General | February 14, 2019 | 11:56
Detroit Catholic Central vs. Detroit King
Saturday, August 31, 1 p.m.
Wayne State University
BUY TICKETS NOW
Two of Michigan's most well-known high school football programs -- Detroit Catholic Central and Detroit King -- will meet up for the sixth time ever and the first time since 2001 in the opening game on Day 3 of the 2019 Prep Kickoff Classic (Saturday, Aug. 31, at 1 p.m.).
King, the reigning Division 3 state champion, has won three championships in the last four years, while Catholic Central, the winner of 10 state championships, was bounced in the district championship round of the 2018 playoffs by West Bloomfield.
King returns several offensive weapons, including senior wide receiver Rashawn Williams and senior running back Peny Boone. Williams and Boone, each equipped with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Syracuse, Indiana and Kentucky, have committed to Indiana and Maryland, respectively.
The Crusaders will have some mighty big shoes to fill at quarterback, though. Dequan Finn, a two-time state champion-winning QB, won the 2018-19 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year after throwing for 2,104 yards and 25 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,264 yards and 21 touchdowns. He will be attending Toledo in the fall.
According to King head man Tyrone Spencer, freshman Dante Moore, with offers from four colleges already, including Michigan and Kentucky, will replace Finn under center.
In Week 1 against the Shamrocks, Moore will surely have a tough test. The Shamrocks, guided by head man Dan Anderson, allowed 14 points or less six times last season.
In 2019, the Shamrocks will be spearheaded by senior running back/strong safety/outside linebacker Cole Price and senior fullback/linebacker Brendin Yatooma.
With the ground-and-pound nature of the Shamrocks plus their QB from last season -- Marco Genrich -- having graduated this past spring, Price and Yatooma should be expected to be relied upon heavily against the Crusaders.
Expect run-heavy offenses from both the Shamrocks and Crusaders in this clash between two of the historically best prep football programs in Michigan.
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.
Detroit Catholic Central Shamrocks
Head coach: Dan Anderson
2018 finish: 7-4 (Lost to West Bloomfield, 20-17, in the Division 1 district championship round)
All-time record against Detroit King: 4-1 (Last played in 2001; Beat King, 34-7, in the Division 1 district championship round)
Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic record: 1-0 (Last played in 2018; Beat Walled Lake Western, 28-7)
Key players (year they're entering in fall): Senior offensive lineman Zachary Carey, senior defensive lineman/OL Steve Kolcheff, senior running back/strong safety/outside linebacker Cole Price, senior linebacker and fullback Brendin Yatooma, senior wide receiver/LB Easton St. Clair, senior defensive back/WR Jacob Young, senior defensive end/FB/LB Jack Birks, senior OL/DL Will Orr, senior safety/RB Donnavan Morgan, senior OL/DL/FB Zach Rood, junior WR/DB Jonathan Brewer, junior offensive and defensive tackle Matt Vallieres, junior quarterback Jack Beno, junior RB/DB Jeran Sennett, junior RB/LB Jace Shular, junior QB Caden Kovath and junior DB Sam Dersa.
Expectations for the 2019 season: "We are going to be young, and I hope we grow up quick or I think it will be a long season," Anderson said.
Thoughts on playing in the Prep Kickoff Classic: "As a coaching staff, we have been working on Detroit King since we found out we will be playing them," Anderson said. "They are one of the best teams in the area, and are always very well-coached with a great amount of Div. 1 talent. We are looking forward to the challenge, because the only way you can truly rate your progress as a team is to play the best. But we know we have our work cut out for us."
Detroit King Crusaders
Head coach: Tyrone Spencer
2018 finish: 12-2 (Defeated Muskegon, 41-25, in the Division 3 state championship game)
All-time record against Detroit Catholic Central: 1-4 (Last played in 2001; Lost to Catholic Central, 34-7, in the Division 1 district championship round)
Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic record: 4-4 (Last played in 2018; Beat East St. Louis, 52-38)
Key players (year they're entering in fall): Senior wide receiver Rashawn Williams, senior offensive tackle and defensive end Deondre Buford, senior running back Peny Boone, junior defensive lineman Esean Carter, junior RB/safety Jaylen Reed, sophomore linebacker Blake Bailiff, senior quarterback Michael Martin-El, senior defensive back Joseph Frazier, freshman QB Dante Moore, junior cornerback Rishad Hence and junior defensive tackle Justin Howard.
Summer update from Coach Spencer: "I like how our offense is improving. Still piecing together the defense. Everybody talks about losing (Dequan) Finn offensively, but defensively, replacing seven starters, like Ray Williams, Marvin Grant, Rich Miller, Ahmad Gardner and the transfer of Lemuel Watley, is tough to do. However, the young talent has been getting better. Guys have been working hard in the weight room to get into shape."
Expectations for the 2019 season: "We aim to win our season opener against CC (Catholic Central), plus our league (the Detroit Public School League) championship and a state title," Spencer said. "Our expectations won't change because guys are leaving. We have the formula in place to get back to the state championship game."
Thoughts on playing in the Prep Kickoff Classic: "The atmosphere is great for kids, and it brings a ton of hype for the entire season," Spencer said. "We want to compete against the best, and CC is definitely one of the best teams in the state."
He added, "Through this game, we want to see where we're at and how we can get better as the season progresses."
