Tuesday, June 22, 2010
By JOE SCALZO
Lakeview High football coach Tom Pavlansky wasn’t sure he’d get another opportunity to represent Ohio, so he wanted to make the most of his opportunity on Saturday.
Consider it done.
Pavlansky coached Ohio to an 18-15 victory over Pennsylvania in the 53rd annual Big 33 game at Hershey Park.
“It was a great feeling,” said Pavlansky, who had numerous family members in the stands, including his mother and his brothers, Pat and Mike. “I was really proud of the way our coaching staff and our players came together during the week.
“I really believed we represented the state of Ohio well.”
Four area players competed for Ohio: Boardman teammates J.T. Moore (a defensive lineman headed to Ohio State) and Chase Hammond (WR, Wisconsin), Lakeview running back Te Elias (Lake Erie College) and Warren Harding safety Mike Dorsey (West Virginia). Former Campbell coach Jeff Bayuk was an assistant.
Moore had an interception while Hammond caught five passes for 73 yards and Elias had four carries for 18 yards.
The game went down to the wire, with Ohio winning on a 22-yard TD pass with less than a minute left.
“In the fourth quarter, it got pretty loud,” said Pavlansky. “This game is very important to people in Pennsylvania.
“To be a part of it and to win was a special experience.”