Jersey Shore HC Tom Gravish Delivers Big 33 win, dedicates the Victory to Max Engle.

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Billy Splain | May 27, 2024

Jersey Shore head coach Tom Gravish led team PA to a 31-7 over Maryland in the 2024 Big 33 Football Classic held at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Stadium. But it wasn’t just the win on his mind after the game. Last season Gravish and the Jersey Shore community lost a player during the season. Max Engle. It was that player that Gravish and the entire Big 33 team honored all night long. They wore the signature Orange #4 on their helmets during the game.

“That meant a lot” said Gravish.  “You know, they even asked about when I first met them. Whether it was on call or you know down here you know.  I’m really sorry for what happened some of their high schools were the first ones to reach out for what we went through. God bless, you know, Max Engles family and I think Max was, I kind of felt like he was here today, especially you know, when all those guys are so eager to put that four on their helmet. I was just overwhelmed. I dedicate this win to him and just, you know, everyone”.

Gravish has coached some great teams throughout his career. He also dedicated the win to them. “You know I gotta give credit. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my guys in Jersey Shore with years and guys that I coached with at Williamsport, Bellefonte and East Juniata and my young career is assistant coach in Bald Eagle area.  So I wouldn’t be here without this type of great people. My head coach Gawen Stoker you know he just loved this Big 33 game. He coached in it. This was his life as a director and so I’m thinking about him tonight too”.

About the performances and coaching this all-star team, Gravish said it wasn’t very difficult at all. “Man, that Tyseer Denmark, a few of them, but he has a great future ahead of him at Penn State”.

They had such great attitude they had such great attitudes all the way back when I first made conversation I talked to every player personally like on the phone then when we set up e-mail teams and we’ve been communicating since they were selected.  We’ve had I can’t tell you how many zoom meetings and you could just tell their attitude. They come from first class programs. First class head coaches at these programs. Championship programs. Our emphasis has been all the way back, holding that championship trophy. We broke down in champions I think almost every session of practice. These guys are champions in their communities, they’re champions in their classrooms they’re going to these schools and their champions on football field. They’re just, all these guys, we love them man. I’m just so excited for them. I mean gotta credit to the Big 33 committee, I’m just thankful to be picked.

Gravish poses with a Jersey Shore student who was chosen to be a Big 33 Cheerleader.

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