Four-game schedule features defending Ohio Division I state champion St. Xavier, five other 2005 playoff teams

The third annual i-wireless Prep Classic returns to Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006, with a schedule that is clearly a “Who’s Who” of Ohio and Kentucky high school football.

The September showcase will again include eight high school football programs as part of a four-game card that features six playoff teams from last season and another Cincinnati Public School contest.  Included is Ohio Division I state champion Cincinnati St. Xavier, Ohio Division I state runner-up Massillon Washington, Ohio Division I state semifinalist Cleveland Lakewood St. Edward, Cincinnati Moeller, Kentucky Class 4A runner-up Louisville St. Xavier, Kentucky regional finalist Fort Thomas Highlands and Cincinnati Taft and Cincinnati Withrow.

Highlands plays Louisville St. Xavier in a game that pits two of Kentucky’s premier prep football programs against one another.  The Bluebirds have won a state record-tying 16 state titles in its history while the Tigers have won 11.  Massillon and Moeller with their rich traditions will square off in another contest.  Massillon has won 22 mythical poll titles while the Crusaders have won seven Ohio state titles.  Cincinnati St. Xavier, fresh off its first state football title, will collide with perennial state power Lakewood St. Edward.  Taft and Withrow will battle in a Southwest Ohio Public League tilt.    

Bob Slattery, president of Reach Event Marketing, said his event team is anxious to build on the success of the past two years. “Securing a line-up such as this, with the records and accomplishments these teams had in 2005, is more than we could’ve hoped for,” Slattery said.

“The Prep Classic provides high school athletes with an unforgettable professional football experience and raises money for a very vital health clinic in downtown Cincinnati,” said Jack Cassidy, president and CEO of Cincinnati Bell. “It’s an ideal event for Cincinnati Bell and i-wireless to support because we feel strongly about giving back to the community where we live, work and play.”

“FOX19 is proud to continue our partnership with the Prep Classic for a third year,” said WXIX Vice President/General Manager John Long.  “Greater Cincinnati is rich with great local teams and FOX19 is committed to bringing these athletes into the spotlight.  The Prep Classic is unique in its support of local charities and the young athletes that are the rising stars of our local community,” he added.

Television broadcast information for this year’s event will be forthcoming.

While the Prep Classic continues to experience success on the field, making the event even a bigger success off the field is the money that is raised for the Anthony Muñoz Foundation, Cris Collinsworth ProScan Foundation and Marvin Lewis Community Fund.  Through these respective organizations, $100,000 from last year’s event was donated to the ProScan Pink Ribbon Center.  An official check presentation is scheduled for today at a press conference at the ProScan Pink Ribbon Center.

The ProScan Pink Ribbon Center is a new facility in Cincinnati’s Over-The-Rhine that provides for early breast cancer detection for un-insured women. 

Through generous giving, the Prep Classic has now raised over $200,000 for the ProScan Pink Ribbon Center the past two years and the event will continue to donate 100 percent of proceeds to the facility.

The region boasts some of the top high school football programs in the country and we are very excited to be a part of an event that not only showcases this talent but also brings together the community. More importantly, it is all for a great cause,” said Anthony Muñoz, founder of the Anthony Muñoz Foundation.

The Prep Classic, conducted by Reach Event Marketing, is the direct result of a concerted effort between Hamilton County officials, the Cincinnati Bengals, Anthony Muñoz Foundation, Marvin Lewis Community Fund and Cris Collinsworth ProScan Foundation to bring an annual showcase prep football event to the Greater Cincinnati area that features top prep football programs.

SCHEDULE

10 a.m. Taft vs. Withrow

1 p.m. Highlands vs. Louisville St. Xavier

4 p.m. Moeller vs. Massillon

7:30 p.m. Cincinnati St. Xavier vs. Lakewood St. Edward

Contacts:

Mario Cicchinelli, (513) 794-4174, mcicchinelli@reachusa.com

Jennifer Carroll Frost, (513) 794-4172, jcarroll@reachusa.com