The home field lights on a Friday night are what high school football players grow up dreaming about. For the sixth straight year, however, a number of local teams will forgo a home game for the opportunity to kick off their seasons at the Big Day Prep Showdown.

Held at Eastern Michigan University’s Rynearson Stadium, the sixth annual event starts with Thursday' 109th playing of the Manchester vs. Clinton rivalry at 5:15 p.m.

The game isn’t on a Friday and - unless the game goes into double overtime, like the teams’ season opener last year - lights will likely be unnecessary. But the opportunity to play at a Division 1 college stadium is a unique opportunity not lost on the coaches.

“Both communities follow the programs with great pride,” said Clinton coach Scott McNitt. “This opportunity at Eastern, in a Division 1 college stadium, doesn’t come along very often. It’s just something we can’t pass up.”

Second-year Huron coach Corey Gildersleeve coached his first ever game for the River Rats at the Showdown last year. Being on the losing end of a 35-29 Chelsea comeback didn’t spoil his appreciation of the venue.

“I think it’s great for the kids. To play in that format, to practice, warm up and be in the locker room of a college stadium,” Gildersleeve said. “For our kids to experience that, I told the Big Day Prep Showdown guys that we’ll play in this game every year. Pencil us in every year.”

Gildersleeve and the River Rats will have the opportunity for revenge against the Bulldogs in the 5:15 p.m. game on Saturday.

Last year’s Saturday night showcase game lived up to the hype as much-ballyhooed Devin Gardner-led Inkster took on Pioneer, with Pioneer escaping with a 35-32 victory on a last minute Drake Johnson touchdown.

“(The win) was a great boost for the season and a great boost for our program, to show everybody that we’re reclaiming our spot among the elite programs in the state of Michigan,” said Pioneer coach Jeremy Gold, whose team will again play in the Saturday night 8 p.m. showcase slot against Detroit Cass Tech.

“It’s not going to be the Devin Gardner show like the game against Inkster was, but Cass Tech has their Division 1 recruits,” said Gold.

Cass Tech cornerback Delonte Hollowell is committed play at the University of Michigan and defensive back/slot receiver Kishon Wilcher, son of Cass Tech coach and former Michigan running back Thomas Wilcher, has been offered by Toledo and Howard, according to Rivals.com.

“They’ve got a couple other kids looked at by other BCS schools -- so it’s a challenge our kids are still excited about,” said Gold.

Last year’s showcase games had an estimated attendance of 10,000 according to Dave Beachnau, executive director for Detroit Sports, which puts on the annual event.

“Last year was somewhat of an aberration because we had some big names going on to high-profile colleges,” said Beachnau. “We have certain expectations and last year we exceeded our wildest dreams because the big name players we had.

“The Pioneer, Inkster game had the big names and drew some hard core high school football fans.”

Though the headliners from last year’s event - including Gardner (Michigan), Chelsea’s Nick Hill (Michigan State), Saline’s Joe Boisture (Michigan State), Huron’s Jeremy Jackson (Michigan) and Pioneer’s Ricardo Miller (Michigan) -- are gone, Beachnau is optimistic about this year’s slate of games.

The event has grown from four games on one day in its charter year to seven games over three days with the addition of the Thursday night games this year.

“One of the things we wanted to do was provide a big stage and platform in compliance with our mission, which is to host amateur sporting events,” Beachnau said. “It continues to be a success and we look forward to putting on the event for years to come.”

LIVE CHAT Visit AnnArbor.com to participate in live chats with AnnArbor.com sportswriter Pete Cunningham during Thursday’s Manchester vs. Clinton game and Saturday’s Huron vs. Chelsea and Pioneer vs. Cass Tech games.

BIG DAY PREP SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE

Thursday, Aug. 26 Clinton vs. Manchester, 5:15 p.m. Sterling Heights Stevenson vs. Howell, 8 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 27 Melvindale vs. Southgate Anderson, 5 p.m. Northville vs. White Lake Lakeland, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 28 Hamler (OH) Patrick Henry vs. St. Charles, 2 p.m. Huron vs. Chelsea, 5 p.m. Pioneer vs. Cass Tech, 8 p.m.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by e-mail at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.