The Bradford Pa. Era Friday, August 4, 2023
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Pennsy’s offense centers around all-purpose attack By HUNTER O. LYLE hlyle@bradfordera.com
“For this game, the key is to simplify what you do and make sure everyone’s comfortable with it. I think that gives you the ability to allow your athletes to step up and make plays,” said Penley, who coaches at Eisenhower. “When you’re in an All-Star game, the faster you can get your athletes to feel like they can be explosive and confident, the better off you’re going to be.” As per usual, both the New York and Pennsylvania team will have two set squads that will rotate on each drive. Pennsy's respective rosters are lined with several well-rounded offensive weapons who offer a variety of ways to gain yards both in the air and on the
To have an effective offense, a team must be dynamic, versatile and to a certain extent, unpredictable. Surprising a defense scheme with a multifaceted attack is a sure-fire way to get downfield and head coach Jim Penley has that in mind ahead of the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic. In the 50th year of the annual All-Star game, Penley returned to the sidelines for his third time as head coach of the Pennsylvania team. Throughout the first week and a half of practices, of which each respective team is alloted eight, he has developed a playbook that avoids complexity and develops confidence. PA Offense ... page C-2
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Pictured is the 2023 Pennsylvania offensive unit for the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic. Front row (from left): Xander Brown (Coudersport), Noah Archer (Port Allegany), Logan Mosier (St. Marys), Scott Szymanski (Elk County Catholic), Isaac Shaw (Otto-Eldred), Hayden Leet (Smethport). Middle row: Marcus Crowe (Ridgway/Johnsonburg), Connor Younger (Eisenhower), Benji Bauer (Eisenhower), Clay Grazioli (St. Marys), Carter Price (St. Marys), Lucas Burrs (Kane), Brevin Lewis (Cameron County). Back row: Drew Evens (Port Allegany), Blaine Moses (Port Allegany), David Barshinger (Coudersport), Cooper Rossman (Coudersport), Joe Tettis (Elk County Catholic), Aaron Smith (Kane), Carter Chadsey (St. Marys), Charlie Coudriet (St. Marys), Ricky Zampogna (Kane).
PA looks to maintain Big 30 series lead with unified defense By HUNTER O. LYLE
Vanatta, who coaches at Eisenhower alongside Pennsy’s head coach Jim Penley. “The way we play defense is that everyone has a responsibility. You The saying goes: offense fills seats, can’t cover anyone else’s responsibilibut defense wins games. ty, but you have to know what they're That adage rings especially true for doing.” All-Star games, where the majority of Per the rules of the Big 30 game, the spectators are drawn into the stands defense must line up in a 4-3 formation, with hopes of a game full of exciting while that somewhat hampers Vanatta’s offensive highlights from the area’s instincts and creativity, it opens the best talent. However, as Pennsylvania looks to protect its first series lead in the door for experimental assignments, something the Pennsy defense is taking 50 years of the Big 30 All-Star Charity Classic, defense will be paving the way. in stride. “The guys are adjusting well,” said Through his over twenty years as Vanatta. “The linebackers and corners a coach, Bill Vanatta has seen his fair are really stepping it up. The defensive share of the dos and don’ts of defense. backs are covering really well, the lineReturning to the big game’s defensive coaching staff for a third time, Vanatta backers are learning to fill and make will be using that wealth of knowledge that hit at the line and drive through it.” to fine-tune his smashmouth squad. “Communication is key,” said PA Defense ... page C-2 hlyle@bradfordera.com
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Pictured is the 2023 Pennsylvania defensive unit for the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic. Front row (from left): Troy Adkins, Eyan Smith (Cameron County), Blaze Maholic (Otto-Eldred), Addison Plants (Kane), David Anderson (Elk County Catholic). Middle row: Matthew Lobdell (Sheffield), Keegan Watson (Smethport), Aiden McKean (Smethport), Brendan McGee (Otto-Eldred), Garrett Jensen (Eisenhower), Mike Vanatta (Eisenhower). Back row: Alex Gangloff (Bradford), Gavin Burgess (Port Allegany), Ryan Pelchy (Smethport), Jameson Britton (Cameron County), Landon Darr (Kane), Caleb Penley (Eisenhower), Gage MottMacalush (Sheffield).
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Pictured is the 2023 New York offensive unit for the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic. Front row (from left): Clifford Karn (Cuba-Rushford), Hunter McInerney (Cattaraugus-Little Valley), Draven DeJesus (Frewsburg), Pat Spencer (Frewsburg), Kyle Stover (Pioneer), Haven Kellogg (Cuba-Rushford), Eric Furlong (Allegany-Limestone). Middle row: Tyler Gibas (Franklinville/Ellicottville), Ben Krajewski (Gowanda/Pine Valley), Christian Swalcy (Franklinville/Ellicottville), Giancarlo Nuzzo (Franklinville/Ellicottville), William Hoden (Southwestern), Gabe Ramadhan (Allegany-Limestone), Kyran Johnson (Portville), Lucas Brushingham (Olean). Back row: head coach Terry Gray, Koda Curtis (Franklinville/Ellicottville), Dillon Schrader (Randolph), Devin Matuszak (Pioneer), Mateo Rodriguez (Pioneer), Andrew Giardini (Allegany-Limestone), Cade Anastasia (Olean), Chris Miller (Southwestern), assistant coach/line/special teams Adam Loftus, assistant coach/offense/quarterbacks Trent Gray.
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Pictured is the 2023 New York defensive unit for the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic. Front row (from left): Chris Bargy (Olean), Jaxon Tarr (Salamanca), Ben Brol (Franklinville/Ellicottville), Jake Parris (Allegany-Limestone), Brad John (Franklinville/Ellicottville), Maverick Cass (Pioneer). Middle row: Jason McGraw (Salamanca), Dominic Bello (Cuba-Rushford), Anthony DeCapua (Allegany-Limestone), Matt Burlingame (Southwestern), Ben Isaman (Portville), Dakota Krygier (Pioneer), Caiden Zollinger (Portville). Back row: Jacob Herbert (Allegany-Limestone), Raiden Terhune (Cattaraugus-Little Valley), assistant coaches Rob Collver, Brendan Carter, Ahren Faller (Allegany-Limestone), Walker Bekiel (Pioneer).
Longtime Frewsburg assistant Adaptability a key as NY offense prepares under Gray Carter calling NY defense By VINNY PEZZIMENTI
takeaway from those experiences? even a morsel of the – though the two-time By VINNY PEZZIMENTI “These players are Special to The Era gameplan, it’s anybody’s state champion QB lit all-stars,” Carter said. Ready to coach in guess how the NY side up the Pennsy defense “They’re in this game for his third Big 30 All-Star When Terry Gray was will go about scoring for two long touchdown Charities Classic, Brendan a reason. Every single guy asked what type of iden- points when the 49th passes in a 37-24 victory. on defense is a football Carter has a unique pertity the New York offense Classic kicks off at 7 p.m. “Our two groups,” player. A big part of my spective of the game. might take on in the Big Saturday at Bradford job I think is to give them Gray said, “ran two In 2012, Frewsburg 30 Charities Classic, the High’s Parkway Field. some direction and then totally different offenses” Central School’s longlet them be football playEmpire State head coach Those who witnessed That adaptability is time defensive assistant ers. I don’t want them and offensive coordinator the 2014 game, will recall something Gray has long was thrust into the role thinking. I don’t want played coy. that Gray oversaw two embraced. He started of head coach when them to have to figure “I think what I’d like effective offensive units his high school coaching Terry Gray fell ill. In things out on game day. I to do is plan on scoring led by Olean High’s career as an offensive 2014, Carter served as a want them to just go and touchdowns,” Gray said Chance Anzivine and line coach at Randolph defensive coordinator for react and play fast.” with a laugh. Randolph’s Mitchell under Pat Slater and the New York side – the Carter has been one Given Gray’s history Maycock. With Anzivine Southwestern under Chris same responsibility he of Gray’s top defensive of leading offenses at under center, the New Krantz – two coaches who will have when the 49th assistants since Gray Frewsburg Central School Yorkers showed a spread liked to run first, sprinkle Classic kicks off at 7 p.m. started as Frewsburg’s and in the Big 30 game, look. They transformed to in a play-action pass on Saturday at Bradford coach in 2002. Both men combined with his desire more of a traditional runHigh’s Parkway Field. are retiring from coaching to not give Pennsylvania ning style under Maycock NY Offense ... page C-3 What is his greatest at the high school level, Special to The Era
with the Big 30 game a final farewell. With Carter on staff, New York topped Pennsylvania in 2012 and 2014. The Empire State hasn’t won since 2015, but if the NY defense is as good as Carter has witnessed in practice, that six-game losing streak may end Saturday. “They have been absolutely amazing to watch and witness,” Carter said. “They’ve picked up everything that I have challenged them with very quickly and at a high level. They have the potential to be a very dominant unit.” NY Defense ... page C-3