Photo: Detroit News
Trenton’s Gabe Doree (30) runs for a touchdown while being chased by Allen Park’s Nick Arnoldy on Friday.
Four games are now in the books at the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State University.
Three more games are scheduled for today (Saturday) to conclude the showcase event.
Tickets at the gate are $10. Tickets can also be purchased online at detroitsports.org/pkctickets.
Trenton beat Allen Park 27-21 in the opener on Friday, Aug. 24, and Davison downed Southfield Arts & Technology 28-6 in the nightcap.
In Thursday’s games, Oak Park convincingly avenged last season’s loss to Utica Eisenhower in the Classic’s opener, as the Knights rolled past the Eagles, 31-13. Novi Detroit Catholic Central opened its season by pounding Walled Lake Western 28-7 in the nightcap.
The event is operated by the Detroit Sports Commission and is sponsored by Xenith football helmets.
The event was launched in 2005 as the Big Day Prep Showdown and hosted by Eastern Michigan University. The event moved to Wayne State University.
Below are results/schedule for the 2018 Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic:
Thursday, Aug. 23
With a lineup filled with Division 1 talent, the Knights powered past the Eagles. Ohio State commit Dwan Mathis rushed for two touchdowns. He also connected with Jesse Brown for a 26-yard touchdown pass. Defensive back Enzo Jennings recovered a fumble and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown. Phillip Stewart rushed for a 29-yard touchdown. It was Oak Park’s sixth appearance in the Classic.
> Oak Park dominant in victory over Utica Eisenhower: three takeaways
> Top recruit Justin Rogers overshadowed by speedster Phillip Stewart
> Oak Park's Mathis still committed to Ohio State
> Oak Park QB Dwan Mathis remains committed to Ohio State amid turmoil
> Oak Park beats Utica Eisenhower
Senior Keegan Koehler rushed for 244 yards on 25 carries and scored two touchdowns (seven yards and 16 yards) and to lead the Shamrocks past the Warriors. Senior Bryson Trantham (10 yards) and junior Jack Birks (one-yard) each added touchdowns. The Catholic Central defense was stellar in holding down the potent Western offense.
> Koehler makes amends as Detroit CC steamrolls Walled Lake Western
Friday, Aug. 24
The Trojans used a goal-line stand in the final seconds to come away with a win over the Jaguars. Trenton senior quarterback Jay Solano threw for 355 yards and four touchdowns, including scoring strikes of 36 yards to Tyler Rehbein and 29 yards to Gabe Doree during a 2 1/2-minute stretch in the fourth quarter to turn a seven-point deficit into a 27-21 lead with 4:39 left.
> Trenton stuffs Allen Park on last stand
Saturday, Aug. 25
Center Line (5-4 in 2017) vs. Madison Heights Madison (12-1 in 2017), noon
Madison Heights Madison and Center Line will clash for the first time since 2015 when they meet in the Classic. Madison is coming off one of the most successful seasons in its history, reaching the state semifinals. Center Line is also coming off a strong season and looks to make the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
Detroit Cass Technical (9-3 in 2017) vs. River Rouge (10-3 in 2017), 3 p.m.
Detroit Cass Technical is returning to the Classic for the first time since 2016, while River Rouge is making its third straight trip to the event. It will be the first meeting between the two state powerhouses. Both teams are coming off trips to the state semifinals last season.
Detroit Martin Luther King (11-2 in 2017) vs. East St. Louis (Ill.) (10-2 in 2017), 6 p.m.
The Classic will end with a must-see matchup between King, which has made three straight state semifinal appearances, and East St. Louis, the winningest high school football program in the state of Illinois. King will be making its eighth trip to the Classic, while East St. Louis, the winner of eight state championships in Illinois, will be making its first.
The Cardinals beat the Warriors for the second-straight season at the Classic. It wasn’t as close this year under new head coach Jacob Weingartz. Davison won a triple-overtime thriller 56-54 last season. Quarterback Cannon Hall scored twice on the ground, each on one-yard runs. Hall tossed a 53-yard touchdown pass to Brendan Sullivan and found Dylan Johnson in the endzone for a two-point conversion. Hall finished with 139 passing yards and 102 rushing yards.
> Raw Davison dumps Southfield A&T, 28-6