Avon, Avon Lake Players Contribute to Big 33 Football Win

offensive lineman T.K Burk and wide receiver Matt Eckhardt contributed to Ohio's thumping of Pennsylvania in the PNC Big 33 Football Classic game played in Hershey, PA. 

Burk will be going to the University of Findlay and Eckhardt will attend the University of Toledo this fall. 

The Big 33 Football Classic began in 1957. It's an all-star game showcasing Pennsylvania and Ohio ‘s outstanding high school football players. Now entering its 55th year, the classic is often described as “The Super Bowl of High School Football.” Ohio snapped a 12-12 series tie with its big win on June 16 over Pennsylvania.

The PNC Big 33 Football Classic has pitted Pennsylvania against many challengers over the years: Pennsylvania East vs Pennsylvania West, Ohio, Maryland, Texas and All of America. 

Since 1985, more than $3.9 million has been raised for academic scholarships. This year, the Big 33 awarded 79 academic scholarships to high school seniors throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio. 

Here's a game recap from Big33.org :

The 54th PNC Big 33 Classic was a convincing display of Ohio superiority from start to finish. Showcasing a dazzling cast of playmakers on offense and a downright destructive front four on defense, the Buckeye state walloped Pennsylvania 50-14. Not only was this Ohio’s third consecutive win in the series, it also was Ohio's largest margin of victory in the Big 33 and the most points ever scored by an Ohio side.

Ursuline’s Akise Teague lived up to his reputation as Ohio’s Mr. Football, scoring touchdowns of 52, 20 and 40 yards, and rolling up 168 total yards on 10 touches to earn Most Valuable Player honors.

After Pennsylvania had briefly closed to within 14-7 midway through the second quarter following a turnover and short drive capped by Sean Barowski’s 5-yard touchdown, Ohio zoomed to a commanding 28-7 halftime lead. Glenville quarterback Cardale Jones hit Devin Smith for a 54-yard TD strike, and then came the real back breaker – a record-setting 101-yard interception return for a touchdown by Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s Doran Grant – just as Pennsylvania’s offense looked to be getting untracked.

Teague’s final score made it 35-7 in the third quarter and Pennsylvania was unable to make it a game the rest of the way. The Ohio defensive line, led by Elyria’s Chase Farris and Canton McKinley’s Steve Miller, was simply too big, too fast and too athletic for the Pennsylvania front and held the Keystone side to minus-16 rushing yards.

Ohio State recruit Jones threw for 160 of Ohio’s 264 passing yards, with future OSU teammate Smith racking up 103 yards receiving. Barowski, a fullback from Harrisburg’s Bishop McDevitt, was named Pennsylvania’s MVP.