The 19th edition of the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic will take place August 29-30 at Wayne State. The four-game slate will feature three teams that finished 2023 in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football. Seven of the teams are from Michigan with Cleveland Heights from Ohio crossing the state border on the opening weekend of high school football in the Wolverine State.
More: 2023 HSFA 300 national rankings
The action will kick-off on August 29 with Downriver League members Southgate Anderson (7-3 in 2023) facing Trenton (5-5). In the nightcap, reigning Division 2 runner-up Warren De La Salle (11-3) will battle Davison (12-1), which finished No. 209 in the HSFA 300 last season. DLS was ranked No. 273 nationally.
The next day, Division 1 runner-up Belleville (13-1), led by top quarterback recruit and LSU-commit Bryce Underwood, will face Clarkston (6-6) in the opener. Belleville was ranked in the Top 100 prior to losing to Southfield A&T in the state championship game. The Tigers finished No. 163 in the HSFA 300.
In the final game of the Prep Kickoff Classic, Detroit King (7-6) will play Cleveland Heights (11-2), featuring Ohio’s 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year Marquise Davis, who has given his verbal to Kentucky. Davis is one of High School Football America’s Top 100 running backs in the Class of 2025.
Cleveland Heights has been made famous being the alma mater of NFL’ers Jason and Travis Kelce.
Last year’s event attracted a record 14,700 fans.
