I’ve been slow to post about the Big 33 game. I think some of it dates back to high school, when it was never that big deal at Lebanon High. Sure the contest would be held in Hershey, some 20 minutes away. But when the only time your high school got mentioned in USA Today was for snapping the nation’s longest HS football losing streak, you don’t send too many players to a state all-star game. Consequently, the interest was never that high. Unlike in Western PA where the WPIAL is always strongly represented.
I also think that the HS All-Star games in the early summer have no where near the cache they once did. Plus, the most important thing for Pitt is that none of the incoming kids get hurt in an exhibition game (i.e., Dorin Dickerson a few years back).
Still, the Pitt kids on the team were the big impact for whatever that is worth.
Performance in the Big 33 game is by no means a portent of individual success in college football.
Dave Wannstedt can hope, though.
Wannstedt’s University of Pittsburgh recruits were making plays all over the place as Pennsylvania blasted Ohio 31-16 in the 51st, and certainly longest, edition of the annual high school all-star game.
The story suggests that the conflict with the North-South game on the same day in Ohio led to diminished talent on the Ohio side, and the one-sided nature of the game. The flaw in that theory is that the Ohio squad had 4 or 5 players heading to Ohio State and another 14 to BCS programs. Ohio’s in-state all-star game the same night, none of the participants will be attending Ohio State. The simpler explanation was that Pennsylvania’s 2008 senior class was one of the most talented in the state in years.
Brief note, in the North-South game, Pitt commit kicker Kevin Harper was 4-4 on PATs and had a 30-yard FG.
Most of the attention was on the offense, where Pitt players got the most attention.
A trio of Pitt recruits did most of the damage for Pennsylvania, which led 24-0 at the half.
Quarterback Tino Sunseri (Pittsburgh Central Catholic) hit Jonathan Baldwin (Aliquippa) on a 10-yard TD pass for the game’s first score. Sunseri rambled 50 yards to the 1 two possessions later and, after a penalty, connected with Cameron Saddler (Gateway) for a 5-yard score to make it 14-0.
Sunseri and Saddler combined for the game’s highlight in the fourth quarter. Sunseri hit the receiver in stride on a middle post pattern, and Saddler broke a tackle sprinting to a 79-yard TD.
Then there was the defensive showing of Jared Holley.
On almost any another night, the individual performance by Pennsylvania defensive back Jarred Holley against Ohio would have been good enough to win the former Easton star MVP honors.
…
Over the years, Holley has also played tailback and wideout for the Red Rovers. But used exclusively at his college position — cornerback — against Ohio, Holley shut down the visitors’ deep pass attack and saved a touchdown with a tackle of tailback Isaiah Peat in the secondary.
Peat broke through the Pennsylvania’s second layer and almost scored before Holley tackled him following a 22-yard gain.
“The Pitt guys came ready to play, we had a lot of fun out there and we were joking the whole game about how the Pitt boys shut [Ohio] down,” said Holley, who was also pursued by the Penn State program, but opted to play for the Panthers and Dave Wannstedt.
Holley had two interceptions as well. The PA MVP was actually a Temple commit in DE Adrian Robinson. For Ohio, it was Michael Shaw who signed with Michigan on signing day — backing out of a verbal to Penn State.
Temple commits actually had a great showing on defense. In addition to Robinson, Defensive Lineman Shahid Paulhill had two sacks, five tackles and four quarterback pressures. Still, even the Philly papers noted Pitt’s incoming talent.
If this game was a glimpse of the future, the University of Pittsburgh will become a Big East contender.
Pitt recruits quarterback Tino Sunseri, wideout Jonathan Baldwin and multi-purpose player Cameron Saddler accounted for most of Pennsylvania’s fireworks.
Sunseri completed 6 of 12 passes for 189 yards and three scores.
Saddler had two receptions for 84 yards and two scores. The 5-7 speedster also carried twice for 14 yards. Baldwin had three receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Baldwin scored on a 10-yard pass from Sunseri that made it a 7-0 contest with 9:00 left in the first quarter. Two possessions later, Sunseri threw a 5-yard TD to Saddler, making it a 14-0 contest with 1:07 remaining in the first quarter. That play was set up by Sunseri’s 50-yard scamper to the 1.
Saddler later caught a 79-yard touchdown pass from Sunseri to give Pennsylvania a 31-10 lead with 9:08 remaining.
Mike Shanahan, another Panthers recruit, also shined. The Norwin wideout caught three passes for 70 yards.
Another amusing aside. Check out the comment at the bottom of the column. Even though, most papers covering the game mentioned how the future Pitt players had a huge impact, since the Philly writer is a Pitt grad — the bias accusation comes from Temple fans. Keep in mind, the excerpt was the only mention of Pitt, and 3 of the 4 TDs by PA involved at least one Pitt commit. Oh, and Sunseri ran for a 50-yard gain to the 1 that set up the other TD.
Ah, the fevered mind of fandom. Something of which apparently has some Penn State fans grumbling about the appearance of the PA team’s unis.
A few Penn State fans have complained in recent years that the Pennsylvania team, while wearing blue and white in its uniforms, has gone with gold helmets, giving the team a serious Pitt flavor.
Gasp. They have found out about the secret propaganda and indoctrination program.
Andrew Taglianetti also made a play on special teams by blocking a field goal attempt. That should be something to help him get on the field early, at least in special teams.
Only Pitt commit not to make a name was Antwuan Reed out of Johnstown. He played both RB and DB in high school but played only on defense in the game. As the only Johnstown area player in the Big 33 game, he did get the local love before the game.
Reed has 129 tackles, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. As a senior, he rushed for 1,915 yards with 55 tackles and an interception and was chose as The Tribune-Democrat Offensive Player of the Year. He was twice named to The Associated Press Class AAA All-State team.
Hours after signing his letter-of-intent to play at Pitt in February, Reed was named an Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year. Photos of him and 49 others similarly honored appeared as a full-page ad in The USA Today.
Jonathan Baldwin got his own puff piece just before the game.
“Obviously, we’re going to try and do some things to get him the ball because he can make a difference,” [North Allegheny Coach Art] Walker said. “I think Pitt has a definite gold mine with him. They should be extremely excited they have him.”
Walker believes Baldwin could have an impact at Pitt early in his career. Baldwin is listed on the Big 33 roster at 6 feet 6, 215 pounds.
“Once he’ll be able to just work on being a receiver every day, he’ll be able to work on little things, like routes,” Walker said. “But he has a great knack already to just go after the football. I have not seen him wait for a pass yet. He goes and gets it, and his hands are amazingly soft for how big they are.
“But the most impressive thing about him, besides being a tremendous athlete, is he is so coachable. We’ll run something, and he’ll say, ‘Coach, I never really ran that route before. Will you show me?’ ”
Baldwin, a two-time Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 selection, also has opened the eyes of his Big 33 teammates.
“I’m in love with Jonathan Baldwin because this dude is freakish,” said Gateway slotback Cam Saddler, also a Pitt recruit. “As long as the ball is in the air and it’s intended for him, he’s going to get it.”
Saddler, never at a loss of words, is one of the emotional leaders of the Pennsylvania team. “At the beginning of the week, Jon was real sensitive,.
“I was throwing jokes at him, and he was taking them deeply. I said, ‘This dude is super sensitive.’ By Tuesday of this week, he caught on. That was the last day he got mad at me.”
Pennsylvania’s other starting receiver is Norwin’s Mike Shanahan, is a Pitt recruit, too.
“I’ll tell you what, Shanahan is a good player, too,” Walker said. “He’s almost the same size as Baldwin, but Mike is actually more polished with his routes. Jonathan just has more speed. I think [Shanahan] is a real sleeper at Pitt.”
Lots of options at WR this fall and into the future.
