Published: June 14, 2008 12:00 am            

Reed ramping up for Big 33 game

Greater Johnstown star Antwuan Reed will make one more appearance as a high school football player today before heading off to begin his collegiate career at Pitt.

But, if Trojans coach Kevin Marabito is right, that won’t be the last chapter in Reed’s gridiron story.

“I’ve probably said this a hundred times that Antwuan has the skills that every young person would love to have,” Marabito said. “Now he’s going to go to the next level and he’s going to have to do those skills better. He’s going to a place now where there are going to be a hundred Antwuan Reed (type players) there. I think he’s going to be up to the challenge. I honestly feel he’s good enough to be playing on Sundays if he works at it and puts his mind to it. Most of all, he will get that college education and be productive once football and sports are all over.”

Reed will suit up for the 51st annual Big 33 game, which will be played at 7 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium. Pennsylvania’s best will play Ohio’s top prospects in the matchup. Reed, a tailback and defensive back, is the only area player chosen for the game, but he hasn’t been the only Johnstown representative in Hershey during the past week. He was joined there by Daniel Brezovic of Kernville as part of the Big 33’s Buddy Program.

“The Buddy Program is a program sponsored by the Big 33 game for mentally and physically challenged children,” Daniel’s mother, Vicky, said. “It provides the children with 2 1/2 days of fun before they’re honored guests at the Big 33 game.’

Daniel Brezovic is a 14-year-old Greater Johnstown sophomore who is slowly recovering from brain surgery.

“Daniel has been the water boy for Johnstown High the past three years,” Vicky Brezovic said. “When Antwuan was invited to come down and be part of the Big 33 and heard about Daniel’s affliction, he and other players presented him with a football and asked him to be his buddy at the Big 33.

“He’s gone through quite a lot with his surgery. He’s had some setbacks. He really deserved this chance to have some fun, and they’ve really treated us well.”

Vicky Brezovic said they went to Hershey Park, Hershey World and Adventure Sports while Reed was participating in practices for the game. She was interviewed by telephone on Friday while attending the Big 33 banquet.

“We will be special guest on the field during the game,” she said.

That will give them a front-row seat to watch Reed, a talented two-way player with 4,276 rushing yards for 48 touchdowns during his high-school career.

Reed has 129 tackles, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. As a senior, he rushed for 1,915 yards with 55 tackles and an interception and was chose as The Tribune-Democrat Offensive Player of the Year. He was twice named to The Associated Press Class AAA All-State team.

Hours after signing his letter-of-intent to play at Pitt in February, Reed was named an Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year. Photos of him and 49 others similarly honored appeared as a full-page ad in The USA Today.

        

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