BlueWhiteIllustrated.com - Solid 'D' leads to Pa. 'W'

June 14, 2008

Sean Fitz
BlueWhiteIllustrated.com Recruiting Analyst

The Pennsylvania squad set out to do two things against border rival Ohio in the 51st Big 33 Classic at Hersheypark Stadium - contain the big plays and control the line of scrimmage.

It passed both tests, maybe even easier than was expected, in a 31-16 victory on Saturday evening in front of roughly 7,000 fans.

"We played great, it's just an unbelievable group of kids," said Pennsylvania head coach Jim Morgans, who coaches at Parkland High School in Allentown. "I thought that maybe it would take them a little bit to settle down, but once we got into about the second quarter or so, they just couldn't handle our kids.

Due to the game's rules, both teams had to employ a 5-2 defense and play man-to-man coverage, but Pennsylvania used its edge along both the offensive and defensive lines to keep the Ohio speed, namely running backs Shaw and Cincinnati bound running back Isaiah Pead, in check.

"I think we did a great job up front," said Pennsylvania defensive end Pete Massaro, who will play at Penn State. "We won the game up front with our pass rush from our whole line and we really covered well."

Pennsylvania quarterback Tino Sunseri led the way for the Keystone squad, throwing three touchdown passes keeping the offense under control. Sunseri will play his college ball at Pittsburgh. The game MVP award went to Harrisburg's Adrian Robinson, who was a terror off the edge for the Pennsylvania defense, recording three sacks.

Michigan bound running back Michael Shaw and Taylor Rice scored on second half touchdown receptions, while future Ohio State Buckeyes kicker nailed a 47-yard field goal in the second half, but 14 points was the closest that Team Ohio would get, as Pennsylvania cruised to the 15-point victory.

Pennsylvania struck early and often in the first quarter. On its first offensive play, two future Pittsburgh Panthers, Sunseri and receiver Jonathan Baldwin hooked up for a 37-yard gain on a long pass play from deep in Pennsylvania's own territory. Just a few plays later, the two found each other again for a ten yard score. The 93-yard drive was aided by two 15-yard personal foul penalties.

The team from the Keystone State found the end zone again two drives later, as Sunseri hit future Panther scatback Cameron Saddler in the left flat to give Pennsylvania a 14-0 lead with 52 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Up 17-0 after a David Soldner 39-yard field goal, Harrisburg defensive end Adrian Robinson broke through the line as Ohio lined up to punt late in the second quarter, and blocked the kick. Ohio's Mike Zordich fell on the ball on the Ohio three-yard line, giving Pennsylvania first-and-goal. On the very next play, Bishop McDevitt running back Mike Jones found the end zone from three yards out with 2:35 remaining in the first half. The extra point by Soldner made it 24-0.

Following the Pennsylvania touchdown, Ohio attempted to strike right back, as Ohio's Briggs Orsbon hit Cincinnati recruit D.J. Woods for a 45-yard gain on the drive's first play. Ohio would get as close as the Pennsylvania two-yard line, but future Pitt cornerback Jarred Holley broke up a pass intended for Woods with three seconds remaining in the half.

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