Maryland replaces Ohio in Big 33 Game

By: Matt Farago / Champs Sports Network

Ohio has controlled the Big 33 in recent memory, they’ve won four straight over the Keystone State and after a 24-21 win this past year, have a 13-12 all- time series lead.

However even with all the success they aren’t being invited back to the 57^th edition of what many call the “Super Bowl of High School Football” .

Big 33 officials signed a five-year deal for Pennsylvania to play Maryland in the Big 33 Football Classic, starting in June. The announcement comes on the heels of No. 9 Ohio State taking on Penn State Saturday in one of the biggest Big Ten games this season.

Maryland is not a new-comer to the game, they last took part in 1992, Pennsylvania won the game 38-0. They also own the battle of the Mason-Dixon Line 5-2.

The football powerhouse continues to climb up the charts for big time recruits. In 2012, the state had a record 76 Division 1 scholarship players including ten 4-star and twenty-six 3-star recruits with the Class of 2013.

The two states already compete in the Big 26 Baseball Classic held every July in York, PA.

Folks from the Buckeye state aren’t exactly happy about the news.

“We were in negotiations with them to re-up the contract and this just came out of the blue,” Dave Dlugosz who coached the 2001 Ohio squad in a 31-29 loss, told The Chronicle-Telegram. “We really looked forward to playing in that game every year. (The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association) manipulated our own all-star game — the North-South game — to accommodate the Big 33 game. Apparently, it wasn’t enough.”

An issue for the Big 33 game in recent years has been participation. Some of the top Pennsylvania players have elected not to play in the game. Something officials want to change quickly as there has never been a Super Bowl played without a former Big 33 player.