Team PA Dominates Big 33 Classic behind Denmark’s 3 TDs
May 27, 2024
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Team Pennsylvania scored early and often, defeating Team Maryland, 31-7, in the 67th annual Big 33 Football Classic at Cumberland Valley High School on Sunday evening.
Penn State commit Tyseer Denmark from Imhotep Charter Institute in Philadelphia hauled in four passes for 95 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half, to fuel Team PA’s victory.
Maryland had no answer for Team PA, as they scored on each of their first five possessions of the game. Quarterbacks Hayden Johnson and Alex Erby both connected with Denmark in the end zone in the first quarter, including a 52-yard scoring play from the arm of Erby. Johnson added a second passing touchdown in the second quarter.
Along with their three passing touchdowns, Team PA added a 1-yard rushing score from Erik Sanchez, and a 27-yard field goal from Connor Poole. The Pennsylvania offense was clicking on all cylinders, and took a 31-0 lead into halftime.
Aside from their offense, the Team PA defense held Maryland to virtually nothing in the first half. Maryland had only 24 yards of offense on 20 plays at halftime, and secured only one first down.
But, the second half was a different story for Team Maryland. Receiving the kickoff to begin the half, Maryland put together an 10-play, 61-yard drive that was ignited by a 36-yard return from Mervo‘s Tye’Shawn Cox. North Point‘s Kaleb Hart carried the ball three times on the drive, along with a carry from Cox, and Old Mill‘s Max Jones capped the drive with a 27-yard touchdown run to get Team MD on the board. Kicker Chris Pond from Archbishop Curley added the extra point.
While the Maryland offense was only able to tally one score on the night, the Team MD defense stood strong in the second half, behind a great night from Fort Hill defensive lineman Carter Hess. Along with strong play from the entire defense, Hess led a defensive stand for Maryland that stopped Team PA at the 1-yard line on consecutive plays late in the fourth quarter.
Sunday’s win marks the fifth consecutive game in the Big 33 in which Pennsylvania has defeated Maryland, and the 24-point victory was PA’s largest in the series since a 58-27 victory in 2013. Team Maryland’s last victory in the series came in a 9-6 win in 2018.
Max Jones was named the MVP for Team Maryland with his rushing touchdown, while Denmark took home MVP for Team PA.
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