2004 Recap
Written by: Big 33 Staff on July 24, 2004.
Last year’s defining game marked Ohio’s second consecutive win against the Keystone state. Pennsylvania stepped out on the field ready to play, but Ohio stepped out ready to win. Many Big 33 players have graced us with their talent in Johnstown, Altoona, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Hershey, but no one has ever put their mark on a Big 33 game quite like Ted Ginn, Jr. did at Hersheypark Stadium on July 24th.
With his swift running ability and tactful agility, Ted Ginn single-handedly carried his Ohio teammates to a come-from-behind 34-30 triumph over Pennsylvania.
With Ohio up 7-3 in the second quarter, Ginn stormed the field with his signature play making the score 14-3. Pennsylvania’s talented combined quarterback team of Michigan’s Chad Henne and Penn State’s Anthony Morelli made a fierce comeback. Morelli stunned his opponents by completing five of six throws for 160 yards in the second quarter. With the combination of Pennsylvania’s quarterbacks and a running attack led by Curtis Brinkley, allowed Pennsylvania to pile up an astonishing 436 yards.
After a short touchdown run by Pennsylvania’s fullback Dan Lawlor, the Keystone state led their opponents late in the third quarter 30-21, but that was not enough. Ohio scored a 6-yard touchdown run by Tony Howard leaving 10:53 on the clock, too much time for Ohio’s lethal weapon, Ginn, Jr. On Pennsylvania’s 36, Ginn took a lateral from Ohio quarterback Brian Hoyer and flipped a touchdown pass to wide-open receiver Dustin Woods with 4:57 left to play. Pennsylvania almost connected with Darelle Revis in the end zone for the go-ahead score, but ended up turning the ball over on downs with 3:38 left and Ohio ran out the clock.
Ted Ginn, Jr. ended the game with five receptions for 142 yards and one game-winning 36-yard touchdown pass.
Both teams walked off the field that night not as winners or losers, but as heroes. The 16,845 in attendance last year could have witnessed a piece of history as one of our 2004 Big 33 players could be destined for the NFL Super Bowl, and carry on the tradition of every Super Bowl contest including at least one former Big 33er.
