(Hershey, PA) – The 61st annual PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic will officially get underway with Team Pennsylvania’s first practice on Sunday, April 22nd starting at 10 a.m. at Landis Field (4600 Locust Lane, Harrisburg, PA 17109).
Media is welcome to attend practice for footage. After morning practice, at approximately Noon, players and coaches will be available for interviews before they break for lunch.
Ticket sales for the 2018 PSFCA Big 33 All-Star Football Classic are available online NOW at https://big-33.org/. Fans, family, sports enthusiasts and friends can purchase reserved or general seating for the high school all-star tradition that showcases top football athletes from Pennsylvania and Maryland on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at Central Dauphin School District’s Landis Field, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
“We are gearing up for one of the state’s premier athletic events that has been enjoyed by families, and young fans for decades,” said Garry Cathell, PSFCA Executive Director. “Our planning team is delighted with the incredible support from so many host families, the coaching team, sponsors, Dauphin County and this year from Miss Pennsylvania Katie Schreckengast, and our honorary chair Scott Campbell. The Pennsylvania and Maryland players are pumped and the cheerleaders are ready to team up with all of our special needs buddies who add such value to our annual football classic,” he added.
This year, Central Pennsylvania boasts two notables who are lending their leadership and support to this thrilling family-focused day. Miss Pennsylvania’s Katie Schreckengast, a top twelve Miss America finalist from Palmyra, Penn State student and Blue band member, will participate in numerous festivities all week. 2018 Big 33 Honorary Chair, Scott Campbell, former NFL quarterback, Purdue University Most Valuable player, and Hershey High School standout turned successful Central Pennsylvania businessman will also be on hand throughout the exciting week.
A FREE FAN EXPERIENCE will be held from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. featuring kid-friendly activities, inflatables, games, food vendors and food trucks. The pre-game festival will also have a special emphasis on social services for families by offering educational and prevention resources onsite. Gates for the game will open at 6:00 p.m., with kick off scheduled at 7:00 p.m.
For tickets, more information about the game and Fan Experience & Awareness Festival on Saturday, June 16 at Central Dauphin School District’s Landis Field, go to www.big33.org. Sponsorship opportunities and Host family participation are still available by calling Big 33 headquarters at 717-200-3378 or 814-360-4830. For updates follow Big 33 on Facebook @Big33 Football Classic, Instagram @PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic or on Twitter @PSFCA_Big33 Classic or follow along using the hashtag #Big33.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Lucy M. Gnazzo, PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic
Office: 717/731-8279 or 717/979-0692 (cell)
[email protected]
Russell Fleming, PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic
717/497-2512 (cell)
[email protected]
Amy Richards Harinath, Dauphin County
Office: 717/780-6311 or 717/943-6260 (cell)
BIG 33:
The Big 33 Football Classic is an all-star event featuring the top high-school football players in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Played since 1957, the game is often described as the “Super Bowl of High School Football.” Well-known alumni include Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Ricky Waters, Ben Roethlisberger, Kyle Brady, Jordan Hill, and so many others. The Big 33 has had at least one alumni in each Super Bowl ever played. This is the 61st year for the PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic and is the 6th game in the rivalry of Pennsylvania vs. Maryland with PA leading the series 4-1. The Football Classic also features PA and MD CHEERLEADING SQUADS as well as both player and cheer SPECIAL NEEDS BUDDIES with a week of activities that foster life-time friendships. Cheerleaders will choreograph and perform a high energy half-time entertainment show, and Big 33 Buddies will provide enthusiastic support throughout the game, and throughout the week.