The Big 33 Football Classic Super Bowl streak lives on.
When Super Bowl LVI is played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on February 13, there will be at least two players on the field that have been a part of the annual Pennsylvania all-star football game. That will push the Big 33/Super Bowl streak to 56 straight, meaning there’s never been a Super Bowl without a Big 33 alum.
For those of you not familiar with the Big 33 (as it’s affectionately know), it’s an all-star high school football game played annually in Pennsylvania since 1958. Over the years, Pennsylvania high school all-stars have squared-off against all-star teams from Maryland, Ohio and Texas. On other occasions, Pennsylvania has faced an all-USA team.
Every team in Sunday’s AFC and NFC championship games has a Big 33 alum.
In the AFC championship game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs, four former players will be on the field, along with a front office executive and an assistant coach.
Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd, a Clairton High School graduate, played for the Pennsylvania stars in the 2013 game played in Hershey, Pennsylvania. In that game, Boyd turned-in one of the all-time best offensive performances, earning him the Most Valuable Player Award for the Pennsylvania all-stars.
Boyd, who went-on to play his college football at Pitt, finished with 244 all-purpose yards, including 144 return yards. He returned the game’s opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown.
The two-time Mr. Pennsylvania also had five receptions for 89 yards with two touchdowns. Boyd also scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, of a direct snap, and also tossed a 68-yard touchdown pass.
Noah Spence of Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg was picked for 2012, but didn’t play, is on the Bengals practice squad.
The Chiefs have two players, plus General Manager Brett Veach, who played for Pennsylvania in 1997 after an outstanding career at Mount Carmel High School.
Related: Mt. Carmel names street after Brett Veach
On the field, KC will have defensive end Frank Clark (Glenville HS), who played for Ohio in 2011, and backup quarterback Chad Henne (Wilson West Lawn), from the 2004 game.
In the NFC Championship game between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, the Rams, who are hoping to become only the second NFL team to play in a Super Bowl on their home field, have Big 33’er Aaron Donald, who played at Penn Hills High School. He was picked for the 2010 Pennsylvania team, but didn’t play in the game.
On the other sideline for the 49ers will be kicker Robbie Gould and defensive tackle Kevin Givens.
Gould from Central Mountain High School played in the 2000 Big 33 game for the Pennsylvania all-stars. Givens was a Pennsylvania star in the 2015 game after his scholastic career at Altoona High.
The streak started when Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Herb Adderley played for the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I. Adderley was a Big 33’er from Northeast High School in Philadelphia.
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This year’s Big 33 game will be played on Memorial Day at Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
