Local Sports

Defending home turf

Big 30 football game is Saturday in Bradford

Teams have been practicing the past two weeks in preparation for the 2026 Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic football game, set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1 at Bradford Area High School's Parkway Field.

The Smethport coaching staff will be leading the Pennsylvania team this year. Ryan Yingling is the head coach. Yingling has 26 years of experience coaching at Smethport, including six years as a junior high head coach, 17 years as a varsity assistant coach and three years as the varsity head coach.

Yingling's assistant coaches are: Joel Lent, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach; Adam Jack, assistant coach; Kolin Strawcutter, the defensive coordinator; Kevin Lord, the assistant defensive coordinator; and Colby Austin, another assistant coach.

The quarterback for the Pennsylvania team will be Otto-Eldred's Shane Magee.

Magee is 5-foot-11, 175 pounds and also plays safety on defense. A Region 4 all-star as a senior and Region 3 Offensive MVP as a junior, he wants to play in the Big 30 game "because he loves the atmosphere of football games." He said he has watched the Big 30 Game year after year and has always wanted to play in it in front of all the fans.

Running backs for the Pennsylvania team include: Smethport's Jonah Ganoe, Eisenhower's Logan Penley, Port Allegany's Julian Kaple and St. Marys' Landon Cook.

Ganoe is 5-foot-11, 170 pounds and also plays safety. He was the Smethport Offensive MVP for three years in a row and the District 9 Region 4 Offensive MVP as a senior. Ganoe wants to play in the Big 30 Game because "it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play with different people and showcase the skills of the area."

Penley is 6-foot, 170 pounds and also plays outside linebacker. Like his father, he plans to go to college and later become a football coach. Penley's best memories were playoff games and the District 10 championship game. His favorite football team is the Philadelphia Eagles and favorite player is his teammate, Caleb Jakubczak.

Kaple is 5-foot-7, 140 pounds and also plays outside linebacker. He plans to pursue a career in oil and gas. Kaple's favorite memory was practicing on Penn State's field for the state championship game.

Cook is 5-foot-8, 205 pounds and also plays linebacker. He plans to attend college and study sports medicine. Cook wants to play in the Big 30 Game because he "wants to show everyone he can be a threat on their team and loves to hit people hard."

Wide receivers for the Pennsylvania team include: St. Marys' Michael Miller, Warren's Tommaso Clemente, Eisenhower's Ben Lindberg, Cameron County's Sylus Pearson, Warren's Alex Meneo, Bradford's Logan Kohler, Oswayo Valley's Dawson Welch and Elk County Catholic's Frankie Smith.

Miller is 5-foot-6, 135 pounds and also plays outside linebacker/cornerback. He wants to play in the Big 30 Game "because it represents one of the highest levels of football in Pennsylvania and it gives him the opportunity to compete against some of the best athletes in the area." Miller plans to pursue a career in fabrication and also wants to pursue a career in rodeo.

Clemente is 5-foot-10, 155 pounds and also plays defensive back. His best memory in football was returning a kickoff for a touchdown.

Lindberg is 5-foot-10, 150 pounds and also plays safety. He will be attending Penn College of Technology to pursue a degree in engineering. Lindberg's favorite football teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State Nittany Lions. His favorite player is Ben Roethlisberger.

Pearson is 6-foot, 175 pounds and also plays defensive back. He plans to attend Alfred State College to study land surveying. Pearson wants to play in the Big 30 Game because "you only get to play so much football in your life and he's going to take advantage of that."

Meneo is 5-foot-10, 168 pounds and also plays safety. After a gap year, Meneo plans to attend college with the goal of majoring in a sports-related field. His favorite football player is T.J. Watt.

Kohler is 5-foot-7, 142 pounds and also plays cornerback/safety. He would like to enter the electrical field. Kohler has wanted to play in the Big 30 Game since he was a young kid because it has been a dream of his. His best memory while playing football was scoring two touchdowns in the last game of his sophomore year.

Welch is 5-foot-9, 162 pounds and also plays safety. His best memory of playing football was taking on Union/Allegheny-Clarion Valley in the District 9 playoffs.

Smith is 5-foot-8, 175 pounds and also plays safety. He plans to enlist in the United States military.

Tight ends for the Pennsylvania team are: Eisenhower's Cash Moore, Smethport's Clayton Kiser, Eisenhower's Gavin Lindemuth, Ridgway's Gavin Kilpeck and Bradford's Dylan Giordano.

Moore is 6-foot-3, 190 pounds and also plays defensive end. He plans to attend Cleveland State University and become famous on social media.

Kiser is 5-foot-11, 205 pounds and also plays defensive end/middle linebacker. He wants to join the Marines and then go to college. Kiser wants to play in the Big 30 Game because "he feels that it is a great honor to be chosen to represent his school and state."

Lindemuth is 6-foot-5, 190 pounds and also plays defensive end/linebacker. He plans to attend PennWest Edinboro to study exercise science and business while also playing football. Lindemuth says last season was special because "the county consolidated schools and he was able to play with some new athletes who have become very close friends."

Kilpeck is 5-foot-10, 170 pounds and also plays outside linebacker. He plans to attend Slippery Rock University for special education and early childhood development.

Giordano is 6-foot-3, 210 pounds and also plays linebacker.

Linemen for the Pennsylvania team include: Bradford's Sean Ward, Otto-Eldred's Erik Gray, Eisenhower's Logan King, St. Marys' Milo Brem, Kane's Thomas Shrubb, St. Marys' Jayden Overly, Bradford's Jacob Abers, Eisenhower's Greyson Linkerhof, Cameron County's Michael Nolder, St. Marys' Owen Thompson, Otto-Eldred's Colby Wilcox, Kane's Isaiah Smith, Coudersport's Owen Gill, Coudersport's Carson Cooney, Port Allegany's Brayden Babcock and Warren's Wyatt Stearns.

Ward is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound tackle, who also plays middle linebacker. He wants to play in the Big 30 Game because "it means so much to him. He loves the game of football with a passion, but for him, unfortunately in his senior year, he got hurt and missed almost his whole year. Now he just wants to be able to go out on his own terms."

Gray is a 5-foot-9, 195-pound center, who also plays linebacker/defensive end. He plans to attend college for criminal justice.

King is a 5-foot-10, 215-pound guard, who also plays defensive end. His goal is to go work for the railroad because his dream since he was little has been to be an engineer. King wants to play in the Big 30 Game because "he has a deep love and commitment to the game of football."

Brem is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound guard, who also plays defensive end. His goal is to attend a four-year university to study mechanical engineering.

Shrubb is a 5-foot-9, 170-pound center, who also plays linebacker. He plans to attend Slippery Rock University to major in exercise science, then earn his doctorate. Shrubb's best football memory was blocking a punt in the Ridgway end zone, which eventually allowed his team to win the game.

Overly is a 5-foot-9, 200-pound tackle, who also plays defensive end. He plans to attend Clarion University, working toward a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. His best memory while playing football was stepping out on the field for Senior Night and playing with his teammates one last time.

Abers is a 5-foot-11, 210-pound center, who also plays defensive tackle. His honors include Lineman of the Year, Defensive MVP and Locker Room Leader Award. Abers has had a goal since he started playing youth football to be a part of the Big 30 Game someday.

Linkerhof is a 5-foot-7, 200-pound tackle, who also plays defensive tackle. He plans to attend the UPMC Jameson School of Nursing to become a registered nurse. Linkerhof was awarded the Hayden Salapek Lineman of the Year Award by his coaches and teammates. His favorite football memory was "the senior year overtime game against Mercyhurst Prep."

Nolder is a 6-foot-3, 310-pound tackle, who also plays defensive tackle. He earned the Thomas L. Malizia "54" Football Award. Nolder wants to participate in the Big 30 Game because "he has worked really hard the last four years to get selected for this game." His best football memory was upsetting Union/Allegheny-Clarion Valley his sophomore year.

Thompson is a 5-foot-8, 185-pound guard, who also plays defensive tackle. He plans to attend Pennsylvania College of Technology for HVAC. Thompson earned the Jerry Sain Memorial Ward and the 2025 Oil Can Award.

Wilcox is a 5-foot-10, 220-pound guard, who also plays defensive tackle. He plans to work at Kinley Contractors and pursue his welding degree in Texas. Wilcox's best football memories are "all the talks and jokes in the locker room after the games."

Smith is a 5-foot-10, 210-pound tackle/guard, who also plays defensive line. He plans to go to college and become a physical therapist while continuing his car detailing business. Smith's best memory while playing football was "watching my running back run 97 yards to take a fourth-quarter lead in a thrilling game."

Gill is a 5-foot-9, 290-pound tackle, who also plays defensive tackle. He plans on attending Alfred State College to study HVAC. Gill wants to play in the Big 30 Game to help raise money for local charities.

Cooney is a 5-foot-11, 215-pound guard/tackle, who also plays defensive end. He plans to attend Slippery Rock University for safety management with a minor in coaching. Cooney was the District 9 Region 4 Lineman of the Year.

Babcock is a 6-foot, 260-pound offensive lineman, who also plays defensive tackle. He plans to attend Alfred State College to pursue a degree in welding and play football for the Pioneers.

Stearns is 6-foot, 330 pounds and also plays defensive tackle.

Kane's Tysin Boschert is the Pennsylvania team's kicker. The 6-foot-5, 170-pounder plans to attend college, but is undecided on his major. His best football memory was going 8 for 8 with three touchbacks in a game this season.