Times Observer File Photo by Scott Kindberg Warren Area High School head football coach Mark Morelli, right, is seen on the sidelines during the Dragons’ game at Franklin last September.

Warren Area High School head football coach Mark Morelli has been named an assistant coach by the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) for the 2021 PSFCA East/West All-Star game to be held Sunday, May 30, at Landis Field in the Central Dauphin School District.

For the first time ever, there will be two games: a Small School (Class A-AAA) game at 1 p.m. and a Big School (4A-6A) game at 5 p.m.

“The PSFCA is proud to have you as part of this game and we look forward to working with you to make this a great experience,” Morelli was told in a release.

Joining Morelli on the Big School staff is head coach Don Holl (Gateway/District 7); Andrew Loucks (York Suburban/D3); Steve Wiles (Susquehannock/D3); Jason Marucco (Greater Latrobe/D7); and, Jeff Puglio of Bradford in District 9.

“Both Coach Puglio and I have been longtime area football coaches,” said Morelli, who led Warren to a 5-3 record in 2020 in District 10, Region 7. “I have 36 years in D9 and four years at Warren, so it is an honor that two relatively local coaches have been chosen to be assistant coaches for this game. … We both have accepted this invitation.”

There will be five practices held before the game, two each on Sunday, May 16, and Sunday, May 23. The East teams will practice at Schullykill Haven and the West will practice at Woodland Hills-Wolverena (Small School) and Gateway (Big School). The fifth practice will be May 29 at the Landis Field.

The first game was held in June of 2001 at Mansion Park in Altoona, after members of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) approached the Allegheny Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau to help organize and produce a sister game to the Big 33 Game. The Big 33 Game features the top players in the state against players from Maryland. Unfortunately, only 34 players can be selected to represent Pennsylvania, and in a state with a rich football tradition, many quality players are left out. Thus, the PSFCA East/West All-Star Game was conceived giving the honor to play in a statewide, prestigious all-star game to 68 more players.