The game is still several months away, but the names of the
initial six players invited to participate in the 33rd annual Big
30 Don Raabe Charities Classic have been released.

Highlighting the Pennsylvania selections are Bradford High’s
Josh Holleran and Johnsonburg’s Vic Constable.

Holleran (5-8, 150 pounds) played running back and defensive
back for the Owls. He was selected to the Olean (N.Y.) Times Herald
Big 30 Team, District 9 League first team and was Bradford’s 2005
football MVP.

He wants to play in the game because “it’s an honor and we are
playing for a good cause. My father played in the third Big 30 Game
and I will be playing in the 33rd game. What an honor.”

His biggest thrill is the excitement playing under the Friday
night lights and knowing everyone is watching.

“I’m going to miss it,” Holleran said.

His hobbies include football, track, hunting and fishing. The
Nittany Lions are his favorite team and his favorite player is
Michael Robinson.

Constable (5-11, 245 pounds) played guard and tackle on offense
and tackle on defense. He will attend Penn State University and
study agricultural engineering.

He is an Olean (N.Y.) Times Herald Big 30 All-Star, a Tri-County
second-team defensive lineman of the year, an AML all-star, a
three-year letterman in football and was weightlifter of the year
his junior year.

He wants to play in the Big 30 Game because “it’s one last shot
to play football and to have a great time and make new
friends.”

His biggest thrills were having four sacks his senior year and
being fourth overall in tackles.

Among his hobbies are farming, snowmobiling, ATV riding and
weightlifting.

The Bills are his favorite team and Sam Adams his favorite
player.

Also named to the Pennsy squad is Eisenhower’s Brad Adams.

Adams (5-9, 145 pounds) played wide receiver and running back on
offense and was a cornerback on defense.

He will major in business at Clarion, Westminster or Slippery
Rock.

Adams was selected to the Region 2 first team as an all-purpose
back in 2004 and 2005 and second team defensive back in 2004. He
was a PFN Magazine all-state honorable mention at wide
receiver.

He wants to play in the Big 30 Game because “I love to play
football and it’s an honor to be selected.”

His biggest thrill was intercepting a tipped pass and returning
it for the winning touchdown with 26 seconds remaining in the
game.

His hobbies include cycling, rollerblading and hunting.

Allegany-Limestone’s Kyle Custard, Bolivar-Richburg’s Nick
Covert and Salamanca’s Cody Hostuttler are the first three players
to be invited from New York State.

Custard, 6-0, 170 pounds, played fullback and linebacker. He
will further his education at St. John Fisher College majoring in
biochemistry. He is a member of the National Honor Society.

He is his school’s Offensive Player of the Year and a member of
the Western New York Football All-Academic team.

Being able to play one more game and being part of the tradition
are his reasons for wanting to play in this year’s contest.

His biggest thrill was beating Falconer on Senior Night.
Custard’s hobbies include sports, working out and hanging out with
friends. The Packers are his favorite team and Pittsburgh’s Troy
Polamalu his favorite player.

Covert, 5-9, 215 pounds, played fullback and linebacker. He will
study psychology and criminal justice at a college to be
determined.

Among his honors is being selected to the Olean (N.Y.) Times
Herald Big 30 Team in 2004 and 2005.

“I have played football since I was eight years old and playing
in the Big 30 Game will be a life long memory,” Covert said.

Covert broke the school record for career tackles (279) his
junior year and was named the Defensive Lineman for the Section V
championship game. Also, he was Section V Defensive Player of the
Week twice.

His biggest thrill was starting at middle linebacker his
freshman year, leading the team in tackles and winning the
homecoming game. He enjoys lifting weights and sports. His favorite
team is the Steelers and Joey Porter his favorite player.

Hostuttler, 5-11, 200 pounds, played tackle on both sides of the
ball and was the team’s captain.

He will be an engineering student at West Virginia University.
He is a member of the National Honor Society, Business Honor
Society and Science Honor Society.

“It is an honor to be chosen to play in the Big 30 Game,”
Hostuttler commented. He gets a thrill just “being part of the
team.”

The Bears are his favorite team and Tommy Harris his favorite
player.

This year’s game will be played at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at Bradford
High’s Parkway Field.

The first 32 games produced over $1,100,000 donated to numerous
charities and personal causes throughout the Twin Tiers.

Teams consist of graduated seniors from 30 high schools in New
York and Pennsylvania that make up the Big 30 area. The New York
squad is comprised of players from Allegany-Limestone, Olean Walsh,
Bolivar-Richburg, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Cuba-Rushford,
Ellicottville, Franklinville, Gowanda, Olean, Pioneer, Portville,
Randolph, Salamanca, Wellsville and West Valley. The Pennsylvania
team is comprised of players from Bradford, Cameron County,
Coudersport, Eisenhower, Elk County Catholic, Kane, Johnsonburg,
Otto-Eldred, Port Allegany, Ridgway, Sheffield, Smethport, St.
Marys, Warren and Youngsville.