Pennsylvania prevails in shortened Big 33 Classic
HERSHEY, Pa. - Before lightning and heavy rain ended the contest at halftime, Imhotep Charter's D.J. Moore hauled in an 86-yard touchdown catch and Great Valley's Ryan Buchholz applied consistent pressure at defensive end.
HERSHEY, Pa. - Before lightning and heavy rain ended the contest at halftime, Imhotep Charter's D.J. Moore hauled in an 86-yard touchdown catch and Great Valley's Ryan Buchholz applied consistent pressure at defensive end.
Their efforts helped Pennsylvania best Maryland, 20-3, Saturday night in the shortened Big 33 Football Classic at HersheyPark Stadium. Weather stopped the 58th annual contest prior to the start of the second half.
On a flea-flicker play late in the second quarter, Moore, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound wideout bound for the University of Maryland, caught Brett Brumbaugh's heave at the 50 and easily raced to the end zone.
The 6-6, 250-pound Buchholz, a Penn State recruit, notched two tackles and kept Maryland quarterbacks Kenji Bahar and David Pindell on the run. He posted a second-quarter hurry.
Pennsylvania increased its lead in the series, which it renewed vs. Maryland in 2013, to 8-3. The Keystone State, which previously was matched against Ohio, rebounded from last year's 31-24, double-overtime loss.
South Fayette quarterback Brett Brumbaugh (Duquesne recruit) shined for the hosts in the latest meeting. He completed 5 of 7 passes for 219 yards and three scores.
In the second quarter, Archbishop Wood's Jarrett McClenton (Villanova) made a 31-yard catch along the sideline. Three plays later, Brumbaugh connected with Woodland Hills wideout Arthur Thompkins for a 26-yard tally that made it 13-3.
Brumbaugh found Harrisburg's Amechie Walker for a 63-yard score on the game's first play from scrimmage. Early in the second quarter, Maryland cut the gap in half on Sean Bowling's 23-yard field goal.
Just before the break, Coatesville cornerback Ahkema Evans (Rhode Island) picked off Bahar's pass at the Maryland 29 and returned it 24 yards. But Pennsylvania fumbled the ball away on the next play.
Pennsylvania was also aided on defense by George Washington end Shareef Miller (Penn State) and Imhotep linebacker Shaquille Jones (Illinois).
Helping protect Brumbaugh and West Allegheny's Andrew Koester were Penncrest's Jonah Jackson (Rutgers) and Roman Catholic's Gavin Wiggins (Youngstown State).
Maryland 0 3 - 3
Pennsylvania 6 14 - 20
P: Amechie Walker 63 pass from Brett Brumbaugh (kick failed)
M: FG Sean Bowling 23
P: Arthur Thompkins 26 pass from Brumbaugh (Jacob Bissell kick)
P: D.J. Moore 86 pass from Brumbaugh (Bissell kick)