General | February 14, 2019 | 12:00
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DETROIT (2/14/19) -- The Detroit Sports Commission (DSC) announced today the matchups for the 15th annual Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic to take place Aug. 29-31 at Wayne State University in Detroit.
Highlighted by six games that include the Division 1, 2 and 3 defending Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state champions, the showcase lineup will also feature past state champions, two first-time matchups, and three new participants.
"The Detroit Sports Commission is pleased to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic and announce what we believe to be a must-see lineup of games," said Kris Smith, DSC director. "Thanks to Xenith's support, we have a great collection of teams, bands, cheerleaders and fans from high schools who get to experience this signature event in the city of Detroit."
The Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic will kick off at 4 p.m. on Aug. 29 with the first-ever clash between Birmingham Brother Rice and Utica Eisenhower. In the nightcap, 2018 MHSAA Division 1 state champion Chippewa Valley will face off with Saline at 7 p.m.
On Aug. 30, first-time Prep Kickoff Classic participants Grosse Pointe South and Birmingham Groves will play at 4 p.m. followed by the 2018 MHSAA Division 2 state champion Warren De La Salle against 2018 MHSAA Division 3 finalist Muskegon at 7 p.m. Detroit Catholic Central and 2018 MHSAA Division 3 state champion Detroit Martin Luther King will square off for the first time since 2001 in the Aug. 31 opener at 1 p.m. The finale at 4 p.m. will feature a first-time matchup between Detroit Cass Tech and Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago, Ill.), who captured the Class 5A football titles in 2016 and 2017.
Detroit-based football brand Xenith returns as title sponsor of the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic helping infuse resources and support to continue advancing the event to secure prestige and recognition. Xenith is the recognized leader in helmet technology and exclusively produces Five-Star helmets under the widely accepted Virginia Tech rating system, and all Xenith helmets score in the Top-Performing Group of the NFL Laboratory Testing Performance Results.
"For the 3rd year in a row, we are proud to be the title sponsor for the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic," said Ryan Sullivan, Xenith CEO. "We are dedicated and passionate about supporting the Detroit community and youth athletics. As an established helmet company based in Detroit, Xenith is thrilled to continue our support during this weekend celebration of high school football."
Tickets are available online at detroitsports.org/pkctickets with a portion of the proceeds benefitting each school. For a limited time only, fans will receive 15 percent off their order in honor of the event celebrating 15 years. One ticket grants admission to all games on that particular day.
About the Detroit Sports Commission
The mission of the Detroit Sports Commission (DSC) is to market and sell metro Detroit as a premier destination for regional, national and international amateur sporting events. The DSC is a not-for-profit charitable organization, IRS 501 (C) (3), and a subsidiary of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB). For more information, visit www.detroitsports.org.
About Xenith
Detroit-based Xenith, founded in 2006, has been on a mission to improve football through protective gear designed, first and foremost, for athletes. Xenith's focus starts on the field, engaging with players, coaches and equipment managers. They take that feedback to their in-house design team, who uses it to create gear that transcends protection alone – designing for fit, feel, comfort, style and protection. In addition to its lineup of top-rated helmets, Xenith produces a premium line of shoulder pads and other accessories for the football athlete. Xenith continues to innovate and discover new opportunities to enable the athlete's pursuit. For more information, please visit xenith.com and engage with us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
