HERSHEY, Pa. -- Hersheypark Stadium has not been kind to Bethlehem Liberty quarterback Dan Persa the past two years. But he made sure his last game there produced a good memory.

And if this was the last Big 33 game -- most people close to the game believe strongly that it will continue -- the stars from Pennsylvania made sure it was a happy ending to the series.

Persa, a Northwestern recruit, ran for two touchdowns and threw for another last night to lead Pennsylvania past Ohio, 28-10, before 15,033.

He was named the most valuable player for Pennsylvania, which took an 11-9 lead in the series.

"It was great to get back here and get a win," said Persa. who had quarterbacked Liberty to the past two PIAA Class AAAA championship games in Hershey, losses to McKeesport (2005) then Upper St. Clair.

"I don't think I can put it into words. This was a storybook ending to my career. It helps that this game was on national television [NFL Network]. I have some steam built up going into college."

A number of WPIAL players had a big hand in Pennsylvania's win as well, particularly Seton-LaSalle lineman Gino Gradkowski, a West Virginia recruit, and Keystone Oaks guard Chris Jacobson (Pitt), who anchored an offensive line that dominated.

Penn State recruit Derek Moye (Rochester) caught five passes for 77 yards and a touchdown. Thomas Jefferson safety Dom DeCicco (Pitt) played defensive end and had two sacks.

Jacobson said it was great to get a chance to play with Gradkowski, who played center, for his final high school game. The two have lived in the same neighborhood for years but had never had a chance to play on the same team.

"Gino is my neighbor, my friend -- we've known each other for so long," Jacobson said. "I just wish he was coming to Pitt. The rest of the team came together nicely -- you'd think that we had been together for a long time."

Pennsylvania took an early 7-3 lead as Persa directed a six-play, 51-yard drive that he finished with a 25-yard touchdown run. The play was a designed quarterback draw and Persa made a nice cutback at the line, then burst through.

Ohio took a 10-7 lead in the second quarter when Perci Garner hit Kyle Jefferson with a 57-yard touchdown pass. Jefferson (6 feet 4, 185) is a Wisconsin recruit from Glenville Academic Center in Cleveland, the alma mater of former Ohio State standout Ted Ginn Jr.

Teammate B.J. Cunningham finished with four receptions for 120 yards and was named the most valuable player for Ohio.

Persa, however, went to work in Pennsylvania's two-minute drill and completed four consecutive passes to reach the Ohio 11 with a minute to play in the half. Then on first down, Persa scrambled around left end for an 11 yard touchdown and a 14-10 Pennsylvania lead.

Pennsylvania was forced to punt on its first second-half possession, but Ohio's Anthony Wright muffed it and Woodland Hills' Rontez Miles recovered at the Ohio 17. Three plays later, Persa scrambled and found Moye in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass and a 21-10 lead.

Henry Hynoski, a Pitt recruit from Southern Columbia, gave Pennsylvania a commanding 28-10 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter when he ran up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown.

Unlike Persa, Hynoski has had plenty of success at Hersheypark Stadium. His high school team won four consecutive PIAA Class A championship games there, two other playoff games and last night's contest. His teams were 7-0 on that field.