Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown and prep football has arrived

At last, it is here.

The 2012 Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown, celebrating its 15th year, begins tonight.

The Showdown, recognized as the nation's biggest and longest running high school football showcase of its kind in the United States, expands to include 42 schools playing 21 games over a 10-day period. It helps kick off the prep football season in Ohio and Kentucky.

Besides the largest field and most games, this year's Showdown features a number of firsts.

* Two nights of doubleheaders involving all Northern Kentucky schools.

* Four games being played in one day at Welcome Stadium in Dayton.

* First regular-season game to be played at UC's Sheakley Athletics Center.

And, while this year's Showdown does have some new twists, it also still includes those staple elements that have helped it grow into a fabric of the rich Cincinnati sports tradition.

"It's hard to believe that we are already celebrating 15 years of the Showdown," said Tom Gamble of In-Game Sports, which owns and operates the event. "The only objective of the event is to showcase what we believe is the best high school football played anywhere in the country on a center stage."

This year's Showdown comprises schools from Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton, Columbus, and beyond playing games between today and August 26. The event's final day features a pair of cross-state games and nationally-recognized programs that will be nationally televised on ESPNHS.

The two games are defending Ohio State champion Trotwood-Madison (Trotwood, Ohio) versus University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), followed by the premier match-up, Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio), No. 19 nationally in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25, against Gilman (Baltimore, Md.), which is No. 9 in the MaxPreps Freeman computer rankings. 

Here is the rest of the schedule

TONIGHT, AUG. 17 (at Dixie Heights High School)
These two games kick off the season in Kentucky. Covington Catholic (Park Hills, Ky.), which finished 10-3 and advanced to the Class 4A state quarterfinals in 2011, meets defending district champion Campbell County (Alexandria) at 6 p.m. The host Dixie Heights (Edgewood) Colonels and first-year coach Dave Brossart face Newport Central Catholic (Newport), 11-2 and defending district champs, at 8:30.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22 (at Colerain High School)
The first game in Ohio pits Reading (Ohio) and Roger Bacon (Cincinnati) at 5:30. The second game is between two schools that finished 8-2 in the regular season last year, Mt. Healthy (Cincinnati) and North College Hill (Cincinnati), at 8. NCH is vying for its fifth consecutive state playoff berth.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23 (at Sycamore Stadium)
Small-school football takes center stage in the event's first-ever games at Sycamore Stadium, with the four participating schools going a combined 32-11 in 2011. Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy will oppose Madeira (Cincinnati) in the first game at 5:30. These two teams met in the first round of the playoffs last fall, with CHCA ending Madeira's perfect season with a 16-10 victory. Bishop Fenwick (Franklin) faces Wyoming (Cincinnati) in the second game at 8. Fenwick was 8-2 in 2011 Wyoming passes its torch of winning to Aaron Hahcock – who replaces Bernie Barre as coach.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 (at UC's Sheakley Athletics Complex)
The first high school football game to be played at what normally serves as University of Cincinnati's practice facility, has neighborhood rivals Finneytown (Cincinnati) and Northwest (Cincinnati) facing each other. Both are coming off winning season, with Finneytown going 6-4 and Northwest finishing 7-3. The game will kick off at 7 at the 1,500-seat venue located next to UC's baseball field.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 (at UC's Nippert Stadium)
A big-time Division I doubleheader begins with Anderson (Cincinnati) versus Sycamore (Cincinnati) at 6, followed by a matchup of heavyweights in Middletown and St. Xavier (Cincinnati) at 8:30. Anderson is looking to get back on its annual playoff track, while Sycamore is hoping to continue its winning ways. The Aviators wound up 8-3 and advanced to the state playoffs a year ago. Middletown, led by quarterback Jalin Marshall, an Ohio State commit, went 10-2 last year, while St. Xavier made it to the state semis before falling to Pickerington Central. The Bombers wound up 10-4.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 (at Elder High School)
The famed "Pit" is the site for a Cincinnati-Dayton showdown between perennial state powers Centerville and Elder (Cincinnati), which won the game last year on the road, 33-14. The Panthers, who faced one of the toughest schedules ever in 2011, are looking to get back to the playoffs.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 (at Simon Kenton High School)
The second Northern Kentucky doubleheader kicks off with host Simon Kenton (Independence) against annual Class A state title contender Beechwood (Fort Mitchell) at 6. The second game is an intriguing meeting between Cooper (Burlington), which won its first district championship and made its first playoff appearance in only the third year as a program, and defending Kentucky Division 2A state champion Holy Cross (Covington). The Indians are riding a six-game winning streak under coach Burce Kozerski.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 (at UC's Nippert Stadium)
Three solid matchups highlight this day, beginning with Oak Hills (Cincinnati) and first-year coach Dan Scholz facing Walnut Hills (Cincinnati) at 3. Walnut Hills is coming off the best season in school history, winding up 8-3 and a postseason participant for the first time. A battle of state powers kicks off at 5:30, when Colerain (Cincinnati) (10-2) meets Ohio Division I state runner-up Pickerington Central (11-3), at 5:30. After losing its first two games last season, Pickerington Central ran off 11 straight wins before falling to Cleveland St. Ignatius in the final. The third and final game of the day matches the GCL vs. GMC, when La Salle (Cincinnati), 7-3 last year, takes on Lakota West (West Chester). Kickoff is 8.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 (at Welcome Stadium)
The first four-game Saturday Showcase at Welcome Stadium, which has been an annual host of the Showdown, includes some exciting matchups. Old rivals Hamilton and Springfield get the day started at noon, followed by Northmont (Clayton) vs. Princeton (Cincinnati) in a second game between GMC and GWOC schools at 2:45. Princeton is coming off a strong 7-3 season under coach Gary Croley – who took over the storied Vikings' program last year. There should be plenty of talent on the field in the third game, which matches Wayne (Huber Heights) and Winton Woods (Cincinnati) at 5:30. Both teams are annually in the playoff mix. And, the fourth and final game of the day is between Dunbar (Dayton) and Valley View (Germantown) at 8:15. Dunbar is the first Dayton Public School in the event.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26 (at Kings High School)
Two Showdown games have again been selected as part of the ESPNHS Kickoff Classic, a season-opening high school football event that features select games around the country to be televised nationally.

The first game matches Ohio defending Division II state champion Trotwood-Madison with University. Trotwood, coached by former NFL veteran Maurice Douglass, was a perfect 15-0 last season and defeated Avon, 42-28, in the state final behind a Division II state championship game record 326 yards and six touchdowns by junior running back Isreal Green. University School is 24-2 combined the last two seasons, and was a Florida state runner-up in 2010 and a regional finalist in 2011.

The second TV game features seven-time Ohio state champion Moeller against Gilman School. The Crusaders finished 9-4 last season and return a lineup loaded with talent, including junior linebacker Shane Jones – who has verbally committed to Michigan State. Gilman enters this season riding an eight-game winning streak after finishing 10-1 and winning the first-ever Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference.

SHOWDOWN TICKET INFORMATION
Advance tickets for each Showdown session are available and can be purchased at any of the participating schools. Fans are encouraged to check with their respective schools for their summer ticket office hours, which vary. All advance tickets to multi-game sessions are $10.