Pennsylvania jumped out to a 27-6 lead through three quarters of the 46th annual Big 30 Charities Classic, but New York, led by quarterback Nick Rinker, came back in the fourth quarter to salvage a 27-27 tie and maintain New York’s lead in the series. 

With the deadlock, the series now stands in New York’s favor at 22-21-3. 

A Noah Costa (Smethport) field goal and a 12-yard touchdown run by Donny Pattison (Bradford) put Pennsylvania up 10-0 through the first quarter. 

Costa knocked through another field goal with 13:26 left in the first half to extend the Pennsy lead to 13-0.

But New York answered later on when Rinker (Pioneer) hit receiver Alex Card (Southwestern) for a 77-yard touchdown to bring the Empire State to within 13-6 with 5:05 left in the half. 

With 31.9 seconds left in the half, Mason Klesa (Coudersport) found Issac Schloder (Ridgway) for a six-yard touchdown pass to put PA up 20-6 going into halftime. 

In the third quarter, Pennsylvania’s defense settled back into its dominance, and a 65-yard touchdown run from Cole Secco (Ridgway) extended the Keystone State’s lead to 27-6. 

But as the fourth quarter started, the New York offense came to life and the defense flipped the switch, too. 

Rinker hit paydirt on a two-yard run with 13:11 left in the game to draw New York to within 27-12. Then, the New York defense forced a three-and-out, and a bobbled snap on the ensuing punt gave the Empire State the ball back on the Pennsylvania 29. 

Rinker capitalized on the first play from scrimmage by finding DeAndre Ahrens (Cuba-Rushford) for a 29-yard score. 

The two connected for another score with 4:31 left to play to cut the PA lead to 27-25, and then New York converted its two-point attempt on its rendition of the “Philly special.” Receiver Ira John (Salamanca) took a reverse and connected on a pass to Connor Parsons (Allegany-Limestone) to tie the game at 27. 

The teams traded turnovers and three-and-outs the rest of the way, and the final score stood at 27-27. 

A full recap will be published in Monday’s edition of the Bradford Era.