Performance in the Big 33 game is by no means a portent of individual success in college football.
Dave Wannstedt can hope, though.
Wannstedt's University of Pittsburgh recruits were making plays all over the place as Pennsylvania blasted Ohio 31-16 in the 51st, and certainly longest, edition of the annual high school all-star game.
A crowd of about 7,000 watched at Hersheypark Stadium. For three hours and 38 minutes.
It was Pennsylvania's third straight win over Ohio. Pennsylvania now leads the current series with Ohio, which began in 1983, 9-7. Pennsylvania also went 3-2 with Ohio from 1972-76.
Since the game date was moved from late July in 2006, the Big 33 has had to complete for Ohio players with that state's popular North-South All-Star game, which was also played Saturday.
The disparity is starting to show. Pennsylvania won easily despite seeming almost incredibly disorganized, and playing without some of its own top stars, notably Jeannette quarterback Terrelle Pryor, an Ohio State recruit who undoubtedly would have drawn fans from both states (and perhaps even Ohio players) to Hershey.
Pryor chose not to participate, which left the stage to Pitt recruits like QB Tino Sunseri (Pittsburgh Central Catholic) and wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin (Aliquippa).
Pennsylvania scored first on a perfect throw from Sunseri, who led Baldwin beautifully. Baldwin cut to the far corner of the end zone for a 10-yard TD.
Two other big plays on that drive: a 27-yard connection from Sunseri to Baldwin on Pennsylvania's first play from scrimmage, and a cheap shot from Ohio linebacker B.J. Machen after an incomplete pass, that led to a near-brawl and 30 yards in personal-foul penalties against Ohio.
For a while, it looked as if the Pennsylvania offense was going to just throw it up there and hope Baldwin — who's 6-6, explosive and exuberant — would run under it. But soon other Pitt guys emerged.
Like linebacker Andrew Taglianetti (Pittsburgh Central Catholic), who blocked a field goal.
And wide receiver Mike Shanahan (Norwin), who made two first-half circus catches — one of them one-handed, while holding off an interfering defender — for 27 and 28 yards.
And defensive back Jarred Holley (Easton), who had two interceptions and was all over the place, most importantly corralling Ohio's speedy Isaiah Pead on a fake-punt run attempt.
Pennsylvania led 14-0 after a quarter, and made it 17-0 early in the second stanza on a 39-yard field goal by Manheim Township standout David Soldner.
It looked like a blowout when Pennsylvania converted a recovered fumble into a TD on a 2-yard plunge by Mike Jones (Bishop McDevitt, Syracuse) a few minutes later.
Ohio kept plugging, though. It did have tough, elusive running backs in Pead and Michael Shaw, a Michigan recruit who received the Ohio Most Valuable Player Award in voting by media members.
Ohio intercepted Sunseri late in the third quarter and put a little drive together, with Shaw scoring on a 7-yard sweep to make it 24-7.
In this game, a team down nine points or more may elect to receive a kickoff after scoring, so Ohio got it right back. The team drove inside the Pennsylvania 20 before Pitt power showed up again. Holley intercepted a pass in his own end zone.
Ohio had sneaked within 24-10 before Pennsylvania got the killer with about nine minutes left. Sunseri found Cameron Saddler on a deep passing route, laid it in there and watched Saddler make an electric open-field move to elude a safety before cruising to a 79-yard score.
Guess where Saddler's going to college?
Ohio scored on the last play of the game, a 13-yard connection between QB Zac Dysert and Ohio State recruit Taylor Rice.
Soldner, the game's only Lancaster-Lebanon League player, had a solid night. In addition to the field goal, he nailed all four of his extra-point attempts.
He was glad he came, as Big 33 players invariably are.
"I thought I kicked pretty well," Soldner said. "Our team had great chemistry. We really worked hard."
Soldner, a USA Today All-American, will attend Penn State as a preferred walk-on. For the rest of the summer, he said, he'll "go home, kick, run and lift."
The Pennsylvania MVP award went to defensive end Adrian Robinson, a Harrisburg High product who had 10 tackles and three sacks.
Robinson is going to Temple, not Pittsburgh, remarkably enough.
Mike Gross is a Sunday News sports writer. E-mail him at mgross@lnpnews.com.
