Big 30 - The Bradford Era | August 4, 2023

Pennsy’s offense centers around all-purpose attack

By HUNTER O. LYLE hlyle@bradfordera.com

To have an effective offense, a team must be dynamic, versatile and to a certain extent, unpredictable. Surprising a defense scheme with a multifaceted attack is a sure-fire way to get downfield and head coach Jim Penley has that in mind ahead of the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic.

In the 50th year of the annual All-Star game, Penley returned to the sidelines for his third time as head coach of the Pennsylvania team. Throughout the first week and a half of practices, of which each respective team is alloted eight, he has developed a playbook that avoids complexity and develops confidence.

“For this game, the key is to simplify what you do and make sure everyone’s comfortable with it. I think that gives you the ability to allow your athletes to step up and make plays,” said Penley, who coaches at Eisenhower. “When you’re in an All-Star game, the faster you can get your athletes to feel like they can be explosive and confident, the better off you’re going to be.”

As per usual, both the New York and Pennsylvania team will have two set squads that will rotate on each drive. Pennsy's respective rosters are lined with several well-rounded offensive weapons who offer a variety of ways to gain yards both in the air and on the

PA looks to maintain Big 30 series lead with unified defense

By HUNTER O. LYLE hlyle@bradfordera.com

The saying goes: offense fills seats, but defense wins games.

That adage rings especially true for All-Star games, where the majority of spectators are drawn into the stands with hopes of a game full of exciting offensive highlights from the area’s best talent. However, as Pennsylvania looks to protect its first series lead in the 50 years of the Big 30 All-Star Charity Classic, defense will be paving the way.

Through his over twenty years as a coach, Bill Vanatta has seen his fair share of the dos and don’ts of defense. Returning to the big game’s defensive coaching staff for a third time, Vanatta will be using that wealth of knowledge to fine-tune his smashmouth squad.

“Communication is key,” said

Vanatta, who coaches at Eisenhower alongside Pennsy’s head coach Jim Penley. “The way we play defense is that everyone has a responsibility. You can’t cover anyone else’s responsibility, but you have to know what they're doing.”

Per the rules of the Big 30 game, the defense must line up in a 4-3 formation, while that somewhat hampers Vanatta’s instincts and creativity, it opens the door for experimental assignments, something the Pennsy defense is taking in stride.

“The guys are adjusting well,” said Vanatta. “The linebackers and corners are really stepping it up. The defensive backs are covering really well, the linebackers are learning to fill and make that hit at the line and drive through it.”

PA Defense ... page C-2

Pictured is the 2023 New York offensive unit for the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic. Front row (from left): Clifford Karn (Cuba-Rushford), Hunter McInerney (Cattaraugus-Little Valley), Draven DeJesus (Frewsburg), Pat Spencer (Frewsburg), Kyle Stover (Pioneer), Haven Kellogg (Cuba-Rushford), Eric Furlong (Allegany-Limestone). Middle row: Tyler Gibas (Franklinville/Ellicottville), Ben Krajewski (Gowanda/Pine Valley), Christian Swalcy (Franklinville/Ellicottville), Giancarlo Nuzzo (Franklinville/Ellicottville), William Hoden (Southwestern), Gabe Ramadhan (Allegany-Limestone), Kyran Johnson (Portville), Lucas Brushingham (Olean). Back row: head coach Terry Gray, Koda Curtis (Franklinville/Ellicottville), Dillon Schrader (Randolph), Devin Matuszak (Pioneer), Mateo Rodriguez (Pioneer), Andrew Giardini (Allegany-Limestone), Cade Anastasia (Olean), Chris Miller (Southwestern), assistant coach/line/special teams Adam Loftus, assistant coach/offense/quarterbacks Trent Gray.

Adaptability a key as NY offense prepares under Gray

By VINNY PEZZIMENTI Special to The Era

When Terry Gray was asked what type of identity the New York offense might take on in the Big 30 Charities Classic, the Empire State head coach and offensive coordinator played coy.

“I think what I’d like to do is plan on scoring touchdowns,” Gray said with a laugh.

Given Gray’s history of leading offenses at Frewsburg Central School and in the Big 30 game, combined with his desire to not give Pennsylvania

even a morsel of the gameplan, it’s anybody’s guess how the NY side will go about scoring points when the 49th Classic kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday at Bradford High’s Parkway Field. Those who witnessed the 2014 game, will recall that Gray oversaw two effective offensive units led by Olean High’s Chance Anzivine and Randolph’s Mitchell Maycock. With Anzivine under center, the New Yorkers showed a spread look. They transformed to more of a traditional running style under Maycock

– though the two-time state champion QB lit up the Pennsy defense for two long touchdown passes in a 37-24 victory.

“Our two groups,” Gray said, “ran two totally different offenses”

That adaptability is something Gray has long embraced. He started his high school coaching career as an offensive line coach at Randolph under Pat Slater and Southwestern under Chris Krantz – two coaches who liked to run first, sprinkle in a play-action pass on

Photo provided

Pictured is the 2023 New York defensive unit for the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic. Front row (from left): Chris Bargy (Olean), Jaxon Tarr (Salamanca), Ben Brol (Franklinville/Ellicottville), Jake Parris (Allegany-Limestone), Brad John (Franklinville/Ellicottville), Maverick Cass (Pioneer). Middle row: Jason McGraw (Salamanca), Dominic Bello (Cuba-Rushford), Anthony DeCapua (Allegany-Limestone), Matt Burlingame (Southwestern), Ben Isaman (Portville), Dakota Krygier (Pioneer), Caiden Zollinger (Portville). Back

Longtime Frewsburg assistant Carter calling NY defense

By VINNY PEZZIMENTI Special to The Era

Ready to coach in his third Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic, Brendan Carter has a unique perspective of the game.

In 2012, Frewsburg Central School’s longtime defensive assistant was thrust into the role of head coach when Terry Gray fell ill. In 2014, Carter served as a defensive coordinator for the New York side – the same responsibility he will have when the 49th Classic kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday at Bradford High’s Parkway Field.

What is his greatest

takeaway from those experiences?

“These players are all-stars,” Carter said. “They’re in this game for a reason. Every single guy on defense is a football player. A big part of my job I think is to give them some direction and then let them be football players. I don’t want them thinking. I don’t want them to have to figure things out on game day. I want them to just go and react and play fast.”

Carter has been one of Gray’s top defensive assistants since Gray started as Frewsburg’s coach in 2002. Both men are retiring from coaching at the high school level,

with the Big 30 game a final farewell.

With Carter on staff, New York topped Pennsylvania in 2012 and 2014. The Empire State hasn’t won since 2015, but if the NY defense is as good as Carter has witnessed in practice, that six-game losing streak may end Saturday.

“They have been absolutely amazing to watch and witness,” Carter said. “They’ve picked up everything that I have challenged them with very quickly and at a high level. They have the potential to be a very dominant unit.”

Photo provided

Pictured is the 2023 Pennsylvania offensive unit for the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic. Front row (from left): Xander Brown (Coudersport), Noah Archer (Port Allegany), Logan Mosier (St. Marys), Scott Szymanski (Elk County Catholic), Isaac Shaw (Otto-Eldred), Hayden Leet (Smethport). Middle row: Marcus Crowe (Ridgway/Johnsonburg), Connor Younger (Eisenhower), Benji Bauer (Eisenhower), Clay Grazioli (St. Marys), Carter Price (St. Marys), Lucas Burrs (Kane), Brevin Lewis (Cameron County). Back row: Drew Evens (Port Allegany), Blaine Moses (Port Allegany), David Barshinger (Coudersport), Cooper Rossman (Coudersport), Joe Tettis (Elk County Catholic), Aaron Smith (Kane), Carter Chadsey (St. Marys), Charlie Coudriet (St. Marys), Ricky Zampogna (Kane).

Photo provided

row: Jacob Herbert (Allegany-Limestone), Raiden Terhune (Cattaraugus-Little Valley), assistant coaches Rob Collver, Brendan Carter, Ahren Faller (Allegany-Limestone), Walker Bekiel (Pioneer).

Photo provided

Pictured is the 2023 Pennsylvania defensive unit for the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic. Front row (from left): Troy Adkins, Eyan Smith (Cameron County), Blaze Maholic (Otto-Eldred), Addison Plants (Kane), David Anderson (Elk County Catholic). Middle row: Matthew Lobdell (Sheffield), Keegan Watson (Smethport), Aiden McKean (Smethport), Brendan McGee (Otto-Eldred), Garrett Jensen (Eisenhower), Mike Vanatta (Eisenhower). Back row: Alex Gangloff (Bradford), Gavin Burgess (Port Allegany), Ryan Pelchy (Smethport), Jameson Britton (Cameron County), Landon Darr (Kane), Caleb Penley (Eisenhower), Gage MottMacalush (Sheffield).