by Pat Mitsch , Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Bethel Park receiver John Schademan and running back Lyle Marsh, Penn Hills linebacker Dan Mason, Thomas Jefferson tight end Brock DeCicco, McKeesport defensive lineman Dana Brown and Beaver offensive lineman Josh Bucci are this year's WPIAL representatives in the 52nd Big 33 game, set for 7 p.m. tomorrow at Hersheypark Stadium.

Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino, LaVar Arrington, Steve Breaston and Paul Posluszny are among the WPIAL's Big 33 alumni, and the league always had strong representation in previous games. This year's six players constitute half of the number (12) from last year. There were 16 in 2007.

"I think it's just the way the coaches association looks at everything," said Janocko, the head coach at Clearfield, about 40 miles west of State College . "They pick the team, and that's just the way it panned out. I don't think it's for one side (of the state) or the other."

Still, the lack of WPIAL players is a bit surprising to DeCicco.

"I just kind of expected more WPIAL kids to be here," he said.

Beaver Falls receiver and Pitt recruit Todd Thomas was a late addition to the roster, but is missing the game to "take care of some academics," Janocko said.

That leaves the fate of the Pennsylvania team, which has won three games in a row and six of the past nine against Ohio, in the hands of the aforementioned six. Janocko says the WPIAL players had no problem shouldering their share of the load in this week's practices.

"They obviously fit in here, and they've been outstanding," Janocko said.

He called Schademan and Marsh "steals" for the college teams they'll play for in the fall, Schademan for Colgate and Marsh for Penn. Mason was picked as the team's spokesman for tonight's banquet.

DeCicco, meanwhile, worked all week through a thigh bruise.

They'll have plenty of help, of course. Sixteen of Pennsylvania's 34 players will play for Division I schools in the fall. Pitt has four recruits on the roster, Mason, DeCicco, Central Dauphin linebacker Jack Lippert and Bethlehem Liberty receiver Devin Street, as does Penn State, with St. Joseph's Prep lineman Mark Arcadiacono, West Catholic quarterback Curtis Drake, Milton Hershey tight end Gary Gilliam and Steelton-Highspire lineman Jordan Hill.

Neither Pitt nor Penn State have any recruits on the Ohio team, but Ohio State can claim seven of the squad's 32 Division I recruits.

"I know it's going to be fun," DeCicco said. "Both teams will compete, and we'll see what happens from there."

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