65th Big 33 slated to kickoff on Monday

Pennsylvania looking to extend recent dominance; Maryland seeking to breakthrough on offense

HARRISBURG, PA – The 65th Annual Big 33 Football Classic, featuring a match-up of the top senior stars from Pennsylvania and Maryland, is set for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff on Monday, May 30th (Memorial Day) at Harrisburg’s Rocco Ortenzio Stadium.

The Big 33 is called the “Super Bowl of High School Football” for one very impressive reason. There has never been NFL Super Bowl played that didn’t include at least one player who had appeared in the Big 33 Classic. The streak was extended at Super Bowl LVI when Tyler Boyd of Clairton High School (PA) appeared in the big game with the Cincinnati Bengals. Boyd starred for Pennsylvania in the 2013 Big 33 contest where he set a record by scoring four touchdowns in the first half. The streak began when Herb Adderly of Northeast High School (PA) played for the Green Bay Packers in the very first Super Bowl.

This year marks the ninth consecutive meeting between Pennsylvania and Maryland and the 17th battle between the border states in the event’s history. In the past, Pennsylvania has also played Texas and Ohio, as well as splitting into East and West teams and battling for in-state bragging rights.

In the current series, Pennsylvania has been dominant, owning a 6-2 record against Maryland since 2013. PA is 13-3 overall against Maryland dating back to when the teams played in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

To be successful on Monday, Maryland will need to find a way to be generate some offense. Maryland has not scored a touchdown in the game since losing 44-33 in 2017. Maryland did win the 2018 game, 9-6, on three field goals, but was shutout in both 2019 and 2021. The 2020 game did not take place because of COVID-19.

Leading that effort will be University of Maryland bound quarterback Jayden Sauray from Henry Wise High School. The dual-threat four-star QB was an early priority on the recruiting trail for Maryland head coach Mike Locksley. He led Wise to the 4A Maryland State Championship as a sophomore and completed 196-of-291 passes for 4,026 yards and 60 touchdowns in two seasons as the team's starter. He also rushed for 908 yards on 102 carries and 17 more touchdowns.

Pennsylvania has a host of Division I talent at its disposal including undeclared quarterback Joey Daniels who led Mount Lebanon to the Class 6A state championship. He will be joined in the game by two of his high school weapons in running back Alex Tecza and wide receiver Eli Heidenreich, both on their way to the U.S. Naval Academy.