Times Observer Photo by Matt Spielman Southwestern head coach Jake Burkholder, who is also coaching the New York team in the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic, speaks to his team at the end of Friday’s practice at Frewsburg High School.

FREWSBURG, N.Y. — As Jake Burkholder pulled his team together for a final talk Friday evening as the sun set on the Frewsburg High School practice field, one thing was evident: after one week of practice, the conglomerate of New York schools was beginning to come together as one team for the Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic.

The Big 30 game has been held since 1974, showcasing the best graduating seniors from northwestern Pennsylvania against the best from southwestern New York. The charity aspect of the game raises money for individuals in need and charitable organizations in the Pennsylvania counties of McKean, Cameron, Elk, Potter and Warren as well as the New York counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua.

This year, the New York team is made up of student-athletes from Allegany-Limestone, Bolivar-Richburg, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Cuba-Rushford, Franklinville/Ellicottville, Frewsburg, Gowanda, Olean, Pioneer, Portville, Randolph, Salamanca, Southwestern and Wellsville.

“I think the best part of it is that it’s kids that have grown to have rivalries and dislike each other without really knowing each other coming together and having the same goal,” said Burkholder, Southwestern’s head coach who will lead the New York team next Saturday. “They all swap helmet stickers, some have gone golfing together; it’s just kind of cool to see them come together.”

Practices were held this week in Olean, Bradford, Portville, Allegany-Limestone and Frewsburg.

Next week, the New York team will practice again at Allegany-Limestone and Portville before heading to Salamanca on Wednesday.

A banquet will be held Thursday at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford with a final pregame walkthrough Friday at Southwestern.

“Football itself is football. It’s just the verbiage, the way people number things and call things,” Burkholder said when asked about the difficulties of preparing for a game in just two weeks. “The kids have to learn a new language and marry it with their language they’ve had before. I think that’s probably the toughest part.”

Next Saturday’s festivities will kick off with a parade in Bradford, Pennsylvania, at 1:30 p.m. before the game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Bradford High School’s Parkway Field.

Assisting Burkholder on the New York staff are Clymer/Sherman/Panama head coach Ty Harper, C/S/P assistant coach Chris Payne, Southwestern assistant coaches Mark Arnold and Dustin Bowser, and Randolph assistant coach Jeff Pagett.

“We have an awesome coaching staff with a lot of experience,” Burkholder said. “They are great guys and we have a good relationship with them. I’m thankful they were willing to come help out. They bring a lot of knowledge and a couple of state championships. That always helps, too.”

Class B schools Pioneer and Olean are the largest programs taking part in the game for the New York team. Jack Buncy, Alex Coder, Logan Ellis, Brody Hopkins and Jasiah Jarocinski are representing the Panthers while Julius Childs, Devin Kayes, Jamison Pittman and Railey Silvis are playing for the Huskies.

“The last time I coached (in 2018) and now,” Burkholder said, “the Pioneer kids always have a lot of juice. They have a good time.”

Ten players are playing for Section VI Class C schools. Jason Ni is the lone player from Burkholder’s Southwestern’s program playing in the game. Matt Giardini, Nate Harrington, Jack Langdon and Joshua Lee are representing Allegany-Limestone; Maddox Browning and Gavin Phillips are playing for Gowanda; and Cole Hedlund, Shawn Remsen and Kody Shinners are playing from Salamanca.

Twelve Section VI Class D players are taking part in the game. Cattaraugus-Little Valley is represented by Gage Furl and Christian Hines; Franklinville/Ellicottville has Andrew Boyla, Ethan Frank, Logan Grinols, Lucas Marsh and Caleb Ploetz playing; Portville’s Brandon Cornelius, Dakota Mascho and Ryan Stillman are taking part; and Randolph’s Josh Bush and Luke Pagett are playing.

Landon Bragg and Zach Winters are representing Frewsburg while Conner Ferguson and Alexander Perkins are playing for Wellsville. Both schools played eight-man football a year ago.

“Frewsburg was 8-man last year, Wellsville was 8-man,” Burkholder said. “We’ve got some kids who were playing 8-man and adjusting to that, talking a little bit about that. It’s just kind of a learning experience for everybody.”

Bolivar-Richburg’s Landon Danaher, Brayden Ellis, Lloyd Kinnicut and Camdyn MacDonell as well as Cuba-Rushford’s Benson McCumiskey and Michael Swimline complete the roster.

“A lot of these kids are Section V kids we’ve never seen,” Burkholder said. “It’s kind of cool to see what programs in Section V are doing and learn a little bit about them, too.”

Gates open at 5 p.m. next Saturday with tickets $7 apiece.

“These kids are here because they want to be here. They are some of the best athletes around,” Burkholder said. “These kids are here to have fun and beat Pennsylvania.”

Editor’s Note: A preview and roster of the Pennsylvania team will be published early next week.