The third group of eight players named to the 46th annual Big 30 Charities Classic has been released.  This year’s game is set for the night of Aug. 3 at Bradford’s Parkway Field.

The all-star football game, founded by Don Raabe, matches graduated senior stars from each side of the Big 30 border with New York leading the series, 22-21-2, though Pennsylvania has won three straight games, including last August’s 37-22 triumph.

Proceeds benefit area charities and, over the first 45 years, the game has donated nearly $1.7 million to area causes.

Added today to the New York squad are Portville’s Noah Pullins and Matthew Reisman, Olean’s Alex Pantuso and Cuba-Rushford’s Gavin Ponka.

Pennsylvania’s addees are Otto-Eldred’s Christopher Connelly and Brady Valerius, Elk County Catholic’s Hunter Cashmer and Ridgway’s Chase Pontius.

Today’s additions bring to 24 the number of players named to the game — 12 to each roster. Eventually, both squads will number some 40-plus players.

Connelly was a 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver/fullback/running back on offense and linebacker/end on defense who won the Coaches Award as a sophomore.

In baseball he was Small School North Defensive MVP as a senior and Offensive MVP as a sophomore.

A four-year high honor roll student and National Honor Society member, he has yet to choose a college. Connelly also was given Citizenship Award as a sophomore.

His favorite moment playing football was “winning the AML North two years in a row and going to the playoffs both years … the first times the team went to the playoffs.”

Otto-Eldred went 6-5 in Connelly and Valerius’ junior year, but 5-0 in the North, a year after going 5-5 with all five victories in the division to claim consecutive crowns.

Valerius was a 6-foot, 175-pound fullback/defensive end who was O-E’s Homecoming Game’s Defensive MVP.

He will attend Clarion University and major in business management.

His favorite football memory was “the Smethport game this year … the rain, the mud and the way our team came together only to lose by a two-point conversion. I saw how much the game meant to my teammates and no one gave up.”

Cashmer was a 6-foot, 180-pound wide receiver/linebacker who was a two-time team captain, two-time selection to the District 9 and Allegheny Mountain League all-star teams and also tabbed to this year’s Frank Varischetti All-Star Game which is set five weeks before the Big 30 Charities Classic.

An honor student, he will attend Clarion University and major in criminal justice.

His favorite football memory was “winning the District 9 Small-School Division Championship my senior year” in ECC’s 7-3 season.

Pontious was a 5-11, 255-pound two-way tackle who was the District 9 Defensive Lineman of the Year and won the Elkers’ Coaches Award.

He will attend Westmoreland Community College for electrical studies.

He wants to play in the Charities Classic “because both my dad and brother played in the Big 30 game and it’s been one of my goals to play in the game.”

During his three varsity seasons, Ridgway went 30-9 with the Elkers winning three District 9 titles, A crowns in 2016 and ‘17 and the AA title last fall.

His favorite moment playing football was “beating Curwensville for the D9 title after they were beat us earlier in the year.”

Pullins was a 6-foot-3, 175-pound wide receiver/punter who will study early childhood education at the University of Indiana (Pa.)

His most memorable moment playing football was “beating our rival Allegany-Limestone.”

Reisman was a 6-foot, 220-pound two-way lineman who will pursue a career in welding.

“His favorite moment playing football last season was “winning our home opener (against A-L).

Pantuso was a 5-8, 215-pound offensive guard/defensive end who was a three-time Section 6 Class B-2 all-star.

He has yet to choose a college.

Pantuso’s favorite football memory was “beating Springville my sophomore year to win our league.”

In his three varsity seasons, the Huskies went 17-9 including that 8-1 season that produced a B-2 title in 2016.

Ponka was a 6-2, 202-pound tight end/defensive end who was his team’s Homecoming Defensive MVP and a  onner and Ferris Bowl Sportsmanship Award winner.

He will attend Penn-State-Behrend and major in civil engineering.

His favorite moment playing football was “getting an interception on Senior Night (against Perry-Mt. Morris).”