Cass Tech to Face Brother Rice in Champions Showdown in 2012 Detroit Sports Commission Prep Kickoff Classic

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

The name has changed, but the quality of competition hasn't.

The Detroit Sports Commission has announced that its changing the name of the Big Day Prep Showdown to The Detroit Sports Commission Prep Kickoff Classic.  In addition to the name change, event officials are moving the game to Detroit on the campus of Wayne State University.  The first seven Big Day Prep Showdowns were played at Eastern Michigan University.

Highlighting this year's two-day event will be a showdown between defending 2010 Division 1 champ Cass Tech and defending 2010 Division 2 champ Brother Rice.

“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.”

Here are the match-ups that have been confirmed so far.

Southgate Anderson vs. Woodhaven
Dearborn vs. Clinton Twp. Chippewa Valley
Detroit Crockett vs. Oak Park
Port Huron vs. Utica Eisenhower
Southfield vs. Detroit Martin Luther King
Birmingham Brother Rice vs. Detroit Cass Tech

This year's event will be played August 24th and 25th.

High School Football America Names Brother Rice's Fracassa National Coach of the Year

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

With over 50 years coaching experience and 400+ victories, it's hard to say if Brother Rice's Al Fracassa could say one season is better than the other.  But, there's no doubt that 2011 has to rank high on his list.

After a 4-4 start, the state's all-time winningest head coach went on a six-game win streak to capture Michigan's Division 2 state championship.  That championship, his seventh overall, coupled with winning his 400th game led to Coach Fracassa being chosen as High School Football America's 2011 Coach of the Year.

Fracassa is the tenth coach in America to win 400 games.

Fracassa was selected over finalists Bob Beatty of Trinity (Kentucky) and Hank Carter of Lake Travis (Texas)

Before the start of the 2011 season, I spoke with Coach Fracassa on the High School Football America radio show.  Click here to listen to that interview.

Michigan High School Football Score - Playoffs/2nd Round

by Jeff Fisher
Michigan High School Football Huddle

When it comes to Michigan's coaching royalty, Brother Rice's Al Fracassa and Farmington Hills Harrison's John Herrington are at the top of the royal family.

Saturday, Fracassa, who is the state's all-time winningest coach, won his 402nd game and knocked-off Herrington, whose team entered the game unbeaten and ranked #22 by MaxPreps, out of the Michigan high school football playoffs.

The 30-7 win avenged last year's playoff victory by Harrison over Brother Rice in the opening round.  The victory was a springboard for the Hawks, who went-on to the win the school's 13th state championship.  Last night's loss also snapped Harrison's 24-game win streak.

Brother Rice advances to next week's quarterfinal round where the Warriors will face Southfield.

Click here to read a game summary.

Back on August 25th, I spoke with both Fracassa and Herrington on High School Football America, click here to listen to that interview.




Michigan High School Football Scores
Saturday, November 5, 2011


Playoffs
2nd Round

Division 1
Detroit Cass Tech 33, Dearborn Fordson 7
Detroit Catholic Central 21, Canton 14

Division 2
Birmingham Brother Rice 30, Farmington Hills Harrison 7
Fenton 35, Okemos 7
Southfield 27, Farmington 9

Division 3
Holland 42, Zeeland East 21
Mount Pleasant 35, Petoskey 28

Division 4
Alma 25, Escanaba 15

Division 5
Menominee 63, Grayling 22

Division 6
Constantine 37, Schoolcraft 30, 2OT
Iron Mountain 36, McBain 35, 3OT
Warren Michigan Collegiate 35, Marlette 0

Division 7
District Final
Detroit Loyola 29, Royal Oak Shrine 0
Ishpeming 44, West Iron County 14

Division 8
Beal City 35, Frankfort-Elberta 6
Mendon 28, Muskegon Catholic Central 21

Eight-Player
Carsonville-Port Sanilac 53, Bellaire 22
Marine City Cardinal Mooney 62, Litchfield 20