📣The matchups are in for the 2026 Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic! 🏈
Founded in 2005, the APKC is the premier season-opening high school football showcase in Michigan and has become an annual staple of the state’s prep football tradition, delivering a “bowl game-like” experience for student-athletes, marching bands, cheer squads, and fans from across the Midwest.
The 2026 Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic will feature four marquee matchups with teams from southeast and western Michigan, as well as Indiana:
🗓️Thursday, Aug. 27
🏈4 p.m. – Chippewa Valley battles Detroit Catholic Central
🏈7 p.m. – A mid-Michigan matchup: Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills vs. Dewitt
🗓️Friday, Aug. 28
🏈4 p.m. – Birmingham Groves vs. North Farmington will face off in a southeast Michigan showdown
🏈7 p.m. – PKC mainstay Detroit Cass Tech returns to take on Michigan City from Indiana’s Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC)
The Girls’ Flag Football Showcase will return to the APKC in 2026 for its third year, reinforcing DSC’s commitment to supporting active play and girls’ sports in the region through its Living Legacy Initiative.
Tickets and additional event information on the Girls’ Flag Football Showcase will be released soon.
Prep Kickoff Classic
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The Michigan High School Football Season Starts Here.
The Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic is the premier season-opening high school football event in Michigan organized by the Detroit Sports Commission and hosted at Wayne State University. Founded in 2005, the PKC was created to provide a unique and memorable experience for players, coaches, fans, cheerleaders, and band members.
08/30/2025
Congrats to our Ironman Award 🏆winners from the final game, Corey Sadler (Cass Tech) and Jeremiah Fuller (Toledo Central Catholic) presented by !
In the final matchup of the 2025 Prep Kickoff Classic, Cass Tech made a triumph come back in the second half to claim a 28-27 victory over Toledo Central Catholic! 🏆
08/30/2025
Congrats to our Ironman Award 🏆 winners from Game 3 Niko Beaudrie (Trenton) and Ben Klos (Allen Park) presented by !
In Game 3 of the 2025 Amazon Prep Kickoff the Allen Park Jags secured a 47-27 victory over the Trenton Titans in a downriver matchup. 🏆
We kicked off the 2025 Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic with a 2-game Girls Flag Football Showcase powered by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. featuring the following matchups ⬇️
🏈 Gibraltar Carlson vs. L’Anse Creuse North
🏈 Redford Union vs. St. Joseph
Following the games, players were invited to participate in a cool down activation session that included a
🧘yoga/meditation session with the W Buchanan Group
🏈 a panel with Woods & Watts Effect Amber Clark-Robinson of the U.S. Women’s National Flag Football team
❤️swag bags from the Nike Detroit Community Store with Love Yourself Clothing t shirts and other goodies
Thank you to all the teams that participated and congratulations to Gibraltar Carlson and St. Joseph on their wi
08/29/2025
Congratulations to our Ironman Award winners from Game 2 of the 2025 Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic presented by DTE Energy, Cooper Derkach (Northville) and Ryan Rocheleau (Lake Orion)! 🏈🏆
In Game 2 of the 2025 Prep Kickoff Classic, the Northville Mustangs pull off a strong win against Lake Orion. 🏆🏈
08/29/2025
Congrats to our Ironman Award 🏆 winners from Game 1 presented by DTE Energy, Gabe Mansour (Clarkston) Geonte Morris (Belleville)
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In Game 1 of the 2025 Prep Kickoff Classic, the Clarkston Wolves take home the win in a rematch of last year’s game against the Belleville Tigers! 🏆🏈
08/28/2025
⏰ 3:59 PM
We’ve officially kicked off the Michigan High School football season at the 2025 Prep Kickoff Classic. 💪🏈
Congrats to the game 2 winners of the Girls Flag Football Showcase and the defending Girls Flag Football Champions, St. Joseph. 🏆🏈Final Score: St. Joseph 13, Redford Union 6
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