The 2022 Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic will kick-off the high school football campaign as the premier season-opening high school football showcase in Michigan. Six games will highlight the event over three days, including teams from multiple divisions and powerhouse conferences.  

2022 Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 25
Brother Rice vs. Macomb Dakota, 4:10 p.m.
Sterling Heights Stevenson vs. West Bloomfield, 7:10 p.m.
 
Friday, Aug. 26
Allen Park vs. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 4 p.m.
Belleville vs. Novi, 7 p.m.
 
Saturday, Aug. 27
Dexter vs. Grosse Pointe South, 1 p.m.
Cedar Springs vs. River Rouge, 4 p.m.

Xenith Returns as Event Title Sponsor
For the sixth year, Detroit-based Xenith is the event's title sponsor, reaffirming its commitment to elevate the event experience for players, coaches, and fans. Xenith is known for offering football players, parents, and teams the best value and protection through better fitting, more durable football equipment, all-inclusive helmet reconditioning, and transparent pricing solutions for coaches.

Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic Scholarship
The 2022 Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic Scholarship returned as part of a benefit for schools participating in the prep football showcase event.
 
All incoming high school seniors (Class of 2023) were invited to apply for the opportunity to win $5,000 for their post-secondary education. This year's scholarship theme focused on community and applicants were asked to demonstrate how they have made a positive impact in their community and how it has prepared them to be a leader inside and outside of the classroom.
 
The two scholarship finalists are Carlie Boals/Novi H.S. and Kameron Billingsley/Brother Rice H.S. who will compete in an on-field football passing contest during halftime of the Sterling Heights Stevenson vs. West Bloomfield game on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. The first-place winner will receive $5,000 and the second-place winner will receive $1,000.

XPKC Match-Ups Span The State of Michigan and Three Adjoining States
Since the inaugural year of the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic in 2005, the season-opening prep showcase event has focused on inclusion in match-ups and has included more than 90 schools from the city of Detroit, metro Detroit, across the state of Michigan and Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. 
 
XPKC in Detroit
In its 17th year, the 2022 Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic marks ten years in Midtown Detroit at Wayne State University's Tom Adams Field following the events' early years at Eastern Michigan University's Rynearson Stadium.  The 2012 XPKC match-ups at W.S.U. were the first games played under the lights at WSU.
 
XPKC Broadcast Schedule
The Thursday, Aug. 25 XPKC games will be broadcast on Bally Sports Detroit. Broadcasters will be Evan Stockton on play-by-play, Devin Gardner on color commentary and reporter Natalie Kerwin for the Brother Rice vs. Macomb Dakota game and Johnny Kane joining Gardner and Kerwin for the West Bloomfield vs. Sterling Heights Stevenson nightcap with with both games available on either BSDET, BSDET+, the Bally Sports App or BallySports.com  Bally Sports Detroit will also bring an on-site fan fest concept and set with John Keating as host to Tom Adams Field. MHSAA TV will broadcast on Aug. 26 with play-by-play from Joe Jason and color commentary from Al Pscholka, and on Saturday, Aug. 27 with David Sackrider providing the play-by-play and Adam Schihl adding the color commentary. Fans can watch by going to detroitsports.org/xpkcmhsaatv.
 
Detroit Sports Commission N.I.L. Brand Ambassadors
The Detroit Sports Commission developed "Brand Ambassador" N.I.L. agreements with five NCAA student-athletes for the 17th Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic (XPKC). The five student-athlete XPKC Brand Ambassadors are:
 
Antonio Gates Jr. from Dearborn Fordson H.S. currently a freshman wide receiver at Michigan State University. Twitter: @AntoniogatesJr1

Dequan Finn from Detroit Martin Luther King H.S. currently a sophomore quarterback for the University of Toledo. Twitter: @Dequanfinn5
 
Cameron Martinez from Muskegon H.S. currently a 3rd year defensive back for Ohio State University. Twitter:  @C_Mart1k
 
Lew Nichols from Detroit Cass Tech H.S. currently a junior running back for Central Michigan University Twitter: @LewNichols_
 
DeAndre Square from Detroit Cass Tech H.S. currently a 5th year starting linebacker with the University of Kentucky. Twitter: @D_square10
 
The five student-athletes helped create awareness and excitement for the XPKC through activity on their social media platforms, the DSC social media channels and other prep football-related social media.  All five student-athletes maintain active ties in the Detroit and statewide prep football community.