Guide To The Detroit Prep Football Classic
(credit: istock.com)
This prep football showcase puts the best high school football programs from all of Southeastern Michigan against one another. This is the premiere event of the opening weekend for the high school football season. The event started in 2005 and was originally called the Big Game Prep Showdown and was played at Eastern Michigan University's Rynerson Stadium. For 2012, the event changed its name to the Detroit Prep Kickoff Classic and has moved to Tom Adams Field at Wayne State University.
"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."
Ticket Pricing
- Friday - $8, pre-order $10
- Saturday - $12, pre-order $10
- Admission for children five and younger is free on both days.
To purchase pre-event tickets, please contact the school you'd like to support.
Schedule
Friday August 24
- 4 P.M. Southgate Anderson vs. Woodhaven
- 7:30 P.M. Dearborn vs. Clinton Twp. Chippewa Valley
Saturday August 25
- 11 A.M. Detroit East Village Prep vs. Oak Park
- 1:30 P.M. Port Huron vs. Utica Eisenhower
- 4:30 P.M. Detroit King vs. Southfield
- 7:30 P.M. Birmingham Brother Rice vs. Detroit Cass Tech
Must See Matchup
Our in-house football fanatic and blogger Price Burton is paying special attention to the Birmingham Brother Rice vs. Detroit Cass Tech game. Read his thoughts on the matchup.
The biggest game of the weekend based on last season's results is between Birmingham Brother Rice and Detroit Cass Tech. Both team's won state championships last season, Cass Tech won the division 1 state championship, while Brother Rice is the reigning division 2 state champs. It's a matchup of perennial powers who have developed numerous top level college and NFL players. Since 2007 there have been 37 players between the two schools that have signed division 1 scholarships. Notable NFL players from both schools include T.J. Lang starting right guard for the Green Bay Packers and Joseph Barksdale starting right tackle for the Oakland Raiders. Notable players to look for in this game include Brother Rice middle linebacker and Michigan State commit Jon Reschke. Cass Tech currently has five players that will be playing Big Ten football next year including cornerback Jourdan Lewis and o-lineman David Dawson. Both players are committed to Michigan. D-lineman Kenton Gibbs is committed to Illinois. Free safety Delano Hill is committed to Iowa. Left tackle Dennis Finley is undecided, but is down to a final three of Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State. That's more players going to Big Ten schools than an average school has over the course of a century.
History
This is the 8th year of the event. There have been many classic games and great players have been featured at the Prep Football Classic -- the upcoming weekend looks no different. More than 40 players have gone on to play college ball. The event is run by the Detroit Sports Commission who is in charge of selling metro Detroit as a premiere destination for regional, national, and international amateur sporting events. They have run events such as the 2005 MLB All Star Game, 2006 Super Bowl, 2009 NCAA Men's Final Four, and 2010 NCAA Frozen Four to name a few. If the Detroit Sports Commission is running it you know that it will be first class.
Directions
Directions to the athletic campus (Matthaei Building, Adams Field)
From the West - Take I-94 East. Exit at Trumball Avenue. Turn Right onto Trumball Avenue, then left onto Warren Avenue. Parking is in lot 50 off Warren Avenue.
From the East - Take I-94 West. Exit at Woodward/Brush Avenues. Remain on Ford Service Drive to Woodward Avenue. Turn left onto Woodward Avenue, going south to Warren Avenue. Turn right onto Warren Avenue, Continue west on Warren Avenue to Lodge Freeway (M-10) overpass. Lot 50 is located on your right just pass the overpass.
From the North - Take I-75 South to Warren Avenue Exit. Turn Right onto Warren Avenue. Continue West on Warren Avenue to Lodge Freeway (M-10) Overpass. Lot 50 is located just past the Overpass.
From the South - Take I-75 North to lodge freeway (M-10) North. Exit at Forrest/Warren Avenues. Turn left onto Warren Avenue (2nd Light). Cross Over Lodge Freeway and turn right into lot 50.
From Windsor - Start out going Northeast on Fort Street West/ M-3 toward St.Anne Street (1.2 miles). Turn left onto lodge freeway (M-10) North (1.5 miles). Exit at Forrest/Warren Avenues. Turn left onto Warren Avenue (2nd light). Cross over Lodge Freeway and turn right into lot 50.
Parking
According to event organizers, parking for the general public will be available in the follow locations near Tom Adams Field. Parking Map
- Lot #40 and Lot #50 – Located near the South end of the stadium off of Warren Ave. Parking will cost $8
- Additional parking is also available in Parking Structure #2. Parking Structure #2 is located on the East side of the John C. Lodge Freeway. Fans that park in Parking Structure #2 can access Tom Adams Field via the skywalk. Parking will cost $4.75 with debit/credit card or $5 with cash.
Note: Fans are advised to use the lots listed above and not to park on or West of Trumbull Street. Fans are also advised not to park in the University Plaza Parking Lot located on the south side of Warren Ave. These areas are considered private property and violators may be towed. The Detroit Sports Commission is not responsible for any vehicles that are towed.
Video Coverage
The high school sports show "State Champs" is one of the event's main sponsors and is filming a preview for the high school football season. The special will air Saturday, August 25th on CW50.
Check out the State Champs' Prep Football Classic promo video.
_
_
