Nationally, the sports world is as busy as it gets on June – the NBA and NHL finally reach the finals, major league baseball is in full swing, the NFL has minicamps, and golf has major events.
Locally, though, June has another meaning – the Penn-Ohio All Star Football Classic. The longest running football all-star game between the same opponents, this year’s 45th annual game will be held Thursday, June 20, at Geneva College’s Reeves Field. Kickoff will be at 7:00 with player introductions at 6:40.
Typically, the game draws capacity crowds when the weather permits and that looks good so far. Most fans will be going to see a competitive game – four of the last seven games have been decided by three points or less – but for the Florence family – it’s more of a family affair.
“I’m the seventh member of my family to play in the game,” said running back Tyson Florence of Western Beaver. “My dad (Scott) played, my grandpap Ed, my uncle Eddie and my brothers, Scott Jr., Donovan, and Michael.
“We’ve compared notes a little but they just want me to do well.”
Last year, there were a few rule changes that resulted in the highest scoring game ever – a Pennsylvania 47-30 win – and it will be interesting to see how the teams adjust. Regardless, the game will be a showcase.
“We’re going to give these guys a showcase, the fans aren’t coming to watch the coaches,” said Pennsylvania coach Mark Lyons, head coach at Central Valley.
“It’s been good getting these guys together. We have 75% of what we want in before we’ll go full pads. We will pass, we will run the ball, we’ll do whatever we have to do to win. They’re using the scoreboard so we’re playing to win.”
Although the series has been typically close games, the series itself is lopsided. Pennsylvania leads the series 29-14 (there was a team named during the pandemic year, but no game was played) but the teams have split the last four games so the rivalry is real.
“It’s been great so far, we’re really coming together as a team,” said Beaver defensive end Nick Williams, who will play next year at Washington & Jefferson. “It’s a whole lot better seeing these guys as teammates rather than opponents.
“I’m looking at this as my last high school game and we’re definitely playing to win.”
While this game is merely a net step for some, for others, it’s the last game in uniform and that can make this a special occasion. For Blackhawk grad Dontae Campagna, though, it’s even more special.
“I’ll be playing a slot receiver,” said Campagna, whose career had a few bumps due to minor injuries but could be in position to stand out here.
“They haven’t mentioned playing defensive back yet but I’m ready, I’m not going to play in college. It’s definitely noticeable that everyone here is good.”
In addition to his last game, the game will also have a special meaning for Campagna who, like Florence, has a long family connection with this game. The MAC Coaches Association is inducting its inaugural Hall of Fame and one of the eight inductees is Karl Florie, Campagna’s grandfather.
“This is special, I will be there to walk out with him and that will be amazing,” said Campagna. “I can’t remember the first time we talked football because we’ve been talking about it for as long as I can remember.
“To be able to see it and be there with him is really special.”
Florie took two teams (Riverside and Ellwood City) to WPIAL Championship games, among numerous other accomplishments and Hall of Fame Inductions. He’ll be joined by seven others:
-Tom Alexander, long time coach at Center, who served the coaches association even longer.
-Larry Bruno, legendary coach at Midland and Beaver Falls, who coached 32 years including an unbeaten WPIAL championship team in 1960, quarterbacked by Joe Namath.
-Joe Hamilton, who coached at Midland, New Brighton, Hempfield, and Blackhawk, winning four WPIAL titles at Blackhawk. He was also the first Penn-Ohio coach and was game director of the Penn-Ohio gam for 25 years, retiring as the winningest coach in the WPIAL.
-Tom Marsilio, long time (39 years) Blackhawk assistant coach who has been involved with the Penn-Ohio game since its inception and is still the game director.
-Rich Niedbala, Western Beaver coach who won WPIAL titles with the Golden Beavers in three different decades – seven in total. Western now plays on Rich Niedbala Field.
-Joe Savage, long time owner of Monte Cello’s restaurant in Cranberry and a long time sponsor and supporter of the game.
-Pat Tarquinio, Ellwood City and Beaver head coach, is best known for his 34 years as head coach of the Bobcats. He won three WPIAL titles at Beaver and retired as the winningest coach in the WPIAL. After that, he became an assistant at Hopewell and was a key part of their WPIAL and PIAA title winners. Beaver plays at Pat Tarquinio Field.
Bruno, Niedbala, and Tarquinio will be inducted posthumously.
Penn-Ohio scores all-time
1980 Penn 21, Ohio 7
1981 Ohio 21, Penn 14
1982 Penn 28, Ohio 13
1983 Penn 15, Ohio 6
1984 Penn 8, Ohio 7
1985 Ohio 19, Penn 14
1986 Penn 48, Ohio 9
1987 Penn 20, Ohio 7
1988 Penn 52, Ohio 21
1989 Penn 34, Ohio 0
1990 Penn 20, Ohio 9
1991 Penn 32, Ohio 19
1992 Ohio 14, Penn 7
1993 Penn 27, Ohio 12
1994 Ohio 7, Penn 6
1995 Ohio 27, Penn 14
1996 Penn 27, Ohio 6
1997 Penn 13, Ohio 6
1998 Penn 27, Ohio 16
1999 Penn 28, Ohio 0
2000 Ohio 25, Penn 18
2001 Penn 17, Ohio 13
2002 Penn 21, Ohio 17
2003 Penn 26, Ohio 6
2004 Penn 14, Ohio 7
2005 Ohio 26, Penn 14
2006 Ohio 27, Penn 7
2007 Penn 27, Ohio 13
2008 Ohio 14, Penn 8
2009 Penn 24, Ohio 12
2010 Penn 38, Ohio 8
2011 Penn 17, Ohio 10 (OT)
2012 Ohio 19, Pennsylvania 7
2013 Pennsylvania 25, Ohio 22
2014 Pennsylvania 24, Ohio 7
2015 Pennsylvania 34, Ohio 20
2016 Ohio 10, Pennsylvania 7
2017 Ohio 21, Pennsylvania 20
2018 Ohio 22, Pennsylvania 20
2019 Pennsylvania 21, Ohio 0
2020 No game – pandemic
2021 Pennsylvania 20, Ohio 17
2022 Ohio 35, Pennsylvania 28
2023 Pennsylvania 47, Ohio 30
Pennsylvania leads series 29-14