The Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association announced on Tuesday that it has canceled the 2020 Big 33 Football Classic and all events associated with the game, which had been scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“Due to the uncertainty of the weeks ahead with the coronavirus constraints placed upon each individual, our schools, families, and the organizations and businesses that help make this holiday weekend one of the best in the country, we cannot move forward in holding these events or our exciting football games,” the executive director Garry Cathell in a press release. “Our top priority is the health, safety and welfare of all of our participants, families, workers, sponsors, and fans.”
The game was to be played on May 25 at Landis Field near Harrisburg, with a team from Pennsylvania hosting a visiting squad from Maryland.
Ten WPIAL players were selected to be a part of the game: Gateway linebacker Tui Brown, Peters Township wide receiver Josh Casili, Thomas Jefferson defensive tackle Logan Danielson, Thomas Jefferson offensive lineman Mac Duda, Hempfield defensive end Cole Graham, Baldwin defensive back Naseer Penn, Penn Hills athlete Aakeem Snell, Central Catholic linebacker Gus Sunseri, Blackhawk linebacker Marques Watson-Trent and Pine-Richland defensive back Levi Wentz.
With all of those seniors committed to play college football and hoping to begin preparations for that season as early as June, postponing the event was not practical.
The Big 33 game is one of the most historic and important high school all-star games in the country and has been played since 1957. Teams from Pennsylvania have faced teams of players from Texas, Ohio and Maryland over the years. A Big 33 alumnus has been a participant in every Super Bowl played.
