1996 Recap
Written by: Big 33 Staff on July 27, 1996.
When the checkered flag came out, Ohio was the winner by a 45-36 score in the 39th Big 33 Football Classic. The 81 points scored were the most ever.
Nick Goings and Gary Berry were the speedsters who provided Ohio much of its big-play status. Goings had spectacular runs that set a record for the most yards rushing, 176.
The night started on a positive note for the Keystone State players. Dave Robbins passed six yards to Andy Molinaro as PA opened a 7-0 lead. Berry took the kickoff and found a seam in the PA coverage to tie the score.
PA came right back with a 23-yard touchdown run by Kenny Watson. Goings caught a pass from Jason Turner, got a downfield block and danced 58 yards into the end zone to tie the score. Ohio added a 33 yard field goal by Dan Stultz to take a 17-14 lead into the second quarter. PA got its last lead on a five yard pass from Tony Zimmerman to Garrett Watson.
Ohio then scored 21 unanswered points to pull away by a 38-21 score at halftime.
During the second half, Turner threw an 8 yard pass to Chris Modelski after the OH quarterback had burned PA on an option keeper that went 53 yards. Goings raced to the end zone with an 88-yard scoring run. PA rebounded with a 15 yard pass from Robbins to Brian Remley. Goings scored once again to make the score 45-28. PA’s Zimmerman delivered a 37 yard scoring strike to Molinaro, but it wasn’t enough to catch Ohio.
Goings was the only choice as Ohio’s MVP. Robbins took honors for PA.
