HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – The best high school football players from Pennsylvania will square off against the best of Maryland in the 66th Annual Big 33 Football Classic on Sunday.

Pennsylvania will be coached by Mike Farr from Schuylkill Haven and Maryland will be under the direction of Dameon Powell from CH Flowers. Farr has coached the Hurricanes since 2005 but has been a part of the coaching staff since 1986.

“”I think we’re all excited. It’s been a long couple months just waiting for the opportunity to get here,” said Farr.

The “Super bowl of high school football” is more than a football game. Festivities include cheerleaders, All-Star band members, a buddy program, host families for the players and scholarship winner.

The additional initiatives such as the buddy program, which pairs football players and cheerleaders with children with special needs to bond with throughout the event, helps to better the community where the event is held.

On Saturday a UPMC “Buddy meet and greet” will be held where players and cheerleaders will play games together on the field of Rocco Ortenzio Stadium. After that, the American Legion Riders will arrive to meet all event participants. After practice for the players, the PSFAC/RSFA Elite Showcase will commence, which is a combine featuring the best high school football players from previous combines across the state.

The day of the event, Sunday, starts with a Big 33 renewal brunch, followed by the Big 33 Recognition Ceremony and the PSFCA Hall of Fame brunch.

From 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., a free fan experience and pep rally event with inflatables, kids activities, food and music will be held. Dring the event, the PSFCA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. in the Bishop McDevitt Auditorium. The inductees for this year include Garry Gouse (Portage), Bob Palko (West Allegheny/Mt. Lebanon), Jeff Weachter (Bishop McDevitt), Mike Ricci (Garnett Valley) and Rick Keely (Berks Catholic).

Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and ceremonies including the Dauphin Co. commissioner, PA adjutant general, Miss PA, Big 33 honorable chair member and former NFL player Bo Orlando and Big 33 alum general George Joulwan. The game will commence at 7 p.m..

Central Pennsylvania has five players representing the area in the game including linebacker Rocco Daugherty from Manheim Central, linebacker Amir Jones from Harrisburg, wide receiver Tyshawn Russell and defensive tackle Riley Robell from Bishop McDevitt and running back Mikey Bentivegna from York Suburban.

As far as motivating his players, Farr says it doesn’t take much.

“All you have to say to a Big 33 player is someone from this team, either Maryland or Pennsylvania is going to be in the NFL someday and then be in the Super bowl,” Farr said. “They truly understand when they get the invitation to play in this game how important it is.”

Players from the Big 33 go on to be recruited by Division 1 colleges and many alums go on to the NFL. There has never been a Super bowl without at least one former Big 33 player on the roster. Some notable products of the Big 33 football classic include NFL players like Kyle Brady, John Cappelletti, Kerry Collins and Sean Gilbert.

The full rosters for the 2023 game are as follows:

Pennsylvania

Maryland