Raheem Blackshear, Keanan Baines, Reece Udinski headed to Big 33 Football Classic

HARRISBURG – Archbishop Wood running back Raheem Blackshear, Conwell-Egan tackle Keanan Baines and North Penn quarterback Reece Udinski were recently named to the Pennsylvania roster for the upcoming PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic.

The 60th annual game is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, June 17 in Harrisburg.

Last season, Baines, at 6-3, 289 pounds, helped the Eagles reach the PIAA District 1-12 Class 3A sub-regional final.

At 5-11, 170, Blackshear was the second-leading rusher for the Vikings, who captured the PIAA Class 5A title last season, carrying the football for 1,257 yards on 147 carries including 25 touchdowns – 19 rushing, five receiving and a pick-six he registered on defense.

At 6-4, 190, Udinski, a Virginia Military Institute commit, threw for 4,093 yards last season, becoming only the second quarterback in state history to surpass 4,000 passing yards. He also threw for 39 touchdowns.

A First Team All-Catholic selection in 2015 who is committed to Shippensburg, Baines was a beast on the line at Egan two years ago, registering 77 tackles (12.5 for a loss), 6 and 1/2 sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries. Keanan made it onto the First Team again in 2016.

Archbishop Wood head coach Steve Devlin is an assistant coach for the Pennsylvania team. Franklin Regional’s Greg Botta is the head coach.

For the first time, the game – which, for the last four years, has pitted the best high school seniors in the Keystone State with their counterparts in Maryland – will be held at Central Dauphin Middle School’s Landis Field at George “Speed” Ebersole Stadium. For years, the Classic had been held at Hersheypark Stadium. Organizers switched venues in order to curtail costs.

The Big 33 Scholarship Foundation, which established the game in 1958, dissolved in January after years of financial concerns. But Dauphin County commissioners pledged a $100,000 tourism grant to “ensure the game would continue,” according to a recent news release.

The Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) assumed control of the foundation’s namesake football game, which has showcased the state’s top high school football talent for six decades.

Last year, Pennsylvania toppled Maryland 26-14 to elevate the Keystoners’ lead in the current series to 3-1.

TOP PHOTO: Raheem Blackshear (2) of Archbishop Wood runs against Harrisburg in the PIAA Class 5A football championship at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA on December 9, 2016. (Mark Palczewski | Special to PA Prep Live)