Big 33
The Big 33
The Big 33 Football Classic started in 1957: Pennsylvania seniors against an out-of-state all-star team. Berwick has been in it since 1961 — Joe DeMelfi and Kirk Kessler through Ty’Meere Wilkerson in 2026.
College destinations for these players live on the alumni page.
38
Dawgs named to the classic, 1961 through Wilkerson in 2026
3
Big 33 games George Curry coached — 1978 (asst.), 1982 and 2002 (head)
1961
First Berwick selections: Joe DeMelfi and Kirk Kessler
The record
Note 1
Berwick’s first Big 33 players were named in 1961: Joe DeMelfi and Kirk Kessler. The 2011 compilation says a Berwick player appeared in 23 years of the game and that 37 Dawgs had been selected through Andy Decker in 2002.
Sources: web.archive.org
Note 2
George Curry coached in three Big 33 games — assistant in 1978, head coach in 1982 and 2002 — and was on the winning side all three times, according to the same BerwickDawgs compilation.
Sources: web.archive.org
Note 3
As of 2023, EasternPAFootball and the Big 33 honorary-chairman announcement for Bo Orlando still cited 37 Berwick Big 33 players.
Sources: easternpafootball.com
Note 4
Bo Orlando played in the 27th Big 33 Football Classic on July 21, 1984 (West 10, East 20) and was named honorary chairman of the 2023 game.
Sources: easternpafootball.com · pafootballnews.com
Note 5
Ron Powlus is listed on a Big 33 NFL-alumni archive as a 1993 Pennsylvania selection out of Berwick who went to Notre Dame.
Sources: web.archive.org
Note 6
Dave Robbins threw for 251 yards in the 1996 Big 33, per a 2011 BerwickDawgs compilation.
Sources: web.archive.org
Note 7
Ty’Meere Wilkerson (RB, class of 2026) became the first Berwick Big 33 player since Andy Decker in 2002. If the 37-through-2002 count holds, he is the 38th Dawg in the game. He committed to New Hampshire.
Sources: pafootballnews.com · big33.org · unhwildcats.com
Coaches & honors
1978 · Assistant coach
George Curry
1982 · Head coach
George Curry
2002 · Head coach
George Curry
2023 · Honorary chairman
Bo Orlando
Berwick Big 33 players
Joe DeMelfi and Kirk Kessler in 1961 through Ty'Meere Wilkerson in 2026. Spellings as listed, including Gary McCutheon.
| Year | Player | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ty’Meere Wilkerson | RB. First Berwick selection since 2002. New Hampshire. |
| 2002 | Andy Decker | PFN: 143 tackles as a senior; school single-game tackle record (23). |
| 1998 | Gus Felder | OL. Penn State, brief Browns stint. |
| 1997 | Ryan Mason | PFN later called him Curry’s “best-ever defensive lineman.” |
| 1996 | Dave Robbins | QB. Fan compilation lists a Big 33 passing-yards mark of 251. Boston College. |
| 1996 | Brian Remley | All-State end on the 1995 national-title team. |
| 1995 | Mike Bennett | — |
| 1995 | Josh George | All-State offensive lineman, 1994. |
| 1993 | Ron Powlus | QB. Parade / USA Today national POY. Notre Dame. |
| 1993 | Chris Orlando | WR/DB. Went to Pitt. |
| 1993 | Jason Soboleski | FB/LB. Went to Pitt. |
| 1991 | John Bowman | — |
| 1990 | Tom Robsock | OG. West Virginia; later NFL Europe. |
| 1989 | Jake Kelchner | QB. Notre Dame, then West Virginia. |
| 1989 | Lance Evina | All-State split end / DB, 1988. |
| 1988 | Ron Reagan | — |
| 1987 | Cosmo Curry | George Curry’s son. Quoted at the George Curry Way renaming. |
| 1986 | Charlie Fedorco | — |
| 1984 | Bo Orlando | July 21, 1984 classic. West Virginia, NFL. 2023 honorary chairman. |
| 1984 | Andy Mills | Fullback / All-State DE on the 1983 national-title team. |
| 1983 | Ed Farrell | — |
| 1982 | Mike West | — |
| 1982 | Keith Seely | — |
| 1982 | Doug Hinderliter | — |
| 1981 | Mike Vezendy | — |
| 1980 | Kurt Kehl | — |
| 1980 | Todd Slusser | — |
| 1980 | Jeff Feulner | — |
| 1979 | Steve Algatt | — |
| 1978 | Jon Pruitt | SI 1992 quotes him as a former running back and then-assistant coach. |
| 1978 | Bob Eveland | — |
| 1976 | George Schechterly | PFN All-Century offensive lineman (spelled Schecterly there). |
| 1973 | Tony Melchiorre | — |
| 1972 | Gary McCutheon | Spelling as on the 2011 BerwickDawgs page. |
| 1965 | Tom DeMelfi | — |
| 1964 | Mike Horvat | — |
| 1961 | Joe DeMelfi | Among Berwick’s first Big 33 players. |
| 1961 | Kirk Kessler | Among Berwick’s first Big 33 players. |