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Pa.’s Big 33 coach Morgans on offensive
By PAT HUGGINS
Daily News Sportswriter
Lebanon Daily News
HERSHEY — Jim Morgans is an old-school kind of football coach, devoted to a Wing-T offense that is light on gimmicks and improvisation and heavy on fundamentally sound players who do what they’re told.
But the Parkland High School gridiron boss is not so old-school that he won’t take into consideration what the fans who’ll file into Hersheypark Stadium on Saturday evening for the 51st Big 33 Football Classic want to see.
In addition to a third straight Pennsylvania win over Ohio in the nation’s most storied high school football all-star game, Keystone State head coach Morgans knows those in attendance want to see Pa.’s best show off their athleticism in a wide-open offense that’s as entertaining as it is productive.
Good news, people. Looks like you’ll get your wish sometime soon after the opening kickoff, which is slated for 7 p.m. The contest will be televised live on CN8. As you may have heard a few million times over the years, there has never been a Super Bowl that did not include a Big 33 alumnus.
“It’s different. It’s a lot of fun,” Morgans said yesterday, following a morning practice at Hershey High School, of the attack that Pennsylvania plans to bring to the field Saturday night. “It’s certainly not my offense. We have a pretty wide-open offense. I think we have (skill players). We’ve got kids that can run and do some pretty amazing things.”
Among those athletes
at Morgans’ disposal are running backs Mike Jones (Bishop McDevitt) and Eric Reynolds (Central Bucks South), who are bound for Syracuse and Boston College, respectively, and quarterback and Pitt recruit Tino Sunseri, who led Pittsburgh Central Catholic to the Class AAAA state title last fall with a 21-0 win over Morgans’ Parkland squad.
In addition, there are six future Penn Staters on the Keystone State squad, including Manheim Township kicker David Soldner, who expects to walk on at Happy Valley.
Soldner and Jones are two of eight District Three representatives on the team, along with Muhlenberg wide receiver Vaughn Carraway (Temple), Trinity lineman R.J. Dill (Maryland), Central York lineman Wayne Luis Tribue (Temple) and Harrisburg teammates Brandon Ware, Josh Potts and Adrian Robinson, a trio of defensive studs. Ware is headed to Penn State, Potts to Villanova and Robinson to Temple.
In all, it’s a group that Morgans believes can continue Pennsylvania’s winning ways against an Ohio squad that figures to be formidable despite the fact that the Big 33 again conflicts with Ohio’s North-South all-star clash.
“It’s coming together,” said Morgans. “I’m pretty optimistic about our kids’ ability to learn what we’re trying to get across to them. They’ve just gotta polish things up, tie the loose ends together, and I think we’ll be all right.”
Like most teams and their coaches, the 2008 Pennsylvania group is also thoroughly enjoying the extracurricular and altruistic aspects of the Big 33, including the Buddy program and the visits to area hospitals.
But Morgans and his players are also mindful of the ultimate goal of Big 33 week, which is to walk off the field Saturday night with a win.
“That’s what we’re here for,” said Morgans. “Ultimately, that’s what it comes down to. There’s a lot of other things that go on that are unbelievable. Taking care of the physically challenged, the special needs kids, visiting hospitals. That’s all very touching. And to see how into it our kids get, that’s great.
“But we’re here to win a football game, and our kids know that. There’s a bunch of competitive people here, and (Ohio) has competitive people. That’s the bottom line when we strap it on Saturday night. That’s what it comes down to.”
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Yancich hurt, out of Big 33
By Mike Kovak, Staff writer
[email protected]
Michael Yancich won't change his opinion of all-star high school football games. Not even after what happened earlier this week during practice for the Big 33 Football Classic.
Yancich, a Penn State recruit and the 2007 Observer-Reporter Player of the Year, hyperextended his left elbow and suffered a hairline fracture in the same arm on Monday.
The recent Trinity High School graduate will not play in the game, which takes place Saturday night at Hersheypark Stadium. The recovery period for the injury is three to four weeks.
"I'm really bummed I can't play but if you look at the bigger picture, this is an all-star game," Yancich said Wednesday from Hershey. "It means a lot to play in the game and it's a tremendous honor to be selected, but you don't want it to interfere with what's more important."
For Yancich, that's becoming a part of Penn State's linebacker tradition.
"Someone asked me at practice that if you could still come out here even after getting injured, would you. Absolutely I would," Yancich added. "Whether it's soccer, football, baseball or basketball, you always run the risk of injury."
Yancich's injury occurred during a pile-up.
"My arm just bent the wrong way. I heard a pop when it happened," he said. "I've hyperextended my elbow before but, after that, I couldn't move my arm at all."
Yancich opted to remain in Hershey, where he's helping the Pennsylvania roster prepare for Ohio.
"The coaches have been teasing me about being part of the coaching staff now," Yancich said. "I've been staying in the back of the defensive huddle and helping the guys correct their mistakes. From where I'm watching, I have a good view of things."
Yancich is one of three local players on Pennsylvania's roster.
Trinity teammate and Ohio University recruit Brandon Weaver, one of three Hillers' linebackers to receive a Division I scholarship, is playing defensive end. Pittsburgh Central Catholic's Andrew Taglianetti, who lives in the South Fayette School District, is a defensive back. Taglianetti will play for Pitt.
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A DAY TO PLAY - Big 33 athletes play ball at the Masonic Children’s Home on June 9, as a way to get residents excited about the upcoming game between Pennsylvania and Ohio on June 14. Submitted Photo
Big 33 gives back locally
by Matt McComas, Press And Journal Staff : 6/10/2008Senior citizens attend a pep rally and tailgate, while children get to play with the big boys. On June 9, Pennsylvania’s Big 33 team scored a touchdown with the Masonic Village in Elizabethtown.
Players, coaches, and cheerleaders divided into two groups and visited the health care center and children’s home.
Football players at the children’s home engaged in a game of touch football with the children. Cheerleaders gave lessons to the children. Andrew Taglianetti, of Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, expressed his reaction to the event. “It’s a good experience,” Taglianetti said. “We get to make their day.” Taglianetti is enrolled at University of Pittsburgh, where he hopes to play safety.
The second group provided entertainment at the health care center by treating the seniors to a pep rally and tailgate party. Therapeutic recreation supervisor Kirk Rakos emceed the event. “We wanted to give the residents something to get excited about, not just for today, but the future as well,” Rakos said. After the pep rally, players and cheerleaders signed autographs and took pictures with the residents.
Local representation was on hand as Lower Dauphin cheerleader Hollyn Paul recalls her day. “It’s fun talking to people,” said Paul, a 2008 graduate of LDHS. “I talked to one senior who lived near (Indiana University of Pennsylvania,) which is where I’m going to college,” she added. Paul also noted it was a dream of hers to become a Big 33 cheerleader.
Paul was not the only Falcon cheerleader on hand. Lena Lupey expressed her thoughts on the event. “It’s interesting to meet new people,” Lupey said. “It’s nice to bring people together.” Lupey didn’t think about becoming a Big 33 cheerleader, but said she feels a sense of accomplishment now that she has. Lupey is enrolled at St. Joseph’s University, in Philadelphia, where she will continue cheering.
In addition to Paul and Lupey, area schools will send several other cheerleaders to the Big 33 game. Steelton-Highspire High School sends Brittany Alderman, Cachet Haigh, and Chelsea Hess-Moore to the game. Brianna Bennett, of Middletown Area High School, will also cheer at the classic.
With the game around the corner, assistant coaches Rick Pennypacker and Mike Milano agreed the event was a nice break. “Not only did we get to reach out to the community, but we got our boys inside,” Pennypacker said. Milano added to that sentiment. “We know we had to practice in the heat, but we needed to be sure they are fresh for the game too,” Milano said.
Pennsylvania will battle Ohio in the 51st annual PNC Big 33 Football Classic on Saturday, June 14. The game will be contested in the Hersheypark Stadium at 7 p.m.
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Stankiewitch set to display skills in Big 33 Classic
RONNI MOORE/STAFF PHOTO Blue Mountain's Matt Stankiewitch comes off the field after Tuesday's practice at Hershey High School for Saturday's 51st annual Big 33 Football Classic.
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Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 12:23 PM EDT
HERSHEY — The intensity of the practice matched the 95-degree temperatures.
Pennsylvania Big 33 coach Jim Morgans shouted for his charges — 34 of the best gridiron stars the Keystone State has to offer — to run all the way off the Hershey High School practice field for water.
Recent Blue Mountain graduate Matt Stankiewitch joined the group for a water break then sprinted back onto the field for some more reps at center.
That’s where the high school offensive and defen-
sive tackle will line up when his Pennsylvania all-stars take on an Ohio all-star team at 7 p.m. Saturday night at Hersheypark Stadium in the 51st annual Big 33 Football Classic. The game will be televised live on CN8.
Center was an unfamiliar position for Stankiewitch in November, when the Eagles were capturing the District 11 Class AAA title.
But the 6-foot-4, 295-pound Penn State recruit is getting used to it.
“It’s been going good,” Stankiewitch said. “I’m getting used to snapping the ball and then blocking. The adjustment’s been going well.”
During practice Tuesday, each of Stankiewitch’s shotgun snaps were crisp to Keystone quarterback Tino Sunseri, a Pittsburgh Central Catholic product headed to the University of Pittsburgh.
Stankiewitch did get a jump on preparing, working for a week at the position in January at the inaugural Under Armour All-America High School Football Game in Orlando, Fla. He didn’t get any reps at center during the game, playing guard in his Silver team’s 17-14 win.
“It’s very similar,” the Penn State signee said of his experience with the two all-star games. “We have very good talent (here).”
Although official practice for the Big 33 commenced Saturday, Stankiewitch feels the Pennsylvania club has built strong chemistry that could prove the difference in the contest.
“We have very, very good chemistry,” Stankiewitch said.
Stankiewitch is joined on the Pennsylvania squad by fellow Penn State recruits Pete Massaro of Marple Newtown, Brandon Ware of Harrisburg, Mike Yancich of Trinity and Mark Wedderburn of Cardinal O’Hara. Kicker David Soldner will also walk on for the Nittany Lions.
He’ll also be facing a future teammate in Ohio linebacker Michael Zordich of Cardinal Mooney.
As for the heat, Stankiewitch said it hasn’t been too much of a factor despite temperatures in the 90s that aren’t expected to drop too much through the end of the week.
“It’s super hot out here,” he said. “A lot of guys are sweating it out, but putting it back in between practices.”
Stankiewitch, Blue Mountain’s first Big 33 player since Dave Schmidt in 1972, credited Eagles’ coach Chuck Kutz with preparing him.
“Coach Kutz really pushed us a lot. (We did) a lot of hard work at Blue Mountain,” the Orwigsburg resident said.
Pennsylvania has taken the past two games from the Buckeye State, winning 28-10 last year and 61-42 in 2006.
“It’s definitely a big rivalry,” Stankiewitch said. “(It shows) which football is better (that year).
“It’s gonna be a great experience.”
Game info
What: 51st annual Big 33 Football Classic
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hersheypark Stadium
Local Connection: Blue Mountain's Matt Stankiewitch is a center for the Pennsylvania team
TV: Game will be televised live on CN8
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| Big 33 Swings Into High Gear |
Mike Yancich. |
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FightOnState.com
Posted Jun 9, 2008 |
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Seven future Nittany Lions dot the rosters of the Pennsylvania and Ohio teams. Find out what is happening in Hershey, Pa., in our exclusive practice reports.
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HERSHEY, Pa. — In spite of sweltering summer weather, topping out in the upper 90s, practice was in full swing this weekend in Hershey as players and coaches geared up for the 51st edition of the Big 33 Football Classic.
The Big 33 has long served as a showcase for the best talent Pennsylvania and Ohio have to offer. It seems like just yesterday when Paul Posluszny and Sean Lee left their marks on the game, and Penn State has traditionally been the college choice of many players selected for the Big 33 classic.
This year, Penn State is represented by six players on the Pennsylvania squad,including defensive linemen Pete Massaro, Brandon Ware, Mark Wedderburn and Matt Stankeiwitch, linebacker Mike Yancich, and walk on kicker David Soldner. The Nittany Lions are also represented on the Ohio side of the line by legacy linebacker Michael Zordich.
The Pennsylvania team is coached this year by Jim Morgans of Parkland HS. As of Monday evening the defense, led by the strong line, is ahead of the offense. However the offense, led by Parkland quarterback John Laub and Pittsburgh Central Catholic product Tino Sunseri, seems to be in sync. Sunseri is destined for Pitt, along with several other members of the Pennsylvania squad including Jonathan Baldwin and Mike Shanahan, a polished pair of receivers who will help Pitt to take the pressure off tailback LeSean McCoy.
The Pennsylvania talent level appears to be quite good, and the secondary matched up well with the Keystone State receivers, although Baldwin stood out. Temple bound WR Vaughn Carraway played some corner during the evening session, and even at 170 lbs was a real problem for the Pennsylvania receivers. He looks to be a good pickup for the Owls.
During the afternoon session, gasps rose from the gathered crowd as Yancich was sandwiched between two players and came off the field holding his elbow. Yancich sat out the remainder of the afternoon and the evening session with his left arm in a sling and his elbow on ice. The training staff reported that they are moderately concerned, as Yancich hyperextended the elbow, and they will be evaluating the potential for collateral ligament damage.
It has been several years since Penn State has been so well represented at the Big 33 game. Tomorrow we will take a look back at the last Pennsylvania squad that fielded six future Nittany Lions, and take a look at what became of them. That class featured arguably one of the greatest Penn Staters ever to play in Posluszny. Also tomorrow we will begin our annual interview series with the Penn Staters of the Big 33.
Keep checking in with FightOnState.com all week, your home for the latest news and |
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