Coach Wiser Helps Pennsylvania To Victory In 2016 Big 33 Classic (06/19/16)

Clarion Area Head Coach Larry Wiser got to fulfill a dream this past week, working as an assistant coach for the Pennsylvania Team in the 59th Big 33 Classic, the biggest Football All-Star game in the state, played at Hershey Park Stadium.

Coach Wiser (center), wife Annie (left), son Ryan (right), Clarion line coach Nate McClaine (second from left)

The game, played Saturday (June 18th) night, saw Pennsylvania emerge with a 26-14 win over Maryland. Coach Wiser, who worked with the linebackers along with Athens Area’s Jack Young III, was very instrumental in victory, with their charges along with the rest of the defense turning in a stellar performance.

Pennsylvania’s Miles Sanders, the PA MVP scored three touchdowns. The first came on a pass from Parkland’s Devante Cross, A University of Virginia recruit, in the first quarter to give PA a 6-0 lead. Sanders, the number one ranked all-purpose back in the country, a Woodland Hills alum and Penn State recruit, ran another touchdown in the second quarter, to move the lead to 12-0.

Jo-El Shaw, also from Woodland Hills, a Syracuse recruit ran for a touchdown and with the PAT the North held a 19-0 lead at the half.

Sanders’ final touchdown came on a run in the third quarter and with the successful PAT, Pennsylvania led 26-0, going into the final stanza.

Wallenpaupack linebacker and Rutgers recruit Rashawn Battle with coach Wiser

The Keystone State defense held Maryland off the scoreboard until just 5:53 was left in the game, when Dae’lun Darien, who is headed to Penn State, hauled in a pass from Shawn Bliss. Martin Foray Jr. had a 62 yard interception return, with less than two minutes left. The kick was successful after each touchdown and the final was set at 26-14.

The Big 33 had more of a local flavor than just coach Wiser, as Pennsylvania’s head coach Mike Matta, from Downingtown East,is a former Clarion University assistant coach, and Clarion Area’s Brendan Miller was announced as one of the recipients of a one-thousand dollar Big 33 Scholarship at halftime. Miller’s scholarship award comes one day after he received a five-hundred dollar Lezzer Lumber Scholarship at the Lezzer Lumber Classic at Altoona’s Mansion Park. Miller, who will continue his athletic and academic career at Gannon was a defensive back for the North Squad in the Lezzer game.

One of the big highlights of the Big 33, each year is the matching up of players and cheerleaders with Buddies. The Buddies are special needs individuals. This is a beautiful community service effort of the Big 33 organization. It is really touching to see the bonds the players and cheerleaders develop with their Buddies.

This year’s Honorary Chairman is Jared Odrick, who played for Pennsylvania in the 2006 game, went on to play at Penn State and is currently a defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars. An interesting note: there has never been a Super Bowl where at least one Big 33 alum has participated.

Coach Wiser shared about his experience after the game:

“What a great experience, coming down (to Hershey) and not just meeting the kids. But I do want to take a minute and say something about the kids. They were awesome, working with their Buddies all week.

“The Big 33 had a really nice setup. We had a youth camp. And my players, the PA players, worked with youth that come in one night. Then another night they had kind of a pep rally. They brought buddies in from everywhere. Every player had their own buddy. They gave them a gift and they get out on the floor and did different games with them. But then they get out and they were dancing with them. And I’ll tell you what. It kind of brought tears to your eyes. So regardless of whatever happened tonight (in the game), that was pretty significant for me.

“But, as you know, as always we get up there and I thought the defense played very well. We worked hard all week.  It was a lot of fun.”

Coach Wiser, who has been an assistant in the East/West Classic, an assistant  and later head coach in the Lezzer Lumber Classic, can scratch another one off. He said, “One of my bucket list things, you know. I’m glad I did it, glad I did it.”

Can’t forget those closest to you. Coach Wiser said, “I’ve got to thank my family for allowing me to be away a week too.”

Coach Wiser concluded by saying, “I worked linebackers; worked with Jack Young. The defensive staff really had a great week and so forth. We meshed really well. I think offensively too. Mike Matta was a really good guy to work with. He’s intense.”

Congratulations to Coach Wiser and to the whole Pennsylvania team and to Brendan on receiving the Big 33 Scholarship.