General | August 26, 2019 | 22:51

Twelve teams have anxiously waited all summer long for one thing: the 15th annual Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic, taking place from Thursday, Aug. 29 – Saturday, Aug. 31. Over the years, the event has become the premier high school football event during the opening week of the season throughout the entire Midwest. This year will be no different with six great matchups spread across three days at Tom Adams Field on the campus of Wayne State University.

In fact, it's the only event statewide all season long that will feature three state champions from last year -- Division 1 state champion Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, Division 2 state champion Warren De La Salle and Division 3 state champion Detroit King -- as well as Division 3 state finalist Muskegon.    

It all starts with Birmingham Brother Rice taking on Utica Eisenhower in the squads' first-ever matchup with each other (Thursday at 4 p.m.).

Two striking similarities between the schools: Both have missed the playoffs only once since the turn of the 21st century (Eisenhower in 2013 and Brother Rice in 2015), and both feature senior quarterbacks that saw playing time last season (Blake Rastigue for the Eagles and Greg Piscopink for the Warriors).  

In the nightcap on day one (Thursday at 7 p.m.), it's Chippewa Valley squaring off with Saline in a rematch from Week 1 of last season (the Big Reds beat Saline, 31-26).

The Big Reds, coming off a 14-0 season and their first Division 1 state championship in school history, will have to replace a lot of production in order to repeat as champs, including nine starters on defense and five on offense.

Among the players to replace for the Big Reds is three-year varsity starting quarterback Tommy Schuster, who graduated this spring and now is at North Dakota. The favorite in the clubhouse to replace him: senior Josh Kulka, who saw time at wide receiver last season. Sophomore Ryan Schuster, Tommy's brother, and junior Jack Donovan could also see snaps at QB this season.

Meanwhile, Saline, coming off a Division 1 state semifinal appearance (lost to Clarkston, 21-2), will be led under center by either sophomore Larry Robinson or junior Anthony Ferrari.

Day two commences with first-time PKC participants Birmingham Groves and Grosse Pointe South squaring off with one another (Friday at 4 p.m.). They're also both upstart programs.  

A season ago, Groves finished with at least 10 wins for only the third time in program history (10-3), while South finished with eight wins for only the fifth time since 2000 (8-2).

Last season, Groves, spearheaded by senior quarterback Markis Alexander, senior linebacker/running back Ralph Donaldson and senior outside linebacker/weak-side safety Kaleb Coleman, also advanced to the state semifinals for just the second time in program history (first time came in 2016; lost to King, 14-7).

The team that Groves lost to in the semifinal round: the eventual Division 2 state champion De La Salle Pilots, who are playing in the nightcap on day two (Friday at 7 p.m.).

The two-time reigning state champion Pilots will be facing off with Muskegon, who will be led for a second straight year by senior dual-threat QB and Ohio State commit Cameron Martinez.

The schools also did battle in Week 1 a season ago, with Martinez and Muskegon prevailing, 36-21.

Just like last year, this year's Muskegon-DLS contest is a must-see matchup.

The three-time state champion Pilots, who have won two of their state titles since head coach Mike Giannone took over the program in 2016, have easily become one of the best teams on the east side of Michigan. A few of Giannone's key players this year will be senior four-star offensive tackle and Ohio State commit Grant Toutant, senior offensive lineman Adam Zep and senior defensive end/linebacker Michael Young.

Meanwhile, Muskegon, which has captured six state titles, is arguably the best team on the west side of the state.

"I can't wait to be a part of this powerhouse matchup," Toutant said. "This is our year, in our house (DLS plays its home games at Tom Adams Field)! I think we are more prepared than last year, and know a bit more of what to expect. We all know and understand what we have on the line this year, and are ready to go to battle."  

He added, "I think being part of the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic is just going to bring more energy to the game and the fans."            

The third and final day of the PKC kicks off in exciting fashion with a powerhouse matchup featuring  Detroit Catholic Central and King (Saturday at 1 p.m.), and ends with a bang with Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago, Ill.), clashing with perennial state power Detroit Cass Tech (Saturday at 4 p.m.).

Reigning Division 3 state champion King, which has won three state championships the last four years, will meet up with 10-time state champion Catholic Central for the sixth time ever and the first time since 2001. CC owns the all-time head-to-head record with King, 4-1.

King returns several offensive and defensive playmakers, including senior wide receiver Rashawn Williams (Indiana commit), senior running back Peny Boone (Maryland commit) and junior safety Jaylen Reed.

However, the Crusaders will have mighty big shoes to fill in replacing Dequan Finn, a two-time state champion-winning QB who won the 2018-19 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year. The first guy that will take a stab at doing so is highly-touted freshman Dante Moore, who already possesses an offer from Michigan. He has an extremely tough first test as a high school passer in facing the Shamrocks, which allowed 14 points or less six times last season, and he's well aware of it.

"It means a lot to me getting the chance to kick off my (prep) career against a great team in Catholic Central," Moore said. "Playing against such a great team, I think, will definitely bring out my competitiveness."

The finale of the 2019 PKC will feature the aforementioned Cass Tech Technicians, trying to rebound from a disappointing 2018 finish in which they lost in the Division 1 district championship round, 41-14, to Dearborn Fordson, taking on a talented Wendell Phillips Wildcats squad. Wendell Phillips has won two state titles in Illinois since 2015 (most recently in 2017).

Both teams should be state title contenders once again this season.  

To watch the Technicians and Wildcats clash, as well as the event's five other terrific matchups, purchase tickets online at detroitsports.org/pkctickets or through the mobile app, GoFan.

 A portion of the pre-sale proceeds benefits the schools. Tickets at the gate on game days are $10. Children 5 and under are free. One ticket grants admission to all games on that particular day.