Smethport lineman Logan Linnan and St. Marys fullback Mark Lang
head this week’s list of additions to the rosters for the 34th
Annual Big 30 Don Raabe Charities Classic all-star football
game.
Both Linnan and Lang will be playing for the Pennsylvania
all-stars along with Eisenhower’s Nathan Rollin, who has also
accepted an invitation to take part in the game which will be
played Aug. 4 in Bradford.
Today’s trio of players added to the New York roster is topped
by two-time Big 30 All-Star Team selection Tim McElwain from
Randolph.
Joining him are Mike Buchanan from Portville and Aaron Cucuzza
from Olean Archbishop Walsh.
Linnan, a 6-5, 230-pounder, alternated between center and tackle
on offense for the Hubbers and was also a defensive end.
He says that, “I have been playing football since I was seven
years old and grew up watching the Big 30 game. It’s something that
I have wanted since I started playing in high school.”
His biggest thrill while playing for the Hubbers was, “The 2005
Otto-Eldred game we won in double overtime and I had 14 tackles and
five sacks.”
An honor roll student, Linnan was the Dave Magee Down Lineman
Award winner at Smethport, and has also placed in the District 9
Class AA track and field championships.
He is a Buffalo Bills fan and his favorite player is Chris
Kelsay.
Linnan plans to enter the Navy and pursue a degree in
psychology.
Lang, meanwhile, was a two-way starter at fullback and
linebacker for St. Marys last season.
A three-year letterman for the Dutch, the 5-9, 205-pound senior
was St. Marys’ Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the
District 9 League second team at linebacker.
He was thrilled to receive an invitation to play in the Raabe
Classic because, “I just love the game and since the end of the
season I miss it incredibly and this gives me one final chance to
play.”
The biggest thrill he’s gotten out of playing football, “Is
being able to watch and be part of the team that really formed a
strong brotherly bond.”
A member of the National Honor Society, and of both “Who’s Who
Among High School Students” and “Who’s Who Among High School
Students, Sports Edition,” Lang plans to major in English Education
at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
He plays guitar in a band called 19th Green, and also enjoys
making movies and music videos for the band.
Lang’s favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers and his favorite
player is Jerome Bettis.
Rollin, at 5-10, 185-pounds, played fullback and linebacker for
the Eisenhower Knights last season.
He compares the Charities Classic to being, “The high school
Super Bowl for me and I’ve always looked up to people who play in
the game.”
At Eisenhower, Rollin was a three-year defensive MVP, won three
Iron Man awards, a coaches’ award and holds the Knights’ record for
career tackles.
Setting the record and, “making big plays when we needed them,”
are the thrills he has gotten out of the game.
He likes the Cleveland Browns, but his favorite player is Ray
Lewis from the Baltimore Ravens.
McElwain, a guard and linebacker for Randolph, was a member of
the Cardinals’ state championship team two years ago.
“Winning the 2005 state championship at the dome in Syracuse,”
says the 5-8, 165-pound senior, when asked what his biggest thrill
was playing football.
Playing in the Raabe Classic also means a great deal to him. “I
will be able to represent my school and town and play football one
more time,” he commented.
As a guard and linebacker for Randolph, he received several
post-season honors in addition to his second Big 30 All-Star Team
selection. He was also named first team all-state, named the Lou
Foy Memorial Award winner as Big 30 Defensive Player of the Year,
was a Class D first team pick, and was the Division 9 Defensive
Player of the Year.
McElwain received the Cattaraugus County Youth Citizenship Award
and the U.S. Marine Corps Distinquisted Athlete Award.
An award winner in wrestling as well, he was named the
outstanding wrestler and received the sportsmanship award.
He plans to study diesel mechanics at Ohio Tech.
Portville’s Mike Buchanan has to look no farther than the
Panthers’ win over unbeaten Cattaraugus-Little Valley to find his
biggest thrill while playing football.
The 6-1, 230-pound two-way lineman is now looking forward to
taking part in the Charities Classic in August because it will be,
“a good experience.”
Last year he served as captain of the team and was named the
Most Improved Senior.
Buchanan plans to major in business at either Jamestown
Community College or Alfred State.
His favorite team is Miami and his favorite player is the
Dolphins’ Zach Thomas.
Aaron Cucuzza, 5-10, 230 pounds, was a two-way lineman for the
Walsh Eagles last season.
Looking back at the 2006 campaign he says that, “Playing at
Ralph Wilson Stadium for the Monsignor Martin Championship,” was
the biggest thrill he’s experienced playing the game.
Taking part in the Raabe Classic will add to,”the enjoyment I
derive out of playing football.”
An honor roll student and captain of the football team, Cucuzza
plans to attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania and obtain a
degree in education.
The Buffalo Bills are his favorite team.
Today’s list nears the halfway point of the announcements with
42 players being named.
