i-wireless Prep Classic at Paul Brown Stadium

i-wireless/ FOX19 PREP CLASSIC RETURNS WITH POWERHOUSE LINEUP

State Championship Success, Tradition, and Cincinnati Public School Rivalry all on Display at Paul Brown Stadium

CINCINNATI (OH) Storied programs with longstanding histories of tradition and championship success, and a Cincinnati Public School rivalry game will all be on display when high school football returns to Paul Brown Stadium over Labor Day weekend with the second annual Prep Classic.

On Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005, eight high school football programs are scheduled to collide as part of a four-game card that promises to deliver another full day of exciting prep gridiron action.

Teams appearing in this year’s event include Cincinnati Taft, Cincinnati Hughes, Cincinnati Moeller, Cincinnati Elder, Cincinnati Colerain, Massillon Washington (Ohio) and Highlands and Covington Catholic of Northern Kentucky.

These eight programs have combined for a staggering 53 state football titles in their illustrious pasts.

Taft and Hughes get the day started with a 10:30 a.m. kick-off. These two Southwest Ohio Public League National Division rivals play annually and both will be making their first-ever appearance at Paul Brown Stadium.

Moeller, a seven-time Ohio state champion and regional finalist in 2004, takes on Covington Catholic at 1 p.m. The Colonels have won five Kentucky state titles and advanced to the regional finals last season.

Elder takes on Massillon in a 4 p.m. contest. The Panthers have won two of the last three Ohio Division I championships while Massillon has won a state-record 23 Ohio state titles.

The nightcap scheduled to kick-off at 7:30 p.m. featuring Colerain and Highlands is being billed as the battle between defending state champions. The Bluebirds of Highlands won the Kentucky Class AAA state title game last season and in the process re-claimed the overall lead in Kentucky prep football history with its 16^th state title. The Cardinals of Colerain turned in one of the most dominant seasons in Cincinnati prep football history last season, capping off their seventh unbeaten regular season in the past 11 years with their first Ohio Division I state title.

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.

“The Prep Classic is fast becoming a high school football tradition in Cincinnati. We are especially excited about the opportunity this event will bring to the players, students and fans of Hughes and Taft high schools. On a personal note, I am sure that my grandfather would be pleased to see his Massillon Tigers take the field at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium,” said Katie Blackburn, Cincinnati Bengals Executive Vice President.

Once again, i-wireless will be the title sponsor of this year’s event. “Cincinnati Bell is proud to sponsor the 2^nd annual i-wireless FOX19 Prep Classic,” said Jack Cassidy, president and CEO of Cincinnati Bell. “This event provides a terrific opportunity to showcase the talents of our community’s youth and its success also helps provide funding for important community initiatives throughout our city.”

Beneficiaries of the Prep Classic include the Anthony Muñoz Foundation, Cris Collinsworth ProScan Foundation and Marvin Lewis Community Fund, with 100 percent of the event proceeds benefiting the three charities. All three Foundations’ proceeds will be earmarked to aid the ProScan Pink Ribbon Women's Center, a downtown women’s health clinic in Over-The-Rhine concentrating on breast cancer early detection.

SCHEDULE - Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005

Hughes vs. Taft, 10:30 a.m.

Covington Catholic vs. Moeller, 1 p.m.

Massillon vs. Elder, 4 p.m.

Highlands vs. Colerain, 7:30 p.m.