HERSHEY – Tyler Boyd: “Besides football, this week gave me a big change of character. I had a great host family, a great “buddy” I was real fond of, and it helped me to become a little more of a man.”
That “man” started the game with a bang returning the opening kickoff 91 yards. A fumbled kick return recovered by PA, a spectacular diving catch by Boyd from Mack Leftwich for a 16 yard touchdown and the Tyler Boyd show had begun. The Pitt-bound star accounted for 249 all purpose yards and 5 touchdowns, (one was a spectacular 68 yard halfback pass to McDevitt’s Brian Lemelle that gave PA a 37-20 lead at the half) on his way to earning MVP honors for the PA squad.
Following the touchdown catch by Boyd, Maryland QB Luke Casey dropped back and hit Rachid Ibrahim square on the hands but Imhotep’s Najee Goode broke the reception up, then picked the ball out of the air and raced 40 yards to pay dirt. One minute and 56 seconds into the 56th annual Big 33 game and PA had already scored 21 points. Boyd added a four yard touchdown before the end of the first quarter and Pennsylvania led 28-0.
“The PA squad just got up on us early, we gave up too many big plays,” said Maryland head coach Dave Mencarini of the quick 21 point deficit. “But I’m proud of the way our boys battled back.” Luke Casey brought his team back into the game, first hitting Kyle Levere for a score then running from one yard out to make it a 28 – 13 game.
However, on Maryland’s second point after attempt Matt Galambos burst through the line, blocked the kick and returned the ball to the opposite end zone to give PA two more points and a 30-13 lead. Shane Cockerille, the MD MVP of the game threw for 247 yards and a couple scores in the second half but it just was not enough. “I really enjoyed my experience here. It helps you prepare for college. Being away from your family, living with strangers helped me to mesh well both with my host family and my teammates from Maryland. Going down early it would have been easy to quit but my team, we battled back hard,” said Cockerille.
PA coach Art Walker, who led his own North Allegheny squad to a state title in Hershey just seven months ago, was proud of his entire team’s efforts. “You know, with the mercy rules and this heat your defense really has to battle. Mt Carmel’s Eric Joraskie, we made him a team captain at the beginning of the week and he just exemplified what we wanted. Hard work. He worked extremely hard all week and was in the Maryland backfield all night. As for Boyd, he’s a star. We just tried to get him is as many different situations as we could and it worked. The kid can flat out play.”
Coatesville’s Chris Jones closed out the scoring on the night with a five yard touchdown reception. “Man, the difference here is the speed. Back in high school you’re the star but when you come here everyone plays like you so you have to work harder,” said the Coastal Carolina bound receiver.
One thing worth mentioning, over the years covering and following the BIG 33 games I’ve always heard things like “the selection committee always overlooks the small schools.” Well, on this night it was the small school players that won the day. Boyd, Lemelle, Howard, Joraskie, Karpinski….all big time players tonight that came from small schools.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
Maryland 0 20 7 0 27
Pennsylvania 21 16 14 7 58
| First Quarter |
PA_Boyd 91 kickoff return (Winslow kick), 11:45
PA_Boyd 16 pass from Leftwich (Winslow kick), 11:25
PA_Howard 40 interception return (Winslow kick), 1:56
| Second Quarter |
PA_Boyd 4 run (Winslow kick), 10:15
MD_Levere 11 pass from Cockerille (Priddy kick), 7:43
MD_Cockerille 2 run (kick blocked), 5:04
PA_Galambos blocked conversion kick return (two points), 5:04
MD_Ellis 32 pass from Cockerille (Priddy kick), 2:11
PA_Lemelle 68 pass from Boyd (Winslow kick), :47
| Third Quarter |
MD_Luke 2 run (Priddy kick),6:11
PA_Jones 57 pass from Terry (Winslow kick), 4:06
PA_Boyd 5 pass from Leftwich (Winslow kick), 1:40
| Fourth Quarter |
PA_Jones 4 pass from Leftwich (Winslow kick), 3:05
