Mifflin’s Stewart on Big 33 team

When Cam’Ron Stewart saw an early phone call from Jeff Lang Thursday, he figured the Gov. Mifflin football coach needed help shoveling snow.

Turned out far better than that.

Stewart learned a while later that he had been named to Pennsylvania’s Big 33 football team.

“It was pretty dope,” said the Mustangs defensive end and tight end of the news. “It was an awesome feeling.”

The shoveling was put on hold as Stewart fielded questions from the media and let his family and friends know about the news.

Now he’s eager to get on the field May 31 for the 63rd Big 33 Classic against Maryland at 1 at Central Dauphin’s Landis Field.

“It’s going to be a great experience playing with all these guys,” he said. “I’m always up for a challenge.”

He’ll have a chance to measure himself against other Division I players and get a taste of what college ball will be like.

“That’s always the goal, to show everybody my talents and just show Rutgers what I can do for my freshman year,” Stewart said.

The Big 33 game was not played in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic but all systems are a go for this year’s game.

Stewart was selected as a defensive end, the spot he’ll play at Rutgers, and where he was slotted on the Pennsylvania Sportswriters All-State team following a banner senior season.

He was named Berks County Defensive Lineman of the Year for the second straight year and helped the Mustangs to their greatest season, one that saw them go 8-1, win their first district championship and reach the PIAA Class 5A semifinals before falling to Pine-Richland in a playoff classic.

He recorded 39 tackles, eight for loss, and had four sacks. He was also a key blocker on an offense that set a program record by averaging 54.4 points per game.

Stewart, who committed to Rutgers last March, was confident he’d make the Big 33 roster. His coach said it was a nobrainer.

“There would’ve been something wrong with the universe if he didn’t get in,” Lang said.

Stewart is one of seven players from District 3 selected, joining Warwick lineman Nolan Rucci, Manheim Township quarterfinal Evan Clark, Warwick wide receiver Caleb Schmitz, Central York wide receiver Judah Tomb, McCaskey kicker Samuel Hershey and Middletown long snapper Brock Welsh.

Rucci follows his dad, Todd, to the game, as does Stewart. His father, Lamar, who played at Reading High and Penn State, played in the 2001 game.

Cam’Ron said he gained an understanding of the bigness of the Big 33 game when he watched video of his father playing in the game. He said it became a goal when he was in junior high to reach this level.

“When I was 13 or 14, I saw on Twitter some of the players who got nominated for this game and I thought, ‘That could be me my senior year, going to a big school and playing football,’ “he said.