown run. Ohio then took its first lead after Spear booted a 33-yard field goal with 3:41 left.
It looked like PA’s Gonzalez was going to play the hero when he found a wide open Andrew Carswell on a skinny post. The Pitt recruit raced 65 yards to pay dirt with 1:30 left. The two-point conversion failed, but Pennsylvania had a 15-10 advantage.
One thing spectators will remember, especially Ohio fans, is quarterback Mark Myers’ hitting speedy running back Prince-Tyson Gulley from Akron Garfield headed to Syracuse University, on a 5-yard out and up that turned into a 53-yard gain to the Pennsylvania 22. After a 5-yard penalty moved the ball up to the 17, Myers targeted Ohio State recruit Christian Bryant on an out to give the Buckeye State an 18-15 decision and bragging rights for the second season in a row.
Originating in 1957, the PNC Big 33 Football Classic is one of the nation’s finest scholastic All-Star Football Games highlighting showcasing Pennsylvania and Ohio ’s outstanding high school athletes. Now entering its 53rd year, the classic is often described as “The Super Bowl of High School Football.” The rivalry will continue into 2010 with Pennsylvania leading the overall series with Ohio 9-8.
Many players are recruited by Division I colleges and universities and go on to professional careers in the NFL. There has never been a Super Bowl without a Big 33 Alumni. Some of our most well-known alums include: Tony Dorsett, Matt Millen, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, John Cappelletti, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Rocket Ismail, Kerry Collins and more recently Kyle Brady, Orlando Pace, Ricky Watters, Antonio Freeman, Ed McCaffrey, Marvin Harrison, Sean Gilbert, Curtis Martin and 2006 Super Bowl Champion, Ben Roethlisberger.
“Much More Than a Game” The PNC Big 33 Football Classic promotes excellence in students and the community by involving players, cheerleaders, buddies, host families, and scholarship winners in a variety of activities during game week.
The 2010 game week will run from Saturday, June 12 to Saturday, June 19 with kick off at 7 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium.