The second 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 and New York leads 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 Salamanca’s Zachary Helms and Ira John and Pioneer’s Dillon Giboo and Brian Wittmeyer.

Pennsylvania’s additions are Bradford’s Donny Pattison and Nathan Gehm, the fourth and fifth Owls selected,  and Otto-Eldred’s Chase Sebastian and Charles Lee.

Today’s additions bring to 16 the number of players named to the game — eight to each roster. Eventually, both squads will number some 40-plus players.

Pattison was a 6-foot-2, 208-pound running back/cornerback.

A Big 30 All-Star, he was also the District 9 Large-School Offensive MVP and was selected to the D-9 large-school all-star team on both offense and defense.

He was a two-time team MVP and won both the Most Tenacious Player Award and Wayne Company Impact Yardage Player of the Week citation.

His last two seasons, Bradford went 6-5 and 7-3 and the Owls’ coaching staff will be in charge of Pennsylvania in the Big 30 All-Star Charity Classic’s 46th renewal.

He was a team captain and four-year letterwinner in football. In basketball, Pattison,a Defensive Award winner, was a two- time captain and three-year letterwinner.

However his most impressive credentials are in track where he was a five-time district medalist, a three-time district champion and winner of the Matt Zapel Award.

Pattison will attend Penn State University and major in mathematics with a minor in secondary education.

Gehm was a 5-7, 220-pound defensive tackle who also won the Most Tenacious Player Award,  was also earned Player of the Week and District 9 Outstanding Athlete citations.

He will enter the military after graduation.

His favorite football memory was “the Senior Night win against Clarion.”

Sebastian was a 6-1, 170-pound wide receiver/quarterback on offense and a defensive back who was selected to the Allegheny Mountain League All-Star team. A baseball all-star, he will play that sport at Wells College and study criminal justice.

His favorite memory playing football was “winning the AML North title two years in a row.”

Otto-Eldred went 6-5 Chase’s 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.

Lee was a 5-9, 175-pound offensive guard/defensive end who was an AML All-Star, District 9 co-Offensive Lineman of the Year and winner of the D-9 Outstanding Athlete Award.

He will enter the Army after graduation.

Of the Charities Classic, he said, “It’s been a dream of mine to play in the Big 30 Game since I was a little kid. It’s a family tradition as I have two uncles and a cousin who have played in the game.”

His favorite memory playing football was “running back a kickoff for a touchdown in my last regular-season game.”

Helms, a 5-foot-8, 150-pound wide receiver/defensive back, was a Section 6 Class D All-Star and Salamanca’s Most Improved Player as a junior. He was also MIP in track as a sophomore and earned the Sportsmanship Award in basketball as a junior.

A scholar-athlete and high honor roll student he has yet to choose a college but will major in sports management.

His most memorable football moment was “beating Maple Grove on a game-winning field goal.”

John, a 5-11, 185-pound running back/wide receiver was named to the Big 30 All-Star team. He was a two-time Offensive MVP for Salamanca and two-time Section 6 Class D All-Star and also All-Western New York honorable mention.

A two-time scholar-athlete and high honor roll student who made WNY’s All-Academic team he was tabbed Warrior of the Month.

John hasn’t chosen a college but wants to play football.

His most memorable time playing the game was, “the opportunity to play with my two cousins (Asa and Sam John), my brother, Leland, and my best friend (Tyler Hedlund) all at the same time.”

Wittmeyer was a 6-foot, 185-pound tight end/linebacker who was a first team Section 6 Class B-1 all-star on offense as a senior and second team defense as a junior.

He helped Pioneer to a 6-3 record and its first playoff berth in four years, as a junior. His senior season, the Panthers went 10-1, losing to Cheektowaga, 14-7 in the B-1 final, a team it had beaten 33-14 in the regular season.

He plans to work as a heavy equipment operator after graduation.

Of his football experience, Wittmeyer said, “My entire senior year was great, but scoring a touchdown at New Era Field and the support of the fans will always be my best memories.”

Giboo, 5-8, 150 pounds, played quarterback, running back and wide receiver on offense as well as defensive back. He earned the Coaches Award as a freshman, sophomore and senior and also received the Character Athlete of the Game Award. His five fumble recoveries as a senior are a Pioneer single-season record.

When Giboo chooses a college, he will major in physical education and special education.

His favorite moment in football was “playing at New Era Field for the Class B-1 Section 6 title.”