Coach Thomas Wilcher and Division 1 champion Detroit Cass Tech takes on Birmingham Brother Rice in Prep Kickoff Classic's marquee game. (John T. Greilick / Detroit News)
Detroit — The premier season-opening high school football event in Michigan has a new name and a new home. The Detroit Sports Commission announced Tuesday that the Prep Kickoff Classic will be in Detroit at Tom Adams Field on Wayne State's campus, Aug. 24-25.
The event had been known as the Big Day Prep Showdown and was at Eastern Michigan University.
The featured matchup this year will be Detroit Cass Tech, the defending Division 1 champion, against defending Division 2 champion Birmingham Brother Rice. The game will be played on Saturday night, Aug. 25.
The setting comes on the heels of Wayne State's first Division 2 championship game appearance and the Detroit Public School League's first Division 1 title.
"We are delighted to host this event. It is a great way for people to come and see Wayne State and Midtown Detroit," said Allan Gilmour, Wayne State president.
Two games will be on Friday, Aug. 24, beginning with Dearborn against Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, followed by Downriver League rivals Southgate Anderson and Woodhaven.
The first of four games the following day features Detroit Crockett and Oak Park. That will be followed by a Macomb Area Conference matchup featuring Division 2 semifinalist Utica Eisenhower against Port Huron, which reached the Division 2 region finals. Detroit King and Southfield will play in the third game with the Cass Tech-Brother Rice game to follow.
"The Detroit Sports Commission Prep Kickoff Classic will provide an electric, bowl-game like atmosphere for high school football in the city of Detroit," said Dave Beachnau, Detroit Sports Commission executive director and organizer and founder of the event. "We believe that the setting in Midtown Detroit at Wayne State will create a unique and memorable experience for the players and fans of high school football and support the mission of Detroit Sports to bring sporting events and visitors to the area."
SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 24
Dearborn vs. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Southgate Anderson and Woodhaven, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 25
Detroit Crockett vs. Oak Park, 11 a.m.
Utica Eisenhower vs. Port Huron, 1:30 p.m.
Detroit King vs. Southfield, 4:30 p.m.
Detroit Cass Tech vs. Birmingham Brother Rice, 7:30 p.m.
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